Spanish Women in Terrorist Organisations

Female terrorists are usually a minority in their organisations but their role and importance is sometimes understimated. For example, ETA members were known for their fanatism and violence. This paper asks the question: How women who joined ISIS look like? This research analyses those women sentenced in Spain for terrorist involvement during the last 10 years, and some more who are known for their involvement in terrorist organisations or who are living in conflict zones. The aim of this research is assessing their motivations and roles in the organisation. Some previous academic scholars such as Bloom (2011), Bayler (2004), Cook (2005), Cragin and Daily (2009) or Davis (2006). Nevertheless a deeper knowledge of the phenomenon is needed. The analysis is based on sentences and newspapers. Three profiles of women can be identified: those who joined the organisation to become spouses of jihadist and mothers of Califate children, those who recruited others, sometimes even their relatives, and those who joined ISIS for fighting.