Is the so-called ‘sex jihad’ in Syria a hoax?

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Nikah-jihadOver the past few weeks, various media outlets have been awash with sensational stories of an alleged “sex jihad” taking place in parts of Syria controlled by the rebels. Hundreds of Muslim women, notably from Tunisia, are reportedly going to Syria to offer themselves to jihadist fighters as a sign of their devotion to thecause. While this certainly makes for an interesting story, it may all be a hoax.

The first mention of “sex jihad” dates back to December 2012, in a screen shot of a tweet by Saudi Sheikh Mohamed al-Arefe, which was widely circulated online. This Salafist theologian is widely respected among jihadists, and is known for his strict sermons.

The tweet says: “Muslim women, from the age of 14, are authorized to marry a jihadist for a few hours, then marry other jihadists, in order to strengthen the fighters’ morale and open the door to paradise.”

Such a message coming from someone such as al-Arefe would have the weight of a religious fatwa, if it were authentic. However, something is not right: the tweet is 200 characters long, well over Twitter’s 140-character limit.

Despite this anomaly, the “sex jihad” story gained traction and was taken up by several Arabic and Iranian television stations in 2012.

Sheikh al-Arefe was quick to deny being the author of the message, and explained that “no such fatwa has ever been posted on my official Facebook or Twitter accounts.”

Sheikh Mohamed al-Arefe  denies ordering a "sex jihad" fatwa.
Sheikh Mohamed al-Arefe denies ordering a “sex jihad” fatwa.

This didn’t stop the “sex jihad” story from continuing to spread across media and social networks. The fatwa was no longer attributed to the sheikh, but to an “unknown source”.

Since January 2013, television channels close to the Syrian regime have seized on this story. They have even used images of Chechen fighters, filmed in Chechnya in December 2010, and presented them as Tunisian women who had travelled to Syria to show their gratitude to the jihadists fighting there.

Some journalists tried to denounce this hoax. Reporter Malika Jebari said she resigned from the Lebanese television station al-Mayadeen because they were pushed to “completely make up this ‘sex jihad’ story”.

After a lull of several months, the “sex jihad” resurfaced again in September. Videos of “witnesses’ accounts” and the “rosters” of women supposedly taking part in it have been broadcast by different Syrian and Lebanese media.

But it was a speech by Tunisian interior minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou at the country’s National Constituent Assembly on September 20 that propelled the “sex jihad” issue to the forefront. The minister, who is in conflict with the ruling Islamist Ennahda party, did not provide any evidence to support his claims.

There has been no credible eyewitness account of this practice. The latest report on the issue was broadcast on September 22 by the Syrian channel Al-Ikhbariya, in which a 16-year-old Syrian girl says she was a victim of incest by her father before she was sent to the jihadists. The teenage girl describes in detail what she allegedly went through. However, this channel supports the Syrian regime, and has been working daily to discredit the rebels.

“Right now, there’s no proof … Personally, I think it’s just a plot by the Syrian regime”

Anwar Malek, who is from Algeria, served as an Arab League observer in Syria.

I can assure you, I have been in contact with several Tunisian officials, and they have all told me that this story has no basis in reality. As we speak, there is no proof to support it.

“Personally I think it’s a plot by the Syrian regime. There are certainly Tunisian women on Syrian territory, but these women have lived there for years. Some of them are prostitutes, but that has nothing to do with any sort of ‘sex jihad’.”

Muslim village/ France 24/ Le Monde

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46 responses to “Is the so-called ‘sex jihad’ in Syria a hoax?”

  1. master09 Avatar

    I love this, ” they marry a jihadist for a few hours” I think that’s how it should be every where marry for bang than walk away.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Ah yes … ‘to marry a jihadist for a few hours, then marry other jihadists’ …. It’s a basic equation from the ‘Fonts of Knowledge’ over the aeons …. not exactly unproven mathematics.
      Sex outside marriage is bad. Sex is Ok if married, and Children must be the reason for it.
      Marriage for love is only ok if same religion (or sex) – otherwise must be bad.
      Therefore, Marriage is for sex, not for love. Go forth and make babies and multiply.
      1+1 = 12 …. God says so.
      Voila – Bangladesh. :-)))

      1. master09 Avatar

        I was confused before about Love, marriage and sex and now I have no idea, I just want to get laid simple. To have sex with someone by just saying , I be wed you for as long as I can last, for some 2 mins 29 seconds is not the same as having sex outside wed. LOLOLOL. My was Mohamed a very smart man. Remember I did say MAN because that’s all he was.. By the way 1+1 = 11

        1. Peaceforleb Avatar
          Peaceforleb

          Yes Master, muhammad (PBUH) was a man. As were all the other prophets before him including Jesus (PBUH). And where did hear that Muhammad condoned this type of behavior. It would be like me saying that Jesus condoned all the pedophilia that is going on in the church. Now don’t get the shits and start ranting abuse. I’m just saying a person should get their facts right before making assumptions.

          1. master09 Avatar

            No peaceforleb I am not going to rant, but you missed the point , Mohamed made these laws or rules that changed over night to go his way. One day God told him to do this the next day God changed his mind to do that. He changed the marriage and sex stuff to reflect his wanting. God does not change his direction . Prove that mohamed did not do that. Give me a you tube clip to prove he did not. Lol By the way how many women did he sleep with be it 8 or 40,Prove to me that he did not say and talk about the booty girls. I see unless you where there at the time sitting having coffee with him it will always be 222 sides…and he said this and he said that but that will not make me or you rite or wrong. PROFFF is not easy…

          2. Peaceforleb Avatar
            Peaceforleb

            Don’t answer a question with a question. You made claim about the Prophet (pbuh). Yet you can not supply proof. The fact is you are rite. There is no proof irrespective of what you wish to believe. Thats why one should not make claims unless they have concrete proof. Religion is a very touchy subject and best kept for ones self. We are humans who bleed the same blood and whether we like it or not, we will always share on thing. Which is being brothers and sisters in humanity. My personal view is nobody should ever put another person down because of his or hers religious beliefs.

          3. master09 Avatar

            He mentions this himself it is called NASKH. But I am just saying what do I know..

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Ah … you’re right master09 … the ‘wife’ doesn’t count. 🙂
          And there’s nothing better than a ‘quickie’ … even if it lasts for a weekend. :-)))

          1. libnan1 Avatar

            5th, nothing wrong with quickie no matter religion …:) The best quickie is the morning one or after the gym. A hum will do when quickie is not convenient.

          2. Peaceforleb Avatar
            Peaceforleb

            Lol. You must have a lot of energy. I mean really, after the gym.

          3. libnan1 Avatar

            oh dude, I do step aerobic with tons of hot looking chicks so after that I’m ready for some action …:) people ask me why I do aerobic, my answer is the same as Capone’s when asked why he robbed banks that’s where the money is …

          4. Peaceforleb Avatar
            Peaceforleb

            I must say, I will need to try it. Something about good looking girls that makes me weak in knees. I’m taking your word on this Libnan. If you don’t hear from me in the next week or two, then you’ll know your recommendation was no good. Lol. I think I will ask 5th if he is also interested. What do you think.

          5. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Hmmmm …. maybe a one-leg hop? I have a bad ankle …
            But I have an idea, if the girl wants to do the exercise … :-))))

          6. libnan1 Avatar

            5th just show up to the class and watch …

          7. Peaceforleb Avatar
            Peaceforleb

            I like your way you thinking. Lol

      2. Reasonableman Avatar
        Reasonableman

        Discussing polygamy -in my opinion- is not a necessity; since a person who is familiar with the europeans and their indecent practices, sufferings, wickedness, their sorrows and distresses, the horrible crimes they commit in this respect aswell as the trials, the disaster that they are involved in and which and which emenate directly from their disregard to polygamyform a good reason(to justify the soundness of polygamy). The distorted picture of life in europe with the ill-practices featuring it, could truthfully justify the existance and practice of polygamy. In this there are divine signs for all people with reason.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Reasonable .. I wasn’t talking about polygamy, or pegging one group … it’s a ‘rule’ of all the religions, that ‘marriage bit’ … for the sake of production of ‘the masses’ more than anything … although I would agree that the ‘family unit’ is the best for humans, and the education of children, and that it should stick together. Whether 1 partner or 4. Who really cares, if they all get along without sticking in knives in each other all the time?
          Sex is supposed to be fun. Really. It’s the funniest thing we do, actually. 😉
          If love comes out of it, so much the better. Helps with the ‘sticking together’ part.

          1. Reasonableman Avatar
            Reasonableman

            Dont get me wrong i seen the humour behind the initial ritual of sex lol.
            I tried to make sense of the issue and compared the rumors of the false ‘sex-jihad’ to what we see, hear and picture the notorious capital of such equation being practised in european countries, hence found polygamy to be the cure. It is the cure which is in the jihadist belief and culture which proves how false the rumor is .
            All in all i took what you said for more than face value and for more then it was i guess and was just reaching out. No harm done 🙂

          2. Reasonableman Avatar
            Reasonableman

            And forgive me if there was harm done. Marriage is also about strengthening ties of kinship between families. Ofcourse if we were all too practise this one could sincerly say we have taken the first steps towards unity.
            Anyway how you been?

          3. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Reasonable … no harm at all … 🙂 If it’s fun and hurts no-one, then do it, I say. 🙂
            ‘Takes 2 to Tango’. :-)))

  2. master09 Avatar

    I love this, ” they marry a jihadist for a few hours” I think that’s how it should be every where marry for bang than walk away.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Ah yes … ‘to marry a jihadist for a few hours, then marry other jihadists’ …. It’s a basic equation from the ‘Fonts of Knowledge’ over the aeons …. not exactly unproven mathematics.
      Sex outside marriage is bad. Sex is Ok if married, and Children must be the reason for it.
      Marriage for love is only ok if same religion (or sex) – otherwise must be bad.
      Therefore, Marriage is for sex, not for love. Go forth and make babies and multiply.
      1+1 = 12 …. God says so.
      Voila – Bangladesh. :-)))

      1. master09 Avatar

        I was confused before about Love, marriage and sex and now I have no idea, I just want to get laid simple. To have sex with someone by just saying , I be wed you for as long as I can last, for some 2 mins 29 seconds is not the same as having sex outside wed. LOLOLOL. My was Mohamed a very smart man. Remember I did say MAN because that’s all he was.. By the way 1+1 = 11

        1. Peaceforleb Avatar
          Peaceforleb

          Yes Master, muhammad (PBUH) was a man. As were all the other prophets before him including Jesus (PBUH). And were did hear that Muhammad condoned this type of behavior. It would be like me saying that Jesus condoned all the pedophilia that is going on in the church. Now don’t get the shits and start ranting abuse. I’m just saying a person should get their facts right before making assumptions.

          1. master09 Avatar

            No peaceforleb I am not going to rant, but you missed the point , Mohamed made these laws or rules that changed over night to go his way. One day God told him to do this the next day God changed his mind to do that. He changed the marriage and sex stuff to reflect his wanting. God does not change his direction . Prove that mohamed did not do that. Give me a you tube clip to prove he did not. Lol

          2. Peaceforleb Avatar
            Peaceforleb

            Don’t answer a question with a question. You made claim about the Prophet (pbuh). Yet you can not supply proof. The fact is you are rite. There is no proof irrespective of what you wish to believe. Thats why one should not make claims unless they have concrete proof. Religion is a very touchy subject and best kept for ones self. We are humans who bleed the same blood and whether we like it or not, we will always share on thing. Which is being brothers and sisters in humanity. My personal view is nobody should ever put another person down because of his or hers religious beliefs.

          3. master09 Avatar

            He mentions this himself it is called NASKH. But I am just saying what do I know..

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Ah … you’re right master09 … the ‘wife’ doesn’t count. 🙂

          1. libnan1 Avatar

            5th, nothing wrong with quickie no matter religion …:) The best quickie is the morning one or after the gym. A hum will do when quickie is not convenient.

          2. Peaceforleb Avatar
            Peaceforleb

            Lol. You must have a lot of energy. I mean really, after the gym.

          3. libnan1 Avatar

            oh dude, I do step aerobic with tons of hot looking chicks so after that I’m ready for some action …:) people ask me why I do aerobic, my answer is the same as Capone’s when asked why he robbed banks that’s where the money is …

          4. Peaceforleb Avatar
            Peaceforleb

            I must say, I will need to try it. Something about good looking girls that makes me weak in knees. I’m taking your word on this Libnan. If you don’t hear from me in the next week or two, then you’ll know your recommendation was no good. Lol. I think I will ask 5th if he is also interested. What do you think.

          5. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Hmmmm …. maybe a one-leg hop? I have a bad ankle …
            But I have an idea if the girl wants to do the exercise … :-))))

          6. libnan1 Avatar

            5th just show up to the class and watch …

          7. Peaceforleb Avatar
            Peaceforleb

            I like your way of thinking. Lol

      2. Reasonableman Avatar
        Reasonableman

        Discussing polygamy -in my opinion- is not a necessity; since a person who is familiar with the europeans and their indecent practices, sufferings, wickedness, their sorrows and distresses, the horrible crimes they commit in this respect aswell as the trials, the disaster that they are involved in and which and which emenate directly from their disregard to polygamyform a good reason(to justify the soundness of polygamy). The distorted picture of life in europe with the ill-practices featuring it, could truthfully justify the existance and practice of polygamy. In this there are divine signs for all people with reason.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          Reasonable .. I wasn’t talking about polygamy, or pegging one group … it’s a ‘rule’ of all the religions, that ‘marriage bit’ … for the sake of production of ‘the masses’ more than anything … although I would agree that the ‘family unit’ is the best for humans, and the education of children, and that it should stick together. Whether 1 partner or 4. Who really cares, if they all get along without sticking in knives in each other all the time?
          Sex is supposed to be fun. Really. It’s the funniest thing we do, actually. 😉
          If love comes out of it, so much the better. Helps with the ‘sticking together’ part.

          1. Reasonableman Avatar
            Reasonableman

            Dont get me wrong i seen the humour behind the initial ritual of sex lol.
            I tried to make sense of the issue and compared the rumors of the false ‘sex-jihad’ to what we see, hear and picture the notorious capital of such equation being practised in european countries, hence found polygamy to be the cure. It is the cure which is in the jihadist belief and culture which proves how false the rumor is .
            All in all i took what you said for more than face value and for more then it was i guess and was just reaching out. No harm done 🙂

          2. Reasonableman Avatar
            Reasonableman

            And forgive me if there was harm done. Marriage is also about strengthening ties of kinship between families. Ofcourse if we were all too practise this one could sincerly say we have taken the first steps towards unity.
            Anyway how you been?

          3. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Reasonable … no harm at all … 🙂 If it’s fun and hurts no-one, then do it, I say. 🙂
            ‘Takes 2 to Tango’. :-)))

  3. Igor Chingoski Avatar
    Igor Chingoski

    Is this called Halal Prostitution? Or a Quickie Akbar?

  4. Igor Chingoski Avatar
    Igor Chingoski

    Is this called Halal Prostitution? Or a Quickie Akbar?

  5. Maborlz Ez-Hari Avatar
    Maborlz Ez-Hari

    Niiiiiiiiiiiiice. I want to kill myself 100 times.

  6. Maborlz Ez-Hari Avatar
    Maborlz Ez-Hari

    Niiiiiiiiiiiiice. I want to kill myself 100 times.

  7. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Assad has used every trick in his book to get everyone fighting each other instead of bumping him out.
    Why believe anything that comes out of some parts of the Middle East at all?
    The whole place is unbelievable … really.

  8. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Assad has used every trick in his book to get everyone fighting each other instead of bumping him out.
    Why believe anything that comes out of some parts of the Middle East at all?
    The whole place is unbelievable … really.

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