Al-Arabiya TV recently reported that extremist groups in Syria were posting images of dead fighters on social media networks in an effort to recruit volunteers. According to the report, aired on November 5, 2013, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Instagram were among the networks used. Citing MEMRI, the report stated that the extremist groups in Syria have also begun to use the Internet to gather funds and contributions from supporters.
Following are excerpts from the report:
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV
TV anchor: "Images of extremists killed fighting in Syria, with smiles on their faces, have become a recruitment tool used by the extremist fighting groups in Syria. They use these images to attract dozens of volunteers, who surf the Internet."
Reporter: "Extremist groups fighting in Syria employ unprecedented means to recruit volunteers. These groups, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, use images of their fighters killed in the Syrian conflict. They make sure to publish images with broad smiles on their faces. This is meant to show that they were happy to die on the battlefield – or to be martyred, as these groups call it – and to help in the recruitment of new volunteers to their ranks.
"After they touch up the images, they post them on social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Instagram, in order to secure a large number of views. The images are accompanied by calls for viewers to celebrate the fighters' deaths, and to view them as heroes. These pictures have become a recruitment tool used by the extremist groups in Syria, and taking them has become common practice among the fighters.
"This recent use of the Internet by extremist groups has turned it into more than just a means of communication. A report by the executive [director] of the Middle East Media Research Institute, which specializes in monitoring websites, indicated that the extremist groups in Syria have begun to use the Internet to gather funds and contributions from supporters, as well.
"They have also begun to use Skype accounts to interview potential recruits, and to consult experts about military tactics. In the past, they would use the Internet only to document their training and to post footage of their alleged victories."
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