Women’s Wings: Terrorism’s Expanding Frontier
The recent Red Fort car blast in
New Delhi has not only exposed operational vulnerabilities but also illuminated
a worrying new chapter in terrorism: the structured, strategic use of women in
extremist organisations.
What was once seen as a
male-dominated ecosystem is rapidly evolving into a gender-inclusive machinery
in which women are no longer peripheral supporters but embedded operatives,
recruiters, and ideological enforcers.
The revelation that a women’s
wing played a crucial role in the Red Fort incident underscores how deeply and
deliberately terrorist groups are integrating women into their command
structure.
The Red Fort attack involved more
than the placement of explosives in a public zone. Investigations revealed that
women were actively involved in the planning, organisation, and support of the
attack. Dr. Shaheen Saeed, a medical doctor, was reportedly tasked with
assisting in the creation and oversight of a clandestine women’s division
connected to the group in question.
Her role extended beyond simple
ideological sympathy; she was allegedly involved in recruitment, logistical
coordination, and providing a civilian front that masked the network’s
operational activities.
This is a significant departure
from earlier patterns, where women associated with extremists were often seen
as passive sympathisers or reluctant family members. In this case, women were
part of the terror architecture itself.
The leadership behind this wing
reportedly relied on women from educated and professional backgrounds. This is
strategically astute from the perspective of extremist groups: educated women
often have more credibility in their communities, greater access to social
networks, and can move through public spaces without attracting suspicion.
A female doctor, for example,
possesses societal legitimacy and professional trust that can be manipulated to
shield illicit operations. This approach also diversifies the group’s talent
pool, drawing individuals skilled in communication, organisation, technology,
and psychology - all valuable tools for propaganda, recruitment, and planning.
A crucial dimension of this
strategy is the psychological and sociocultural advantage extremist groups
exploit. Women traditionally occupy deeply influential roles within family and
community structures. Their participation, therefore, has a multiplier effect.
When women become ideologically committed, they influence children, spouses,
relatives, and peers.
Extremist organisations
understand this and craft gender-specific propaganda that frames participation
as spiritual duty, moral responsibility, or a noble sacrifice. Women’s
involvement also makes networks more resilient, because their roles are easier
to camouflage under routine social functions such as caregiving, teaching, or
volunteering.
The Red Fort blast’s gender
dimension highlights a broader shift: terrorism is becoming more decentralised,
professionalised, and inclusive. Terrorist groups are evolving into hybrid
networks blending religious indoctrination, digital propaganda, and professional
expertise.
Women are central to this new
architecture because they can serve roles men cannot especially in societies
where gender norms inhibit suspicion. This evolution demands a recalibration of
how countries understand, detect, and counter extremist threats.
This brings us to the Malaysian
context. Currently, Malaysia does not have a formal, structured women’s wing
linked to any known terrorist organisation. However, the idea that Malaysia is
insulated from such developments would be dangerously naïve.
Over the past decade, a
noticeable number of Malaysian women have been involved, either directly or
indirectly, in extremist recruitment, online propaganda dissemination, and
logistical support for foreign militant groups.
These activities have largely
taken place informally, but the step from informal networks to a dedicated
women’s division is not a large one especially when global extremist movements
provide a ready blueprint.
Malaysia faces several
vulnerabilities. First, the country’s digital connectedness makes its women
susceptible to online radicalisation. Extremists increasingly use encrypted
platforms, private forums, and gender-targeted messaging to engage women. They exploit
themes of sisterhood, empowerment, and moral duty, crafting narratives that
resonate emotionally.
Second, women from professional
backgrounds like nurses, teachers, counsellors, and students can be targeted
for roles similar to those seen in the Red Fort case. Their societal trust
provides cover for fundraising, safe-housing, communication, or recruitment
activities.
Third, the Southeast Asian
extremist ecosystem (particularly remnants of ISIS-linked networks) is still
present, and these groups have historically sought to recruit women for support
roles.
Given this landscape, Malaysia
must treat the Red Fort incident as a cautionary example rather than a distant
event. Preventing the emergence of a Malaysian equivalent to a formal women’s
terror wing requires not just security enforcement but a systemic, gender-aware
approach.
First, Malaysia must integrate
women into the core of its national counter-extremism framework—not as subjects
of concern but as partners in prevention. Women are often the first to notice
changes in behaviour within families and communities.
Empowering them through awareness
programmes, community dialogue, and leadership roles in PCVE (Preventing and
Countering Violent Extremism) initiatives can create early-warning networks
that security agencies cannot replicate.
Second, digital resilience must
be prioritised. Malaysian women, especially young women, need to be equipped to
recognise and reject extremist grooming. This includes public education
campaigns, school-based programmes on digital manipulation, and partnerships
with women’s organisations to address online radicalisation more openly.
Third, Malaysia must strengthen
its monitoring of non-traditional radicalisation pathways. Professional sectors
like universities, hospitals and social services need to be engaged in early
identification of ideological shifts. Not for punitive purposes, but for timely
intervention and support. The “white-collar” nature of the Red Fort module
highlights that extremism can flourish unnoticed within respected institutions.
Fourth, rehabilitation and
reintegration programs for women must be expanded and gender-tailored. Women
involved in extremist activities often face different psychological pressures,
social stigmas, and familial challenges than men. Addressing these factors
holistically reduces the likelihood of re-radicalisation and ensures that
affected women do not become nodes of ideological transmission within their
households.
Finally, Malaysia needs sustained
research into gender and extremism. Understanding why women are drawn to
extremist ideologies whether for identity, belonging, empowerment, or emotional
reasons is essential for designing preventive strategies that resonate.
The Red Fort blast is a stark
reminder that extremism adapts to exploit every societal gap. As terrorist
groups expand their operational imagination, countries like Malaysia must
expand their defensive imagination.
Women can be both a target and a
tool for extremists but with foresight and strategy, they can also be the
strongest line of defence against the next evolution of global terror.
Kuala Lumpur.
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