Joana Cook

From SNAFU to FUBAR in Northeast Syria Some 20,000 Islamic State-affiliated individuals are now unaccounted for, and no one has a plan for what to do about this mix of committed radicals, at-risk victims, and other escapees.

More than 20,000 IS-affiliated individuals are unaccounted for, and no one has a plan for what to do about this mix of committed radicals, at-risk victims, and other escapees, write @devorahmargolin.bsky.social and Joana Cook in @foreignpolicy.com.

It was all @devorahmargolin.bsky.social 's idea :)

From SNAFU to FUBAR in Northeast Syria Some 20,000 Islamic State-affiliated individuals are now unaccounted for, and no one has a plan for what to do about this mix of committed radicals, at-risk victims, and other escapees.

Easily the greatest article title I have ever seen. The article itself, in which @devorahmargolin.bsky.social and @joanacook.bsky.social assess #ISIS detainee breakouts in northeast Syria, is well worth reading. @washinstitute.bsky.social

Thank you to @sociologyoxford.bsky.social for having me to speak about ISIS-affiliated families yesterday. Great questions and a lot of interest in important aspects such as the ethics of fieldwork, researcher safety, and comparable populations. A very inspiring group of students!

You can access the full review here: onlinelibrary-wiley-com.leidenuniv.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1111/...

Holding ISIL Accountable: Prosecuting Crimes in Iraq and Syria In the aftermath of the collapse of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s self-declared “caliphate,” the international community has grappled with the question of how to achieve accountability fo...

You can access the full book here: icct.nl/publication/... /3

... supporting the pursuit of punishment for individuals and strengthening initiatives to make the group pay for its crimes.The volume’s comprehensive examination and interdisciplinary methodology make it a useful resource for those seeking to achieve justice."

Our open access book "Holding ISIL Accountable: Prosecuting Crimes in Iraq and Syria" with ICCT Press has been reviewed in the journal Middle East Policy. The reviewers note:

"Holding ISIL Accountable is an essential look at ISIL’s violations... /1

Over 40 French nationals linked to Islamic State sent from Syria to Iraq for trial Iraqi officials said that 47 French citizens accused of having ties to the Islamic State group will face terrorism charges.

Over 40 French nationals linked to Islamic State sent from #Syria to #Iraq for trial #ISIS

www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...

Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds GENEVA – Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, a...

UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry's report shows #Israel has committed #genocide in #Gaza.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

They Were Treated Like Orphans. But They Knew the Truth.

A very compelling read about children taken by Assad’s regime, still waiting to be reunited with their families in #Syria

They Were Treated Like Orphans. But They Knew the Truth. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/m...

I'm pleased to share a forthcoming chapter: "Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in the Public Interest," based on a keynote speech at @tmcasser.bsky.social. Many of the themes discussed are as timely today as they were then. You can access the pre-print below

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

RCMP charge Montreal minor with terrorism offences involving Islamic State Mounties said that they arrested the boy without incident and the public was never in danger

RCMP charge Montreal minor with terrorism offences involving Islamic State. 70% of those now referred for deradicalization are children, average age 13-14. Deeply concerning.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Military member charged with terrorism warned of 'another Waco': court docs | CBC News One of the heavily armed Canadian Armed Forces members now charged with terrorism allegedly spoke openly about his will to use violence against government authorities and warned about another Waco mas...

Last month the RCMP charged four Quebec men, all with military ties, for allegedly planning an ideologically motivated violent plot "intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area." One warned of another Waco.

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Far-right student, 24, arrested for plotting terrorist attack - DutchNews.nl A 24-year-old member of a nationalist right-wing student association has been arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. The man was been arrested in Badhoeverdorp on Thursday after police ...

A 24-year-old member of a nationalist right-wing student association has been arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in the Netherlands. The man possessed firearms and was willing to commit a terrorist act, the public prosecution service said.

www.dutchnews.nl/2025/08/far-...

I'm pleased to share a forthcoming chapter: "Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in the Public Interest," based on a keynote speech at @tmcasser.bsky.social. Many of the themes discussed are as timely today as they were then. You can access the pre-print below

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Montreal woman who joined ISIS as a teen convicted of aiding a terrorist group | CBC News Oumaima Chouay, who fled her home in Montreal nearly a decade ago to join ISIS in Syria, is the first person in Canada convicted for providing family support to a terrorist entity as a spouse.

A Montreal woman who joined #ISIS as a teen convicted of aiding a terrorist group. Oumaima Chouay is the first person in Canada convicted for providing family support to a terrorist entity as a spouse.

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Their son joined ISIS. Then they learned he had kids in a Syrian detention camp Years after their son left the U.S. to join ISIS, a Minnesota couple learned they had two young grandsons trapped in a Syrian desert camp. Bringing them home was complicated — and took years.

Another success story of the innocent children of ISIS members being successfully returned home to join their family, and reintegrating into a normal life. Thousands more remain in northeast #Syria and their status remains urgent.
www.npr.org/2025/05/27/n...

Details emerge in Palm Springs bombing, including website. Alleged perpetrator references “abolitionist veganism,” “negative utilitarianism”, and “anti-mortality” then bombed an IVF clinic. A rather unique case with strong nihilistic tones @latimes.com

t.co/ZGhUfwF5Ur

The Sociology of Violent Extremism: Theoretical and Sociological Approaches This book is an essential collection addressing key challenges in studying violent extremism. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, terrorism

🚨NEW🚨

@surajlakhani.bsky.social and my new edited collection is out! Hard copy available in a few months. academic.oup.com/book/60071

Iraq says more than 19,000 prisoners have been released under a new amnesty law Judicial authorities in Iraq say that more than 19,000 prisoners have been released so far this year under a broad new amnesty law that eases prison crowding and frees some people convicted of terrori...

AP: "Iraq says more than 19,000 prisoners have been released under a new amnesty law" apnews.com/article/iraq...

Incredible images coming out of Saudi Arabia today of #Trump and #alSharaa following the lifting of US sanctions on #Syria. This will make such a difference for Syria’s recovery. This will be a case study for a long time to come of terrorist transitions to governance.

Photo: @spagov

Several years ago I met @mark-carney.bsky.social in London when he was generously supporting Canadian scholars with the ⁦‪@CCSF67‬. A warm congrats to him on his electoral victory in #Canada - it’s a complicated time, but I believe he will be an strong, highly competent PM for all Canadians

Girl, 15, in court accused of six terrorism charges in Dundee One charge alleges the girl belonged or professed to belong to a banned organisation.

Girl, 15, in court accused of six terrorism charges in Dundee. One charge alleges she belonged or professed to belong to a banned organisation, while another charge alleges she invited support for such an organisation. ⁦‪⁦‪@BBCNews‬⁩

www.bbc.com/news/article...

I am so pleased to announce that Dr. Lynn Schneider and I have signed a contract with @columbiaup.bsky.social for our book “Extreme Childhoods: Growing Up in Families Affiliated with Violent Extremism and Terrorism.” /1

Tune in to the Weekend program on BBC World Service this Saturday morning where I’m pleased to be back as a guest host alongside @alanposener.bsky.social. Lots to discuss in the world right now.

@icct.bsky.social @unileiden.bsky.social

@unileiden.bsky.social @icct.bsky.social

PREPARE - PREPARE Enhancing the resilience of children exposed to violent extremist environments PREPARE seeks to identify the unique stigmas, vulnerabilities, and resilience factors children may develop in family envi...

This book will be included in @hoffmanbruce.bsky.social series “Terrorism and Irregular Warfare.”

For more info on the original project, see prepare-project.eu /4

Utilizing new and original research, we systematically explore the actors and environments children interact with as they grow up including immediate family environments, schools, neighbourhoods, and wider society, amongst others. /3

Extending from the research conducted during the EU-funded PREPARE project, this book asks, “How are the lives of children affected when they grow up in families affiliated with terrorism and violent extremism?” and looks at children in jihadist and far right families. /2