Government Fears ISIS Recruitment Targeting Young Generation

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group has now taken over control over two cities of Iraq and Syria.

Their movement is predicted to have been growing in a gradual manner with its recruitment targets now have stooped down to those currently in the early ages of their lives. 

Young generations for them, are somewhat easier for them to influence as they are currently at the stage where emotional instability is far more dominating than that of logical thinking. 

Additionally, it is much more desirable to target those at early ages as they can be ideologically structured and characteristically designed in a specific way that best fit the radical group's interest whereas those at mature age no longer need a source of validation from a specific institution as their identity as a person is no longer in crisis.

Although its widespread is inevitable, the Indonesian government remains optimistic about its unparalleled power in preventing such group from growing even bigger through its containment strategy. 

Containing the extremist group means that the authority is obliged to show the general population the difference between the real ‘Islam’ and the one that just exploits it as a banner covering their radical standing.

The Head of National Counter-Terrorism agency (BNPT), Saud Usman Nasution informed how ISIS has given Islam a bad name and those who have decided or desiring to follow its teachings are largely responsible for the dishonouring of Islam even further.

"ISIS ought to be seen as an internal affair of the two countries (Iraq and Syria). It is not suppose to have any correlation with Indonesia. If you wish to follow this radical group, then it is the same as damaging the image of Islam and it could potentially spark a conflict among Muslims in Indonesia. Is that what they call jihad? Turning their backs on their fellow Muslim and declaring ideological war?," Saud Usman Nasution remarked on a written statement, Jakarta, Thursday (11/6/2015).

He further explained how it is quite worrying to know the fact that young generation has become ISIS current primary targets for recruitment. 

Thus, he thinks that it is imperative to educate and guide the Indonesian subsequent generation with the proper teachings through seminar and continuous gentle reminder. (Akp/Ein)