Jihad Cool

Jihad Cool is a term used by American security experts^[1] concerning the rebranding of militant jihadism into something fashionable, or "cool" to younger people through social media, magazines,^[2] rap videos,^[3] clothing,^[4] propaganda videos,^[5] and other means.^[6]

It is a subculture mainly applied to individuals in developed nations who are recruited to travel to conflict zones on Jihad. For example, Jihadi rap videos make participants look "more MTV than Mosque", according to NPR, which was the first to report on the phenomenon in 2010.^[1]^[7] Addressing the issue of Jihad Cool was identified by Demos as one of the best ways to tackle Islamic extremism.^[8]

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[1]
Laura Italiano (June 20, 2014). "American Muslims flocking to jihadist group". New York Post. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
[2]
Steve Emerson (April 15, 2013). "Jihad is Cool: Jihadist Magazines Recruit Young Terrorists". Family Security Matters. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
[3]
J. Dana Stuster (April 29, 2013). "9 Disturbingly Good Jihadi Raps". Foreign Policy. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
[4]
Picart, Caroline Joan S. (April 22, 2015). ""Jihad Cool/Jihad Chic": The Roles of the Internet and Imagined Relations in the Self-Radicalization of Colleen LaRose (Jihad Jane)". Societies. 5 (2): 354–383. doi:10.3390/soc5020354.
[5]
Jytte Klausen (2012). "The YouTube Jihadists: A Social Network Analysis of Al-Muhajiroun's Propaganda Campaign". Perspectives on Terrorism. 6 (1). Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
[6]
Cheryl K. Chumley (June 27, 2014). "Terrorists go 'Jihad Cool,' use rap to entice young Americans". Washington Times. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
[7]
Dina Temple-Raston (March 6, 2010). "Jihadi Cool: Terrorist Recruiters' Latest Weapon". National Public Radio. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
[8]
“Defeat al Qaeda by removing its "cool" image; The way to beat al Qaeda and stop Islamist groups gaining recruits to violent causes is to remove their "cool" image and make fun of terrorists instead, according to a major international study published on Friday,” Michael Holden, April 15, 2010, Reuters.

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[nypost-1] [1]
Laura Italiano (June 20, 2014). "American Muslims flocking to jihadist group". New York Post. Retrieved August 22, 2014.

[2] [2]
Steve Emerson (April 15, 2013). "Jihad is Cool: Jihadist Magazines Recruit Young Terrorists". Family Security Matters. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2014.

[3] [3]
J. Dana Stuster (April 29, 2013). "9 Disturbingly Good Jihadi Raps". Foreign Policy. Retrieved August 22, 2014.

[4] [4]
Picart, Caroline Joan S. (April 22, 2015). ""Jihad Cool/Jihad Chic": The Roles of the Internet and Imagined Relations in the Self-Radicalization of Colleen LaRose (Jihad Jane)". Societies. 5 (2): 354–383. doi:10.3390/soc5020354.

[5] [5]
Jytte Klausen (2012). "The YouTube Jihadists: A Social Network Analysis of Al-Muhajiroun's Propaganda Campaign". Perspectives on Terrorism. 6 (1). Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.

[6] [6]
Cheryl K. Chumley (June 27, 2014). "Terrorists go 'Jihad Cool,' use rap to entice young Americans". Washington Times. Retrieved August 22, 2014.

[npr-7] [7]
Dina Temple-Raston (March 6, 2010). "Jihadi Cool: Terrorist Recruiters' Latest Weapon". National Public Radio. Retrieved August 22, 2014.

[Holden-8] [8]
“Defeat al Qaeda by removing its "cool" image; The way to beat al Qaeda and stop Islamist groups gaining recruits to violent causes is to remove their "cool" image and make fun of terrorists instead, according to a major international study published on Friday,” Michael Holden, April 15, 2010, Reuters.

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Jihad Cool

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References