02-26-2019, 05:04 PM
(02-26-2019, 04:26 PM)Dill Wrote: You and Bels are having a great discussion. I don't have time to jump in, and probably won't till tomorrow.
But I can't resist tossing out one question--who would conduct Muthana's trial in Syria? The Alawite regime we don't consider legitimate? This would be like sending El Chapo back to Mexico to be tried by another drug cartel.
Not really a good analogy, but I understand your point. We do put ourselves in a bit of a legal bind by stating the Assad regime is not legitimate. I would state that Us citizens being tried under regimes we consider illegitimate is not without precedent. I see no reason why this circumstance would be special.
Quote:Also, to whom is ISIS propaganda addressed in the West? Mostly to people like Muthana. Understanding why the group was attractive to her is important to people trying to counter ISIS propaganda in the UK and the US. Someone explaining, first, how she was fooled or brainwashed or whatever, and second, what life was really like under ISIS government, might seem very useful to people addressing at risk audiences.
I can make the exact same argument with street gangs. None of that absolves someone of the illegal acts committed by them while a member. Additionally, we aren't talking about a minor, at least in the Muthana case. Adults should have to deal with the consequences of their actions.
Quote:I'm not the only one who thinks so:
To Syria And Back: How 2 Women Escaped Their Radicalized Husband
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/08/635252666/to-syria-and-back-how-2-women-escaped-their-radicalized-husbands
The former ‘First Lady of ISIS’ now loves Reform Jews, plans to visit Jerusalem
https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-former-first-lady-of-isis-now-loves-reform-jews-plans-to-visit-jerusalem/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-was-an-isis-bride-from-london-then-one-day-i-escaped-xj57jsv0q
More later.
There's a point to be made there, these people could, possibly, help de-radicalize others or give an insight into how they were radicalized. They can do all of that after they serve time for their crimes. Alternatively, they could return and bring their special brand of Isis related propaganda and beliefs with them. Personally, I don't want anyone who willingly joined ISIS to enter the US, ever. I realize that may not always be an option and in Muthana's case if she is determined to be a US citizen I don't believe we have to go and get her or to provide her with a US passport. If that's the case I would not expend any effort in doing either. She made her bed, she can lie in it.
I will point this out in closing. In each instance you used examples of females who joined ISIS. Would we be having this discussion if we were talking about a young man who willingly traveled there and joined? If not, then we must ask ourselves why we would treat these women differently.
