A clinical psychologist in Malaysia warned that the Islamic State is using images of handsome militant fighters to lure young girls to recruitment.
According to Asia News One, a Chechen militant who is fighting with the IS posted a photo on his Facebook account of Chechen fighters in the extremist group. He then captioned the photo: "Interested in any in the picture? The men here are handsome."
Associate Professor Dr Alvin Ng believes it is as an attempt to appeal to the impressionable minds of teenage girls who tend to be "short-sighted" and gravitate towards what they are attracted to.
"Hot-blooded girls and hot guys, especially those from troubled homes, may be drawn to a sense of adventure as they try to escape to what they believe would be a better place," Dr Ng said in the Asia News One article.
He warned that teenagers who feel like outcasts will fall easily prey to the marketing and recruitment techniques that are employed by the Islamic State's recruiters. Dr Ng said that these youngsters will mostly likely answer the Islamic State's call believing that it is where they belong.
Dr Ng warned that the lure of fighting for the Islamic State was not confined by geographical area as the advent of information and communications technology gives the militants a long reach.
The psychologist urged parents and guardians of teenagers to take an active hand in making them understand the consequences of their actions in order to keep them from being recruited by ISIS.
"They must make their children feel valued and appreciated, so that they would not be easily swayed to leave home," he advised.
