Isis wedding certificate shows jihadi bride demanding right to be a suicide bomber as condition of getting married
The certificate is signed by both the husband and wife
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An Isis marriage certificate is being circulated among supporters of the extremist group after the bride included being allowed to carry out a suicide attack as a condition of marriage.
The document states that the woman should be allowed to go on a “martyrdom operation” should Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis, approve her request.
It stipulates the husband must not forbid her from undertaking such a mission, and is signed by both parties.
The document was first shared by Elijah Magnier, the chief international correspondent for Al-Rai Media, who stressed that the certificate was not the group officially allowing 'jihadi brides' to commit suicide missions.
Essentially, he said the woman wanted to be a suicide bomber and therefore included this as her condition in the contract.
“A woman [living under Isis] has the right to put conditions to accept the marriage,” he explained. “This woman's condition was that her husband won't deny her wish to carry a suicide attack, if Amir al Mo'mineen (Baghdadi) accepts her (previous) demand.
“She is probably very young and enthusiastic,” he added. “Her demand to be a ‘martyr’ may have been formulated in an earlier one before her acceptance of a marriage offer. So she kept her "desire to be a martyr" standing and wanted to see it registered.
“Now, she may change her mind if she becomes pregnant or has children, or she may keep her same level of enthusiasm.
“But, among her girlfriends, she can show off and say: 'I am still a martyr candidate'."
Charlie Winter, a researcher at the counter extremism think tank Quilliam, also contradicted suggestions that Isis is about to send brigades of women on suicide bombing missions.
Mr Winter told The Independent: “The certificate does say that the wife’s terms are that of if the caliph consents then she is allowed to go on a martyrdom operation and her husband can’t forbid her from doing so.
“Nowhere does it refer to 'orders', nowhere does it suggest this is actually happening and nowhere does it suggest that this is a regular marriage contract. It was even being circulated among Isis as a curiosity, as something funny.”
Mr Winter said the document was tweeted by a female Isis member with the tag line “only in the caliphate” as a way of highlighting how unusual such a condition is.
“It’s an obscure expression of feminist jihadism in some sense but what it isn’t is evidence that Isis is ordering brigades of women to carry out bomb attacks,” he added.
“It is not remotely indicative of any orders from among high - that is a complete misreading of it.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments