TheWomen and Violent Extremism: Myth and Reality conference was jointly presented by ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs (Bell School) and Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (CAIS). It was convened by Dr Vanessa Newby (Bell School) and Dr Raihan Ismail (CAIS) pictured here speaking in a panel on women in jihadi groups with Dr Bina D'Costa (Bell School).

The podcast of the conference is available - click on the image of the session you want to hear.

The conference was opened by Professor Michael Wesley (Director of Bell School) and the Commencement address was given by ANU Distinguished Professor Amin Saikal (Director of CAIS). In his paper, Professor Saikal sought to clarify 'combative Jihad' in conceptual terms, focus on the ‘Islamic State’ and its magnetic appeal to Muslim male and female enthusiasts who have gone to Iraq and Syria, and finally, to distinguish IS from other extremist groups in history.

In an earlier panel, speakers presented their research on the appeal of violent jihad to women. These studies questioned the stereotypical approaches as to why women seek to join ISIS. In this panel (pictured from left to right) Dr Sally White (Bell School) who presented her research on the motivations of Indonesian women and their families joining jihadi groups. Research scholar Kiriloi Ingram (Bell School) presented her work on ISIS online publications directed at recruiting and influencing women.

A third panel addressed the theoretical, empirical and
personal accounts of Islamophobia in Australia, Europe and the UK. There were papers from Professor James Piscatori, Dr Shakira Hussein (University of Melbourne) and Amne Al-Rifa'i (Independent author and social commentator.

The final session looked at strategies for preventing female recruits in Australia. Discussions were based around avoiding conflict and disenfranchising young people both within Muslim communities and the wider Australian community. The speakers were Dr Leah Farrall (National Security College, ANU), Jacinta Carroll (Head of Counter-Terrorism Policy Centre, Australian Strategic Policy institute) and Professor Samina Yasmeen (Centre for Muslim States and Societies, University of Western Australia).