The Real Front Lines of the ‘War on Women’

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is determined to reestablish an Islamic Caliphate (a state ruled by Shariah law, led by a supreme religious and political leader known as a caliph – i.e., “successor” to Muhammad) across the Middle East.  And what’s more, in pursuit of their agenda, the terrorist organization has adopted “convert or die” as its mantra.  

 

In particular, the Yazidis (of Kurdish culture), have been specifically and ruthlessly targeted by ISIS for extermination.  Current figures estimate that some 500 Yazidi refugees have been slaughtered since the crisis first began.

 

But the terrorist group’s propensity for barbarism is not merely exposed by their bloodthirstiness and ideology.  There have also been reports that many of these jihadists are kidnapping young girls and keeping them as sex slaves for themselves, or profiting off their innocence.  Of course, many of these reports are difficult to substantiate; but the anguish of one father who recently learned that his daughter will soon be sold into slavery underscores the depravity of ISIS and its evil tactics via The Guardian:

 

For the past week, Khandhar Kaliph’s hands have trembled whenever his phone has rung.  He nervously greeted his daughter, who had been kidnapped when the ISIS overran the Yazidi city of Sinjar.  There was a minute of silence, before he broke down sobbing.  “She said she is going to be sold as a slave this afternoon, for $10,” Kaliph said.  “What can a father say to that?  How can I help?  We all feel so useless.”

 

Kaliph’s daughter, who he did not want to name, had access to a group phone passed around between other girls imprisoned by the ISIS in Bardoush prison in central Mosul.  All face the imminent prospect of being married off; or worse, being used by the jihadis as a sex slave.

 

Those of us in the Western world can only read these reports with horror and revulsion.  This is evil personified.  And yet the Obama Administration maintains that the U.S. is not in an open state of war with these extremists.  That might be true; but can there be any doubt that ISIS is at war with us … and with all humanity?

 

This is the real “war on women” … as opposed to the politicized and polarizing cliché so often used in American party politics.  

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel