Former Of Terrorist Admits Social Media Is A New Field To Recruit Terrorists

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Former terrorist convict Haris Amir Falah said that many young people or millennials are exposed to radicalism and terrorism from social media. As a result, this can be used by terrorist networks to facilitate the recruitment of new members.

"Now that technology is sophisticated, these people can be recruited without meeting face to face. They can be active in dialogue, fostered through social media", said Haris in an online discussion event broadcast on YouTube, Saturday, April 3.

Social media, he continued, also makes it easier for young people to be preached without having to meet in person. Of course, this is different from previous years where recruitment was carried out by infiltrating in the middle of recitation.

"They can be in the room alone, then they can be enshrined and then tied up. So they can do doctrine without having to meet face to face", he said.

Haris revealed that several social media are often used by terrorist groups to recruit to massive buildups. Among them are the Telegram and Facebook short message applications.

"So without a meeting, someone can become a bride", he said. As for the brides Haris meant, they were those who were ready to commit suicide bombings.

Furthermore, Haris explained that young people under 30 are among the most vulnerable to being exposed to radical ideas and are easily incited to carry out acts of terror. He himself admitted that he was recruited when he was still in Senior High School.

This can happen because these young people are usually looking for an identity. This is what terrorism groups and networks exploit for recruitment.

"Under 30 years old is a vulnerable age, because they are still looking for their identity. Then they meet with doctrines that can convey what they want", said Haris.

As previously reported, several acts of terror have indeed occurred in the past week. Finally, the act of terror was carried out in the area of the National Police Headquarters on Wednesday, March 31.

This attack was carried out by a 25-year-old woman with the initials ZA. According to National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the perpetrator carried out the action alone or was a lone wolf and was affiliated with the ISIS group.

Listyo also said that ZA has been exposed to ISIS's radical ideology from social media. Also, she has a social media account that shows her support for the ideology carried by the terrorist group.

"(The perpetrator) has an Instagram that was just posted 21 hours ago in which there is an ISIS flag and there is an inscription about the problem of the jihad struggle", said Listyo some time ago.