Regional Summit: Analysing Women’s Role in Terrorism in Southeast Asia

Semarang, 5-7 March 2024 – INITIATE.MY participated in the Regional Summit: Analysing Women’s Role in Terrorism in Southeast Asia co-organised by the The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) and the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC). The summit brought together 54 criminal justice practitioners, academics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and beyond from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. INITIATE.MY’s Board of Experts Member, Dr. Haezreena Begum and Project Coordinator, Hisham Muhaimi took part in the three-day summit held in Semarang, Indonesia.

The convening delved into the entire trajectory of women’s engagement in terrorism, commencing with the processes of radicalisation and recruitment into extremist organisations, both online and offline. Participants explored the varied motivations behind women’s involvement – whether it be support or direct participation in violent activities.

Additionally, the convening centred on strategies for collecting evidence to substantiate charges against radicalised women, the challenges and methods of repatriating women from conflict zones, and effective deradicalisation and reintegration programmes.

Dr. Haezreena Begum, spoke at a session on Criminal Justice Responses: Challenges and Innovations in Evidence-Based Investigations and Prosecutions of Women within Terrorist Groups. In her presentation, she explored the nexus between terrorism and human trafficking. Human trafficking within terrorism encompasses activities such as combat, suicide bombing, espionage, sexual servitude, childbirth, forced labour, and various other forms. These practices are facilitated through methods such as threats, coercion, abduction, and deception. Additionally, in certain cases, the allure of attractive benefits or financial compensation may also influence individuals to join terrorist groups.

She also spoke about the male saviour syndrome in managing women Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and the need to have a proper victim protection framework in the context of Malaysia. Looking forward, she stressed that the law enforcement authorities and first responders have the ultimate responsibility to protect, respect, and fulfil women and children’s rights in the process of repatriation of women FTFs to Malaysia. Deradicalisation programmes for returnees and detainees should be implemented sensitively to avoid re-traumatisation.