A Message to the World from the

#ChildrenOfTheIslamicState

Evidence of Child Maltreatment by the

Islamic State on Social Media

R. Alan Martín

September 2014

You will not enter paradise until you have faith;

and you will not complete your faith till you

love one another.

—Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.)

Content Advisory

This PowerPoint presentation includes uncensored photos of acts of

violence, including war crimes and crimes against humanity—children

are witness to these acts in the territories occupied by the Islamic State.

Childhood exposure to acts of violence have a long-term effect on

individuals, families and our global community.

Copyright Notice

©2014 R. Alan Martín This work is for educational purposes only.

Reproduction or dissemination of this document for commercial purposes is

strictly prohibited. Some images are used under 17 U.S.C. § 107 “Fair Use”

and no rights are held or implied by the author of this document.

Permission for modifications to the PowerPoint document are granted for

localized use and for educational purposes only, all other uses are prohibited.

Questions or Comments:

R. Alan Martín

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Research on the long-term effects of childhood

maltreatment

3. Research on childhood exposure to war and violence

4. IS maltreatment of children for propaganda

5. IS maltreatment of children through exposure to acts of

violence

6. Addressing the needs of maltreated children

7. Figures

8. References

Islamic State Media Center

Figure 1. Islamic State media center (@7ums_sisi, 9 September 2014).

1. Introduction

Psychological trauma flows from one generation to the

next—the lines of perpetrator and victim are often blurred.

Subjected to centuries of armed conflict, populations in the

Middle East are now facing a new threat in the form of the

Islamic State (IS). The maltreatment of children by the IS is

creating a psychological disaster that has far-reaching

consequences for the region and our society.

These children need immediate support and assistance for

the psychological damage inflicted by the IS.

2. Research on the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Maltreatment

1. Results in lifelong changes to the brain, particularly in

the hippocampus, amygdala, nterior cingulate cortex and

medial prefrontal cortex (Bremner, 2009; Child Welfare,

2009; Cromie, 2003; Hanson, et. Al., 2014; Herringa, et.

Al., 2013; Jha, 2012; Kolassa, 2007; van der Kolk, 2003;

Kuehn, 2014; Moroz, 2005; Nicholson, 2014; Schulte,

2013; Sherin & Nemeroff, 2011; Szalavitz, 2012; Teicher,

2000; Teicher, n.d.; Teicher, et. al, 2012).

2. Results in genetic changes (Barclay, 2014; Douglas

University, 2012; Mehta, et. al., 2013; Nieratschker, et.

al., 2014; Romens, et. al., 2014).

3. Specific Research on Childhood Exposure to War and Violence

1. Childhood exposure to armed conflict as lifelong consequences (Allen & Lazareva, 2014; Allwood, 2002; Catani, et. al., 2009; Chatterjee, 2014; Fasfous, et. al., 2013; Goldstein, et. al., 1997; Lavallee, 2014; Ligner, 2009; Qouta & Sarraj, 2004; Rokhy, 2011; Said & Zahriyeh, 2014; Silverman, 2012; Singal, 2014; Thabet, et. al., 2014).

2. The impact of traumatic exposure to armed conflict and violence is transmitted to future generations (Bloom, 2009; Debieca & Sullivan, 2014; ICRC, 2011; Knox, 2014; Saunders, 2014;).

4. Maltreatment of Children for Propaganda

• The following are examples of children maltreated by the

Islamic State for propaganda purposes.

• The images are uncensored and disturbing.

Figure 2. Young child photographed with rifle (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.)

Figure 3. Young girl at left with an automatic rifle poses with a group of children (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to

justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.).

Figure 4. Young child photographed with rifle (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.)

Figure 5.Young boy holds an automatic rifle and gives the one finger sign—only one God—Allah (@Wilaiat_Halab2,

posted to justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.).

Figure 6. Young child photographed with rifle (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.)

Figure 7. Children pose with an Islamic State militant (@90B90, 28 August 2014).

Figure 8. In this edited photograph children give the one God—Allah sign in front of the flag of the Islamic State

(@Nashr_is, 20 August 2014).

Figure 9. Children at an Islamic State gathering in Yarmouk refugee camp, Syria (@AubuYazidMuawlya, 1 July 2014).

Figure 10. Children at an Islamic State gathering in Yarmouk refugee camp, Syria (@AubuYazidMuawlya, 1 July 2014).

Figure 11. Children at an Islamic State gathering in Yarmouk refugee camp, Syria (@AubuYazidMuawlya, 1 July 2014).

Figure 12. Tweet with the cartoon characters Tom and Jerry—the children of the Islamic State (Tom ND JERRy

@nd_jerry, reposted by Terrorist13 @yyyyyyytttyy, 7 September 2014).

Figure 13. The difference between a kid fighting for Khilafa and a kid fighting for democracy (@Al_Jabali, 5 September 2014).

Figure 14. A child solider of the Islamic State (@w_salahadden, n.d.).

5. Maltreatment of Children through Exposure to Acts of Violence

• The following are examples of children maltreated by the

Islamic State through exposure to violence.

• The images depict war crimes and crimes against

humanity.

• The images are uncensored and disturbing.

Figure 15. Young child with pistol in one hand is photographed in front of a dead Iraqi soilder (@AubuYazidMuawlya,

26 July 2014).

Figure 16. Two young children gaze at a severed head (@fozi_h, 26 August 2014).

Figure 17. A young boy carries a severed head through the streets while other children follow along (Terrorist13

@yyyyyyytttyy, 3 September 2014).

Figure 18. A young boy standing on the right watches the beheading of an Islamic State prisoner (@90B90, 22 August 2014).

Figure 19. Our kids favorite game. A masked child decapitates a doll in front of the flag of the Islamic State (@aleek55, 2

September 2014).

Figure 20. The decapitation of James Foley shown with a child beheading a doll (@90B90, 22 August 2014).

Figure 21. Child involved in the decapitation of a prisoner (@FARIIS_S, 9 September 2014).

6. Addressing the Needs of Maltreated Children

• Although exposure to violence and armed conflict have

long-term consequences, there are interventions to help

and protect maltreated children (Butchart, et. al, 2006;

ICRC, 2003; UNICEF, 2014 & 2013; World Health

Organization, 2013).

7. Figures

Figure 1. Islamic State broadcast station (@7ums_sisi, 9 September 2014).

Figure 2. Young child with an automatic rifle (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.).

Figure 3Figure 3. Young girl at left with an automatic rifle poses with a group of children (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to

justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.).

Figure 4. Young child photographed with rifle (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.)

Figure 5. Young boy holds an automatic rifle and gives the one finger sign—only one God—Allah (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to

justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.).

Figure 6. Young child photographed with rifle (@Wilaiat_Halab2, posted to justpaste.it/KidsHalab, n.d.).

Figure 7. Children pose with an Islamic State militant (@90B90, 28 August 2014).

Figure 8. In this edited photograph children give the one God—Allah sign in front of the flag of the Islamic State (@Nashr_is, 20 August

2014).

Figure 9. Children at an Islamic State gathering in Yarmouk refugee camp, Syria (@AubuYazidMuawlya, 1 July 2014).

Figure 10. Children at an Islamic State gathering in Yarmouk refugee camp, Syria (@AubuYazidMuawlya, 1 July 2014).

Figure 11. Children at an Islamic State gathering in Yarmouk refugee camp, Syria (@AubuYazidMuawlya, 1 July 2014).

Figure 12. Tweet with the cartoon characters Tom and Jerry—the children of the Islamic State (Tom ND JERRy @nd_jerry, reposted by

Terrorist13 @yyyyyyytttyy, 7 September 2014).

Figures

Figure 13. The difference between a kid fighting for Khilafa and a kid fighting for democracy (@Al_Jabali, 5 September 2014).

Figure 14. A child solider of the Islamic State (@w_salahadden, n.d.).

Figure 15. Young child with pistol in one hand is photographed in front of a dead Iraqi soilder (@AubuYazidMuawlya, 26 July 2014).

Figure 16. Two young children gaze at a severed head (@fozi_h, 26 August 2014).

Figure 17. A young boy carries a severed head through the streets while other children follow along (Terrorist13 @yyyyyyytttyy, 3

September 2014).

Figure 18. A young boy standing on the right watches the beheading of an Islamic State prisoner (@90B90, 22 August 2014).

Figure 19. Our kids favorite game. A masked child decapitates a doll in front of the flag of the Islamic State (@aleek55, 2 September

2014).

Figure 20. At left the decapitation of James Foley shown with a child beheading a doll (@90B90, 22 August 2014).

Figure 21. Child involved in the decapitation of a prisoner (@FARIIS_S, 9 September 2014).

8. References

Allen, N., & Lazareva, I. (2014, August 7). Gaza conflict 'causing PTSD in children' after seeing dead bodies and witnessing heavy

shelling - Telegraph. Retrieved August 8, 2014, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/gaza/11020070/Gaza-

conflict-causing-PTSD-in-children-after-seeing-dead-bodies-and-witnessing-heavy-shelling.html

Allwood, M. A., Bell-Dolan, D., & Husain, S. A. (2002). Children's trauma and adjustment reactions to violent and nonviolent war

experiences. Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(4), 450-457. Retrieved from

http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/Articles/48.pdf

Barclay, R. (2014, July 29). Stress and Trauma in Childhood Affect Gene Expression for Life. Retrieved from

http://www.healthline.com/health-news/childhood-stress-affects-genes-for-life-072914

Bloom , S. L. (2009). An elephant in the room: The impact of traumatic stress on individuals and groups. In Brown, K and Bergo B. (eds)

In The Trauma Controversy: Philosophical and Interdisciplinary Dialogues. Albany, NY: SUNY. Retrieved from

http://www.sanctuaryweb.com/PDFs_new/Bloom%20An%20Elephant%20in%20the%20Room.pdf

Bremner, J. D. (2006). Traumatic stress: Effects on the brain. Dialogs in Clinical Neuroscience, 2006(8), 445-461. Retrieved from

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181836/pdf/DialoguesClinNeurosci-8-445.pdf

Butchart A., Harvey A.P., Mian M., Furniss T. (2006). Preventing child maltreatment: a guide to taking action and generating evidence.

Geneva: World Health Organization and International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Retrieved from

http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/violence/child_maltreatment/en/ [Arabic, English, French, Chinese,

Italian & Spanish]

Catani, C., Schauer, E., Elbert, T., Missmahl, I., Bette, J., & Neuner, F. (2009). War trauma, child labor, and family violence: Life

adversities and PTSD in a sample of school children in Kabul. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22(3), 163-171. doi:10.1002/jts.20415

References

Catani, C., Schauer, E., Elbert, T., Missmahl, I., Bette, J., & Neuner, F. (2009). War trauma, child labor, and family violence: Life

adversities and PTSD in a sample of school children in Kabul. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22(3), 163-171. doi:10.1002/jts.20415

Chatterjee, S. (2012, December 9). For Child Soldiers, Every Day Is A Living Nightmare - Forbes. Retrieved August 15, 2014, from

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/12/09/for-child-soldiers-every-day-is-a-living-nightmare/

Child Welfare Information Gateway (U.S.) (2009). Effects of Maltreatment on Brain Development. Retrieved June 8, 2014, from

https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/issue_briefs/brain_development/effects.cfm

Cromie , W. J. (2003, May 22). Harvard Gazette: Childhood abuse hurts the brain. Retrieved November 3, 2013, from

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2003/05.22/01-brain.html

Debieca, J., & Sullivan, R. M. (2014). Intergenerational transmission of emotional trauma through amygdala-dependent mother-to-infant

transfer of specific fear. PNAS, 111(33), 12222–12227. Retrieved from http://www.pnas.org/content/111/33/12222.full.pdf+html

Douglas Mental Health University Institute (2012, August 6). Child abuse and its epigenetic effects - News - Douglas Mental Health

University Institute. Retrieved July 15, 2013, from http://www.douglas.qc.ca/news/1145?locale=en

Fasfous, A. F., Peralta-Ramírez, I., & Pérez-García, M. (2013). Symptoms of PTSD among children living in war zones in same cultural

context and different situations. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 7(2), 47-61. Retrieved from

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/p/pod/dod-idx/symptoms-of-ptsd-among-children-living-in-war-zones-in-

same.pdf?c=jmmh;idno=10381607.0007.203

References

Goldstein, R. D., Wampler, N. S., & Wise, P. H. (1997). War experiences and distress symptoms of Bosnian children. Pediatrics, 100(5),

873 -878 . doi:10.1542/peds.100.5.873

Hanson, J. L., Nacewicz, B. M., Sutterer, M. J., Cayo, A. A., Schaefer, S. M., Rudolph, K. D., . . . Shirtcliff, E. A. (2014). Behavioral

problems after early life stress: Contributions of the hippocampus and amygdala. Biological Psychiatry. Retrieved from

http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223%2814%2900351-5/pdf

Herringa, R. J., Birn, R. M., Ruttle, P. L., Burghy, C. A., Stodola, D. E., Davidson, R. J., & Essex, M. J. (2013, November 19). Childhood

maltreatment is associated with altered fear circuitry and increased internalizing symptoms by late adolescence. Retrieved April 1,

2014, from http://www.pnas.org/content/110/47/19119

International Committee of the Red Cross (2011). Children affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence: Workshop report,

Geneva, 14-16 March 2011. Geneva: International Committee of the Red Cross. [English, French & Spanish] Retrieved from

http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/publications/icrc-002-4082.pdf

International Committee of the Red Cross (2003). Children in war. Geneva: International Committee of the Red Cross. [English, French &

Spanish] Retrieved from http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/icrc_002_4015.pdf

Jha, A. (2012, February 13). Childhood abuse may stunt growth of part of brain involved in emotions | Science | The Guardian. Retrieved

July 21, 2014, from http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/feb/13/childhood-abuse-growth-brain-emotions

References

Knox, S. (2014, February 28). Trauma Is Contagious - The Atlantic. Retrieved from

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/02/trauma-is-contagious/283856/?single_page=true

Kolassa, I., Wienbruch, C., Neuner, F., Schauer, M., Ruf, M., Odenwald, M., & Elbert, T. (2007). Imaging the trauma: altered cortical

dynamics after repeated traumatic stress. BMC Psychiatry, 56(7). Retrieved from

http://humanrights.ucdavis.edu/resources/library/documents-and-reports/imaging_the_trauma.pdf

van der Kolk, B. A. (2003). The neurobiology of childhood trauma and abuse. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America,

12(2), 293-317. Retrieved from http://www.thefpr.org/traumaprivate/pdf/DEV_van_der_Kolk.pdf

Kuehn, B. M. (2014). AAP: Toxic stress threatens kids’ long-term health. JAMA, 312(6), 585-586. Retrieved from

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1892631

Lavallee, G. (2014, August 3). Agence France-Presse - Children of Gaza face struggle to conquer wartrauma | usanews.com. Retrieved

August 5, 2014, from http://www.news.net/article/1710797/children-of-gaza-face-struggle-to-conquer-war-

trauma?referid=&sid=1nh1ttsf4if0c8p66nj8a62va2

Ligner, I. (2009, January 15). Liberia's psychiatric wasteland for ex-child soldiers | News | Africa | Mail & Guardian. Retrieved October 10,

2013, from http://mg.co.za/article/2009-01-15-liberias-psychiatric-wasteland-for-exchild-soldiers

Mehta, D., Klengela, T., Conneelyb, K. N., Smithc, A. K., Altmanna, A., Pacec, T. W., . . . Rex-Haffnera, M. (2013). Childhood

maltreatment is associated with distinct genomic and epigenetic profiles in posttraumatic stress disorder. PNAS, 110(20), 8302 –

8307. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3657772/pdf/pnas.201217750.pdf

References

Moroz, K. J. (2005). The effects of psychological trauma on children and adolescents. Retrieved from Vermont Agency of Human

Services, Department of Health, Division of Mental Health website http://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/sites/dmh/files/report/cafu/DMH-

CAFU_Psychological_Trauma_Moroz.pdf

Nicholson, C. (2014, August 16). Childhood Stress Decreases Size of Brain Regions - Scientific American. Retrieved from

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/childhood-stress-decreases-size-of-brain-regions/

Nieratschker, V., Massart, R., Gilles, M., Luoni, A., Suderman, M. J., Krumm, B., . . . Meier, S. (2014). MORC1 exhibits cross-species

differential methylation in association with early life stress as well as genome-wide association with MDD. Translational Psychiatry,

4(429). Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/tp/journal/v4/n8/pdf/tp201475a.pdf

Qouta, S., & Sarraj, E. (2004). Prevalence of PTSD among Palestinian children in Gaza Strip. Arab Psynet Journal, 2(2004), 8-13.

Retrieved from http://www.arabpsynet.com/archives/op/opj2.qouta.ptsd.pdf

Rokhy, R. (2011, October 24). Israeli and Palestinian children raised in the conflict are likely to have stress disorders | Daily Sundial.

Retrieved August 8, 2014, from http://sundial.csun.edu/2011/10/israeli-and-palestinian-children-raised-in-the-conflict-are-likely-to-

have-stress-disorders/

Romens, Jennifer McDonald, John Svaren, and Seth D. Pollak, S. E., McDonald, J., Svaren, J., & Pollak, S. D. (2014). Associations

between early life stress and gene methylation in children. Child Development. Retrieved from

http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/childemotion/pubs/2014-AssociationsBetweenEarlyLifeStressGeneMethylationInChildren.pdf

Said, H., & Zahriyeh, E. (2014, July 31). Gaza’s kids affected psychologically, physically by lifetime of violence | Al Jazeera America.

Retrieved August 8, 2014, from http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/8/1/health-gaza-children.html

References

Saunders, R. (2014, August 18). Palestinian Kids’ PTSD Could Last Generations - The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 18, 2014, from

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/18/palestinian-kids-ptsd-could-last-generations.html

Schulte, S. (2013, September 12). Effects of child abuse and neglect, if untreated, can last a lifetime, study finds. The Washington Post.

Retrieved June 3, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/new-report-finds-that-untreated-the-effects-of-child-abuse-and-

neglect-can-last-a-lifetime/2013/09/12/1edc0bdc-1bc7-11e3-82ef-a059e54c49d0_story.html

Sherin, J. E., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2011). Post-Traumatic stress disorder: The neurobiological impact of psychological trauma. Dialogs in

Clinical Neuroscience, 13(3), 263 - 278. Retrieved from

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3182008/pdf/DialoguesClinNeurosci-13-263.pdf

Silverman, A. (2012, November 21). Anav Silverman: The Children of Gaza's Rocket War. Retrieved August 8, 2014, from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anav-silverman/the-children-of-gazas-roc_2_b_2170167.html

Singal, J. (2014, July 22). A Youth-PTSD Catastrophe Is Brewing in Gaza -- Science of Us. Retrieved July 29, 2014, from

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/07/youth-ptsd-catastrophe-is-brewing-in-gaza.html

Szalavitz, M. (2012, February 15). How Child Abuse Primes the Brain for Future Mental Illness. TIME.com. Retrieved June 5, 2014, from

http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/15/how-child-abuse-primes-the-brain-for-future-mental-illness/

Teicher, M. H. (2000, October 1). The Dana Foundation - Wounds that time won’t heal: The neurobiology of child abuse. Retrieved

November 9, 2013, from

https://dana.org/Cerebrum/2000/Wounds_That_Time_Won%E2%80%99t_Heal__The_Neurobiology_of_Child_Abuse /

References

Teicher, M. H. (n.d.) Windows of vulnerability: Neurobiology of childhood abuse [PDF]. Retrieved from

http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Children/UnderstandingChildAbuse/Presentations/Teicher12612.pdf

Teicher, M. H., Anderson, C. M., & Polcari, A. (2012). Childhood maltreatment is associated with reduced volume in the hippocampal

subfields CA3, dentate gyrus, and subiculum. PNAS Plus - Biological Sciences - Neuroscience: Retrieved from

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/02/07/1115396109.full.pdf+html

Thabet, A., El-Buhaisi, O., & Vostanis, P. (2014). Trauma, PTSD, anxiety and coping strategies among Palestinians adolescents exposed

to war in Gaza. The Arab Journal of Psychiatry, 25(1), 71-82. Retrieved from

http://www.arabjpsychiat.com/media/PDF/2014_n/the_arab_journal_2014.pdf

UNICEF Division of Data, Research and Policy,. (2014). Hidden in plain sight: A statistical analysis of violence against children. Retrieved

from United Nations Children's Fund website:

http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Hidden_in_plain_sight_statistical_analysis_EN_3_Sept_2014.pdf

United Nations Children's Fund (2013). Child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse. Retrieved December 5, 2013, from

http://www.unicef.org/protection/

World Health Organization (2013). Child maltreatment. Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://www.who.int/topics/child_abuse/en/