‘Fear of death: Al-Hawl’s children and the security threat in the Middle East’

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) rise and fall has led to millions of Syrians and Iraqis’ displacement. Many displaced now live in refugee camps, one of the largest is called ‘Al-Hawl’, located in Syria’s Hasakah province. A significant number of its residents are children, some of whom are affiliated with ISIS. Experts and international institutions warn that Al-Hawl’s children could become the next leaders of jihadist ideologies and pose a threat to the security of the Middle East. Hence, our main question is ‘How can these children be the promoters of jihadist ideology like ISIS and threaten Middle Eastern security?’ The objective of the present study is to respond to this question by utilizing terror management theory and a descriptive-analytical methodology. We suggest that the salience of mortality in the Al-Hawl camp has intensified the children’s fear of in-existence. Consequently, these children are inclined to join the cultural worldview of ISIS, as it provides a robust safeguard to manage and repress this fear. The group membership can provide them with a sense of self-esteem, death transcendence, and immortality.