Shots and explosions often broke the silence of the night in Raqqa, and after hearing more shots than usual, Umm Khattab feared the state was under attack: “Me and the sisters thought maybe murtads [apostates] were in the city lol I put the belt on and everything.”
She was referring to an explosive belt, a device anyone could utilize in the event of an attack. In so doing, you also ensured you were not taken as spoils of war, with the awful fate that could befall a female prisoner.
The rulers’ thoughts became the ruling thoughts. At least online, the wives of the foreign fighters accepted what truth they were served. It was haram to question established truths.
The circle of friends back home that Ayan sometimes chatted with had diminished. Many had broken off contact with her. They were afraid of PST surveillance, but it was also due to how dogmatic she had become. One Iraqi classmate from Dønski continued to chat with her online, and on one occasion wrote how shocked she was by the rape of Yazidi and Kurdish women by IS. It was against Islam, she said.
Ayan interrupted her. “They’re not women, they’re spoils of war.”
“What?”
“It says so in the Koran. It’s allowed.”
“They’re being abducted and used as sex slaves!”
“Spoils of war,” Ayan merely repeated.
“You’re in favor of this??”
“The fighters need sexual release. They’re men after all.”
Her friend had had enough. It was the last time they chatted.
* * *
On September 10, 2014, President Barack Obama gave a speech announcing that the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria was to be intensified. Referring to the organization as ISIL—the Islamic State in the Levant—he said:
“ISIL is not ‘Islamic.’ No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL’s victims have been Muslim … We will degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy.”
The strategy consisted of four parts: systematic air strikes, increased support to the forces fighting on the ground, counterterrorist operations to prevent attacks, and humanitarian aid to displaced civilians. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Arab leaders in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia the following day, and within hours a coalition of ten states that would fight alongside the Americans had been formed.
In mid-September, three weeks after her brother had accused her of ruining his life, Ayan responded.
“Don’t lay the blame on me, I found the truth, moved out ASAP and made a life for myself, as did Leila, and Mom. Dad has been nuts for a while, it just wasn’t so obvious before. The only reason I can think of that Mom might hate you is that you have abandoned Islam. Move where you want and do what you please, but don’t lose yourself. I didn’t want to leave you but I had to go.”
“You did not have to go.”
Ayan’s reply came ten days later, at two thirty in the morning. “I did, I had to leave because we’re at war with kuffar aka non-Muslims so continuing to live in a non-Muslim country can mean you go to hell. Btw there’s a lot of bombing going on here, we’re in more danger than before, so make sure to say a big hello to everyone from me and Leila.”
Ismael had been woken up by the accompanying ping.
“Wow. Thought you were dead. Do you really believe IS is going to take over the world?”
“Yes, I do, just look how much we have taken over in such a short time.”
“Be a little realistic, Ayan. I know you’re smart. You’re going to end up being killed in the bombing. You think it’s a good way to die because then you’ll feel you stood for something and took part in jihad. That’s it.”
“How are things in your little world so?!”
“Sad to see my sisters offering their bodies to retards fighting to get killed, otherwise it’s all good.”
“HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA better to die than to live life like a loser.”
“You’re not a loser if you don’t live like one.”
“Good to hear you’re doing okay. Some people are successful in the next life and some are successful in this life, but I feel sorry for those who are in between.”
“I feel sorry for people who believe that kind of rubbish.”
“So what’s happening in Norway? Did you get into college?”
“I’m taking a year out. Trying to get a job. Hoping to see you before you die.” Ismael typed in a sad emoji.
“Being a house cleaner is always an option, then again that requires schooling too. Hang in there! What’s happening with Dad? Are you living with him?”
“Yep. At the moment we’re pretty poooor.”
“We sure aren’t.”
“Send me mon-nay pls hahaha.”
“Come here and work. You would have to follow the norms and rules in this country though.”
“Wouldn’t dare.”
“But weren’t you talking about going to Jamaica?”
“Hahaha then Mom really would commit suicide, her daughters went off to wage jihad and get married, Ismael left to get high with Jamaicans.”
* * *
The Syrian army intensified its air strikes on Raqqa in autumn 2014. When IS took control of Tabaqa air base in the first week of September, its revenge was merciless. Pilots and ground crew attempting to flee were shot. Soldiers who had surrendered were forced to strip down to their underwear. They were forced to run through the arid desert until they were ordered to stop and shot one by one at close range. The sand swiftly soaked up the blood.
IS was hungry to expand the caliphate, and by mid-September an offensive against the Kurdish-dominated city of Kobane in the north of Syria was under way.
On September 22, the United States and the coalition dropped their first bombs in Syria. Raqqa, targets in Idlib province, and military bases
