Mohammad Reza Dehshiri; Shahin Jozani Kohan
Volume 21, Issue 92 , October 2016, , Pages 29-63
Abstract
Central Asia constitutes an area of interest for ISIL in order to create a Transnational Advocacy Network of terrorist cells with the aim to undertake terrorist actions in the battleground ...
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Central Asia constitutes an area of interest for ISIL in order to create a Transnational Advocacy Network of terrorist cells with the aim to undertake terrorist actions in the battleground of Syria and Iraq. ISIL seeks to utilize cyberspace and new communication tools such as social networks in particular Khalifabook - a self-made website - to recruit and train people of the region and create a network of terrorist cells. This paper aims to evaluate the performance of ISIL in cyberspace and asses the employment of a network of terrorist cells in Central Asia. In this regard, the following question arises: how has ISIS attempted to create networks of terrorist cells in Central Asia? The authors believe that through propagating its messages in virtual space, ISIL seeks to recruit and train militias and establish a network of terrorist cells in Central Asia. After explaining ISIS’ new communication tools in the context of cyberspace, its goals and objectives in the virtual environment with the aim to recruit and train new forces as well as to create terrorist cells in Central Asia, this paper presents possible strategies in order to confront ISIL in this region.
