SCOTT BERLINALEXANDRA COLLETTI

Child Suicide Bombings in

the Middle East

Abstract

Suicide bombings are used for their lethal effectiveness. However, the motivation of the attacker is disputed. Suicide attacks are often driven by political motives or ideological beliefs. The majority of attacks stem from the ideology of Islamic martyrdom, which emphasizes heroism in the form of sacrifice. Strategically these attacks are logical. Explosives can be smuggled into densely populated areas and close to key targets by being concealed on the carrier ‘s body (Lamb, 2009). Suicide bombers are typically youth in their early 20’s. Since 2003 this statistic has been changing to include children.

Insight on Suicide Attacks

The belief is: dying in the name of God yields rewards in the afterlife

“Martyrs traditionally forsake their lives for a principle or faith. It is believed that by valuing an idea more than their own existence, they elevate their cause” (Lamb, 2009)

Bombers are typically between the ages of 18 and 24, from poor and uneducated families

New Role of Youth in Bombings

Child Suicide bombings have accounted for 14% of the total suicide bombings since 2003

In Afghanistan alone, the number of suicide bombings is estimated to be in the hundreds per year

Of these attacks 80% are committed by teenagers

Clicking the picture below will begin a video clip with further

information. We would like to warn that some of these images are

graphic. But, we believe that this shows the true nature of the

problem and the immaturity that the children look at the issue with.

Why Children

Children can penetrate security checkpoints without raising the normal levels of suspicion

Children are easier to manipulate Their innocence is exploited and used as a violent weapon They are hesitant to stand up to authority figures Their depth of understanding in religious teachings is weak

(Video on next Slide)

"Cut off from parental contact, young, isolated children are easily susceptible to the influences of surrogate authority

figures such as religious clerics in their madrassas“ (Hussain, 2012)

Religious Interpretations

Lutfullah Mashal: Head of Afganistan’s National Directorate of Security (click to play)

Drawing Children into the Group

Typically the technique to creating a suicide bomber includes two parts. First the group finds young people whose personal identity suffers. These individuals are disturbed and are seeking an outer element to help stabilize their internal world. Group leaders then implement a teaching method that forces the large-group identity, ethnic and/or religious into the cracks of the persons damaged or subjugated individual identity (Aboderin, 2012). Children can be brainwashed by being provided with full meals, some of these children go weeks hungry and have never been full in their lives and then suddenly they have a ‘benefactor’ who is providing them with these things so they begin to obey their ‘benefactor.’

Family

Families may be threatened with the choice of paying a tax double the annual wage or surrendering their child to the movement

Many families can’t afford to pay so they are left with no choice

Radical Taliban take advantage of children who have drug or alcohol problems by reaching out to the parents of these children and offering them help in “saving their child”

They are promised a future involving discipline, belonging, purpose and meaningful work

If terrorism is the family business the child is automatically expected to follow in the footsteps of their elders

Family

Poor families may send their children to religious schools to take advantage of the free boarding and education. Many are unaware that this is where their children will be indoctrinated. Once the children are in the hands of the Taliban their parents are denied access to their children. These children are isolated and susceptible to the influences of authority figures like religious clerks. Children are taught that for successfully completing their assigned mission they will be rewarded in heaven.

Families and Victims

Provided is a video to give you a first account understanding of just how much an effect these attacks have on the family and youth of the region (click to play)

Sources of Children

“Most are impressionable children from poor families who are indoctrinated through networks of religious schools which provide the only hope of advancement in isolated regions poorly served by the Pakistani government” (Hussain, 2012)

This happens without the family’s awareness

Groups may purchase children through militant organizations for their attacks. Prices start at US $7,000

Children may also be procured through kidnapping and coercion by armed gangs

Child Bombers For Sale

Children are bought as young as 7 years old at a going price between $7,000 to $14,000 per child bomber. This is a huge sum in Pakistan, to put it into perspective per-capita income is about $2,600 a year (Times,2009). The price of a child varies depending on how soon the attack is to be carried out and how close the child is to the target. In some cases the children are kidnapped and then sold. The children are trained in camps as suicide bombers before being sold. U.S. and Pakistani military have been targeting known Taliban to try to reduce suicide bombing attacks.

Rehabilitation Programs

Currently, there are a few rehabilitation centers around the Middle East to help children who were previously recited by these terrorist forces. Saboon is the name of one Rehabilitation center in Pakistan. This center is for child militants who were formerly recruited by terrorist groups. The goal of Saboon is to reduce the risk of re-engagement in terrorism once graduates (of the program) are allowed to return to their communities. At Saboon a team of social workers, military advisors, psychologists work towards this goal (Horgan, 2013). There is a growing list of facilities similar to Saboon, the largest being in Saudi Arabia. The program is made up of risk assessment and rehabilitation efforts. Academic researchers studying violent extremism stated that they, “have a great deal of hope for such programs, and Saboon in particular has been the shining ray its name implies. Battling immense odds, Saboon's staff remain infectiously optimistic and dedicated” (Horgan, 2013).

Educational Approach

Currently, there are very few programs in place to specifically address this problem in the Middle East

Experts and officials preach that education in both traditional schools and religious academies would be the most affective method for changing this dangerous trend

Educational programs must be created for parents and their children about the radical leaders who are attempting to take advantage of their children

The parents must understand how theses radical leaders are using their children to do their dirty work

Conclusion

There is a different cultural perspective here about the age at which a boy becomes a man, the use of children in war is not uncommon in the middle east (Times, 2009)

Children are brainwashed into believing things that are false and are taken advantage of by radical authority figures of their religious

Because the children are clearly too immature to understand the gravity of their actions an effort has to be made to educate them and their families about the people who are attempting to convent their children into suicide bombers and the agenda these terrorists are working for

Additionally, more centers for rehabilitation must be created to help the children who were able to escape these terror groups. These centers must show the children that they were recruited because they were vulnerable, attempt to give them the hope for their futures and show them that they can still live a normal life after these traumatic events.

References

Aboderin, M. (2012, August 3). Why Child Suicide Bombing is Increasing. Retrieved from Punch: http://www.punchng.com/education/why-child-suicide-bombing-is-increasing/

Benmelech, E., & Berrebi, C. (2007). Human Capital and the Productivity of Suicide Bombers. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 16.

Boseley, S. (2011, September 1). Iraq Suicide Bomb toll revealed. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/02/iraq-suicide-bomb-toll-revealed

HBO (Director). (2013). VICE: Killer Kids of The Taliban [Motion Picture]. Horgan, J. (2013, March 27). Child suicide bombers find a safe haven. Retrieved from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/27/world/asia/pakistan-anti-taliban Hussain, M. (2012, October 17). Pakistani Taliban's Indoctrinated Child Bombers. Retrieved

from Aljazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/10/20121014102539659862.html

Lamb, R. (2009, March 11). How Suicide Bombers Work. Retrieved June 18, 2013, from How Stuff Works: http://science.howstuffworks.com/suicide-bomber7.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/suicide-bomber7.htm

MSNBC. (2012). US General: Taliban use of child suicide bombers 'utterly despicable'. WorldNews.

Times, T. W. (2009, July 2). Exclusive: Taliban buying children for suicide bombers. Retrieved from The Washington Times: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/2/taliban-buying-children-to-serve-as-suicide-bomber/?page=all