Al Qaeda Warrior Uses Internet to Rally Women

The New York Time discusses the increasing use of technology, specifically the internet, in organizing terror interest. The article follows a 48-year-old Belgian woman named Malika El Aroud, who posts on the internet under the pseudonym «Oum Obeyda,» who while she does not disseminate instructions on how to make bombs nor intends to take part in violence herself, post encourages and «bullies» Muslim men to fight. Ms. El Aroud calls herself a female holy warrior for Al Qaeda, preferring to use the power of writing rather than weapons as an «internet jihadist.» She, along with her husband, were convicted in Switzerland of operating pro-Qaeda web sites, but is currently a suspect In what Belgian authorities say they believe is a plot to carry out terror attacks in Belgium.

May 28, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/