Religion and Politics

An Arrest in Lebanon Lifts the Veil on the Life of Islamic State Leader’s Ex-Wife

For The Washington Post, Hugh Naylor and Suzan Haidamous report on the investigation by Lebanese authorities of Saja al-Dulaimi, ex-wife of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Dualimi’s life story shines light onto both the culture of radicalism in Iraq and Syria and the roles of women in militant Islam, the authors report. “Organizations like the Islamic State are known for portraying women in traditional roles—like cooking and cleaning for men. But the allegations against Dulaimi reflect how some women have assumed more dangerous jobs in militant Islamist groups,” including transferring funds, collecting intelligence, and carrying out suicide operations.

Read at The Washington Post

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