ABSTRACT The deliberate targeting of heritage sites by the Islamic State (IS) prompted significant international legal and normative developments linking cultural heritage to global security. However, little is known about whether these responses resonate with the experiences of those most affected by the destruction. This article contrasts global governance frameworks with local experiences through a Feminist Security Studies (FSS) lens. Drawing on interviews with Syrian and Iraqi women, the article identifies four themes: heritage as anchored in identity, belonging and female solidarity; its destruction as trauma and persecution articulated through gendered metaphors; as a rupture of cultural rights and traditional practices; and as a force exacerbating women’s fear, displacement and concerns for personal safety. This expands FSS by identifying heritage destruction as a site of gendered violence, while exposing the limits of prevailing global governance frameworks that continue to marginalize women’s perspectives and reproduce gaps between international regimes and everyday (in)security.

ABSTRACT Visual narratives are defined as ‘stories that are told through visual media such as photographs, films, memes, cartoons and so on’. The visuals of children in conflicts display a specific story of suffering and humanitarian catastrophe. Yet, the literature has less to offer on the visuals of child soldiers, who are not merely victims but also hold agency. The aim of the study is twofold: first, it offers VNA as a valid and effective method for analysing agency; second, it operationalises Visual Narrative Agency Framework to analyse the visual dimension of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s narratives regarding the child soldiers. The article analyses the images and accompanying texts that are utilised by ISIS to from three layers: visual composition, narrative meaning and representational agency. This article examines how and to what extent visuals depicting child soldiers contribute to the reinforcement of ISIS’s discursive and ideological regime. It further explores the implications of these visual representations for the broader narrative ISIS projects about itself: such as gender and racial distribution, indoctrination, and conflict justifications through these visual narratives.

Marriage is a crucial social and religious institution in Indonesia's plural society, where Islamic Sharia strongly emphasizes the importance of shared faith (aqidah) between spouses. Normatively, the Qur’an and hadiths provide strict limitations on the practice of interfaith marriage due to concerns about serious problems in aspects of worship, child education, and the integrity of the family's faith. In the context of Indonesian positive law, although Law No. 1 of 1974 states that the validity of marriage depends on respective religious laws, there was briefly a legal loophole allowing the registration of interfaith marriages, which was subsequently affirmed closed by the Supreme Court. This article examines this issue through Normative Legal Research using a philological approach to the Prophet’s hadiths such as the story of Sayyidah Zainab and the athar (narration) from Ibn Umar and linking it to the context of pluralism and positive law in Indonesia. The analysis shows that the provision in the hadith about the marriage of Sayyidah Zainab and Abu al-‘Ash was abrogated (mansukh) after the revelation of the verses Al-Baqarah 221 and Al-Ma’idah 5, and the athar of Ibn Umar affirms the prohibition of marrying women of the People of the Book, reflecting a spirit of caution in safeguarding family faith. The results of this study affirm that both Islamic Sharia and state law especially through SEMA No. 2 of 2023 are aligned in rejecting interfaith marriage. Thus, pluralism in Indonesia is interpreted as affirming peaceful coexistence without sacrificing one's religious identity, making interfaith marriage a theological, legal, and socio-cultural problem that must be avoided.

This study aims to analyze the role of international academic programs in enhancing academic awareness and character education for postgraduate students at the State Islamic Institute (Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak/IAIN) Pontianak. This study uses descriptive qualitative research in which the author is directly involved as a participant in the international academic program conducted in Malaysia. The research subjects include IAIN Pontianak students and lecturers involved in the program, with the activity location at SMK Pesantren Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak, Malaysia. Data collection techniques were carried out through participant observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis used the Miles and Huberman model, which includes data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The research results indicate that international academic programs significantly contribute to strengthening students' academic awareness through direct involvement in teaching activities, academic presentations, and cross-cultural interactions. Furthermore, these programs play a role in the internalization of character education relevant to Islamic educational values. However, the implementation of international academic programs also faces various challenges, requiring institutions to be prepared to design structured and sustainable programs for their success. Strengthening pre-departure orientation, providing language and cultural training, and faculty mentoring are important strategies to minimize challenges and maximize the benefits of the program. This study confirms that international academic programs serve as a strategic means in shaping Islamic Studies Master’s graduates who are globally minded, possess Islamic character, and are capable of contributing to the global community.

ABSTRACT The insurgent campaign in the Lake Chad Region is transforming, yet this transformation is not reflected in scholarship. Using contested space/competitive governance theories and a combination of primary and secondary data, this study examines how the shift from Boko Haram to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) show the spread and consolidation of terrorism in the Lake Chad Region. It also shows the implication of the spread and consolidation for States in the Lake Chad Region. It finds out that ISWAP focuses more on attacks on the military and the establishment of governance structures in communities it controls, a remarkable shift from JAS’s brutal violence against communities. The study argues that ISWAP’s approach poses more threats that could undermine the Westphalian statehood and consolidate its attainment of a caliphate in Lake Chad Region.

ABSTRACT Nigeria has faced persistent security threats from terrorist groups, particularly Boko Haram and factions from the Islamic State's West Africa Province, as well as other groups that manifest in banditry, kidnapping, among others. In an effort to counter these threats, the Nigerian government developed a range of counter-terrorism measures encompassing military operations, legal instruments, institutional frameworks, regional cooperation arrangements, and civilian-driven efforts aimed at addressing the root cause of the insecurity. This article evaluates Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework by analysing its progress, identifying key pitfalls, and exploring future prospects. Grounded in the theory of securitization and institutionalism, the paper adopted a qualitative methodology, using document analysis and expert interviews. The findings revealed a partial success, including improved regional cooperation and institutional establishment, but highlighted significant challenges such as fragmented institutional support, military-heavy approach and civilian harm, trust deficit at community levels, youth vulnerability, human rights questions, and delayed justices resulting from weak judicial processes. The article concludes with recommendations to enhance Nigeria’s CT framework through institutional reforms, removal of barriers to effective inter-agency cooperation, community-based counterterrorism and violent extremism, reform of the justice system, and integrated development strategies.

ABSTRACT The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has emerged as one of the Islamic State’s most prominent and operationally significant branches, combining a persistent regional insurgency with an increasingly transnational pattern of violence. This article presents a systematic article-level thematic analysis of Voice of Khurasan, the English-language online magazine associated with ISKP, encompassing all 357 articles across its 46 issues (totaling over 2,500 pages). The findings suggest that, situated within the Islamic State’s broader post-caliphate media ecosystem, Voice of Khurasan functions primarily as a platform for enemy construction and indoctrination, rather than as a vehicle for direct incitement and operational guidance.

Abstract. The purpose of this research is to understand the correlation between gratitude and family support received, with the level of meaning in the lives of students who are in the process of completing their thesis. The population under investigation in this study consists of students who are finalizing their theses in the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Religious Studies at Raden Intan Lampung State Islamic University. The sampling method employed was proportional random sampling, with a total of 137 respondents participating in the study. The measurement tools utilized encompass scales to assess life's meaning, gratitude, and family support. The analytical approach used is multiple regression, with the assistance of SPSS 26.0 for Windows software. Research findings indicate a positive and significant relationship between gratitude and family support with the level of life's meaning among students completing their thesis in the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Religious Studies, Raden Intan Lampung State Islamic University. Therefore, the higher the level of gratitude and family support, the higher the perceived level of life's meaning for students completing their thesis.

Nigeria is facing significant security challenges arising from terrorism, particularly from groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (IWAP). In response, Nigerian government has adopted various counterterrorism strategies, such as military operations, emergency security regulations and intelligence gathering. While these measures intend to protect national security and maintain public order, they equally raise concerns in respect of violations of fundamental human rights. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between counterterrorism measures and human rights in Nigeria, with particular reference to the implementation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The paper argues that although combating terrorism is a legitimate state objective, counterterrorism strategies must comply with human rights obligations under domestic and international law. the paper uses doctrinal and analytical methodology, relying on primary and secondary sources of information. The paper finds that despite the existence of legal safeguards, some of the counterterrorism strategies adopted by Nigerian government undermine the rule of law and due process. The paper concludes that although counterterrorism remains important component of Nigeria’s national security, efforts to combat terrorism ought not to undermine the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). It recommends reforms aimed at ensuring that counterterrorism operations are conducted in strict compliance with national and international human rights obligations.

The increased mobility of international students demands a deep understanding of their motivations, learning experiences, and academic challenges. This study explores the factors that influence the selection of Indonesia as a study destination as well as the process of academic, social, cultural, and psychological adaptation of students at State Islamic Religious Universities (PTKIN), as well as providing insights for the development of international academic policies and practices. A phenomenological qualitative approach was used through in-depth interviews and focused group discussions (FGDs) with international students from various PTKINs, including UIN Malang, UIN Jakarta, and UIN Yogyakarta. The analysis emphasizes students' subjective experiences related to motivation, learning, and academic barriers. The results of the study showed that students' motivation was influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including religious interests, cultural interests, family support, scholarships, career prospects, language skills, and the desire to deepen religious knowledge. Learning experiences include social, cultural, academic, and psychological adaptation, influenced by language skills, peer support, organizational involvement, inclusive teaching methods, and institutional services such as the Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) program and International Office assistance. The variety of services between PTKIN can be seen, for example, UIN Malang excels in personal mentoring, UIN Jakarta in program flexibility and BIPA, and UIN Yogyakarta in academic access and administrative support. The main academic challenges include language barriers, academic literacy, information limitations, study pressure, curriculum adjustments, and lack of multilingual references and psychosocial support. These findings provide important implications for PTKIN in improving academic services, supporting the adaptation of international students, and strengthening campus internationalization.

ABSTRACT Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) is Nigeria’s longest-running counterinsurgency (COIN) campaign against Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). It achieved significant territorial gains after its launch in 2015. Yet these military successes coincided with persistent civilian vulnerability, livelihood disruption, and food insecurity in Northeast Nigeria. This paradox raises a central analytical puzzle: why did battlefield progress fail to translate into improved human security outcomes? Drawing on Strategic Interaction Theory (SIT) and Human Security Framework (HSF), this study interrogates the impact of OPLD on human security in Northeast Nigeria, with particularly emphasis on civilian protection, local livelihoods, and food security. Using a theory-guided qualitative case analysis of triangulated secondary data from open-source security reports, scholarly articles, and humanitarian sources, the study identifies a strategic mismatch between the state’s direct, coercive tactics and insurgents’ adaptive indirect strategies targeting civilians and their livelihoods. The study extends SIT beyond battlefield outcomes by foregrounding human security as a core metric of COIN effectiveness, with implications for COIN strategy design and civilian protection in asymmetric conflicts.

ABSTRACT This study examines the responsibility of foreign fighters who are nationals of state parties to the Rome Statute for crimes committed during the Syrian civil war and assesses the prospects for their prosecution before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Mechanisms of the United Nations have documented war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide committed in Syria, particularly the 2014 attacks against the Yazidi community. However, national accountability efforts remain inconsistent. Many states have contributed to a de facto zone of impunity by refusing to repatriate foreign fighters and resorting to administrative measures, such as deprivation of nationality. In Syria, the transitional governance structure led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham(HTS) risks further entrenching impunity by integrating foreign fighters into administrative and military institutions. The increase in HTS-led attacks in January 2026 has heightened the likelihood that Islamic State of Iraq and Sham-affiliated detainees currently held by the Syrian Democratic Forces may fall under HTS control. This study argues that, pursuant to Article 12(2)(b) of the Rome Statute, the ICC possesses limited but legally binding jurisdiction over nationals of states parties and should be regarded as a complementary justice mechanism in situations where domestic courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute.

ABSTRACT This study reviews 90 English-language sources to examine why women joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and what roles they assumed once inside the group. The review centers on the organisation's peak years of 2014 and 2015, when ISIS held its widest territorial control and women's involvement was most visible. The analysis focuses on that peak period, but it draws on scholarship retrieved through institutional databases and published through early 2026. Across that literature, women appear to have entered ISIS through several pathways, including ideological commitment, coercion, intimate ties, economic pressure, and a search for belonging. After joining, women occupied a wider range of positions than the wife-and-mother frame implies, including recruitment, propaganda, enforcement, education, and health care. The article argues that these functions placed women closer to the organisation's core operations than early media narratives usually allowed. It concludes by calling for more regionally grounded and methodologically rigorous research on women in extremist organisations.

General Background: International migration of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) to Saudi Arabia has evolved into a complex socio-religious phenomenon requiring the maintenance of ethical behavior within a global diaspora context. Specific Background: Within the Wooden Coffee network, Islamic Religious Education (IRE) and a theocratic religious environment are central factors shaping workers’ moral conduct. Knowledge Gap: Previous studies largely focus on migrant contexts in secular societies, leaving limited empirical evidence on how structured religious education functions within a formally Islamic state environment. Aims: This study aims to empirically analyze the relationship between IRE, religious environment, and the ethical behavior of PMI. Results: Using a causal-associative quantitative approach with 100 respondents and multiple linear regression analysis, findings show that both IRE and the religious environment significantly contribute to ethical behavior (Beta = 0.451; p < 0.05), with IRE emerging as the dominant factor through structured internal reinforcement compared to external social influences. Novelty: The study integrates diaspora Islamic education with a theocratic context, highlighting the interaction between internal cognitive reinforcement and external social conditioning within a behaviorism framework. Implications: The findings underline the importance of structured religious curricula and supportive workplace environments in fostering professional ethics among migrant workers, contributing to SDG 4 on inclusive and quality education for marginalized diaspora communities. Highlights• Internalized religious learning provides stronger ethical control than workplace social pressure• Theocratic environment supports but does not surpass structured educational reinforcement• Combined cognitive and social conditioning explains professional conduct patterns KeywordsIslamic Education; Religious Environment; Migrant Workers; Ethical Behavior; Diaspora

This Community Service is designed with a training design with the aim of increasing the knowledge of MTs Darussalam students about sexual violence in an Islamic perspective, as one of a series of Community Service from Fatmawati Sukarno State Islamic University Bengkulu. Held on November 2, 2024 at the MTs Darussalam class hall in Bengkulu City, with 30 participants consisting of representatives from grades 7 to 9. Facilitated by two lecturers from Fatmawati Sukarno State Islamic University Bengkulu and assisted by two students of Islamic Communication and Broadcasting from Fatmawati Sukarno State Islamic University Bengkulu. The implementation began with participant registration, opening of the event, pre-test, provision of material, continued with a question and answer session or discussion, and ended with a photo and meal together.

This study examined the management of educational facilities and infrastructure in supporting the learning process at MTsN 1 Bandar Lampung. Facilities and infrastructure played a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching and learning activities, yet their impact largely depended on how well they were managed. The objective of this research was to analyze the implementation of facilities and infrastructure management functions planning, procurement, arrangement, use, and disposal in supporting the learning process. This study employed a qualitative approach with data collected through participatory observation, structured interviews, and documentation. Data were analyzed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, with triangulation techniques applied to ensure validity. The findings indicated that the management of facilities and infrastructure was implemented systematically and supported effective learning activities, as reflected in adequate classroom conditions, functional laboratories, library services, and the integration of information and communication technology in instruction. The study concluded that comprehensive and cyclical management of facilities and infrastructure significantly contributed to the quality of the learning process. Practically, the findings provided insights for school administrators to sustain and enhance facility management, while socially reinforced the importance of organized educational resource management in improving educational quality.

This study examined the diplomatic and moral implications of foreign military intervention in counterterrorism, using United States–Nigeria security cooperation as a case study. The background to the study is situated within the escalation of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, particularly Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province's negative activities, which have necessitated sustained foreign security assistance. Despite extensive U.S. involvement through military training, intelligence sharing, and logistical support, insecurity persists, raising critical concerns about effectiveness, sovereignty, legitimacy, and long-term stability. The study addresses the apparent disconnect between external counterterrorism interventions and sustainable security outcomes in Nigeria. The main objective is to assess the effectiveness, challenges, and broader diplomatic consequences of U.S.–Nigeria counterterrorism cooperation, with the scope of the study limited to Nigeria within the wider West African and Lake Chad Basin security environment. The study is significant as it contributed to debates on foreign intervention, sovereignty, and ethical responsibility in counterterrorism policy and practice. The analysis is anchored in securitisation theory, which explains how security threats are constructed and managed through extraordinary measures, including foreign intervention. Methodologically, the study adopted a qualitative approach, relying on documentary analysis of policy reports, official statements, and scholarly literature. Findings revealed that while U.S. support has enhanced Nigeria’s tactical and intelligence capacities, it has also generated sovereignty concerns, legitimacy deficits, and human rights challenges that undermined local trust and long-term effectiveness. The study concluded that militarised, externally driven counterterrorism strategies are insufficient on their own. It therefore recommended a recalibration toward Nigerian-led, regionally coordinated, and human-security-oriented approaches that integrate governance reform, development interventions, and accountability mechanisms to achieve sustainable counterterrorism outcomes.

This study examines the integration of digital literacy into Islamic higher education instruction through the implementation of blended learning at the State Islamic Institute of Takengon. Using a mixed-methods design, the research involved 30 participants (10 students, 10 lecturers, and 10 administrators) selected through stratified random sampling. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires, while qualitative data were obtained from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The findings reveal that participants demonstrate strong proficiency in basic digital skills such as word processing and internet navigation, yet show limited competence in advanced skills, including digital content creation and critical evaluation of digital sources. Blended learning emerged as an effective pedagogical strategy for embedding digital literacy into Islamic studies courses, particularly in Ulumul Qur’an and Ulumul Hadits. However, infrastructural limitations, insufficient professional development, and institutional resistance remain significant challenges. The study offers a contextual model of digital literacy integration grounded in Islamic educational values and highlights the importance of structured digital pedagogy training and improved technological infrastructure. These findings provide practical and policy-oriented recommendations for strengthening curriculum innovation in Islamic higher education.

Background: In the landscape of Indonesian Islamic Higher Education, the museums at UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh and UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang serve as pioneering institutional models. These repositories function as "learning laboratories," utilizing Object-Based Learning (OBL) to bridge the gap between historical artifacts and contemporary academic discourse. Purpose: This study investigates the perceptions of museum managers and academics regarding the dual role of university museums: as internal pedagogical supports for campus life and as external instruments for community engagement and cultural diplomacy. Methods: Adopting a qualitative comparative approach, data were gathered through in-depth interviews and direct field observations at both university sites. The analysis focused on the integration of museum resources into the "Tri Dharma" (Teaching, Research, and Community Service) framework of Indonesian higher education. Findings: The study shows that these museums are very important for the intellectual lives of students and faculty and are also very important for reaching out to the community. However, despite their success in fostering cultural engagement, their potential is often hampered by a lack of formal institutional recognition and integrated management protocols. Originality/Value: This research underscores the necessity for a robust legal and policy framework, facilitated by university leadership and the Ministry of Education, to formalize the status of university museums. Strengthening these institutional foundations is essential for the sustainable development of museum-based pedagogy within Indonesia’s State Islamic Universities.

Despite the 2019 territorial collapse of its physical "caliphate," the Islamic State (ISIS) has adeptly transitioned its sophisticated media apparatus into a decentralized, resilient "virtual insurgency." This study addresses a critical temporal (post-2019) and contextual (Southeast Asian) gap in the literature by examining the narrative evolution and strategic adaptation of ISIS digital propaganda. We argue that to maintain relevance, ISIS has pivoted from a monolithic "utopian state-building" narrative to a highly adaptive "glocalized" model that targets specific regional audiences. This article employs a mixed-method qualitative analysis, combining Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) with Visual Semiotics. The analysis is performed on a curated corpus of official and supporter-driven digital media (videos, infographics, editorials) disseminated between 2019 and 2024 on encrypted platforms (e.g., Telegram) and targeting Malay- and Indonesian-speaking audiences. The findings reveal a three-pronged strategic adaptation: (1) an ideological pivot from "caliphate utopianism" to narratives of "sabr" (strategic patience) and resilient, clandestine insurgency, (2) the systematic "glocalization" of grievances, wherein global jihadist dogma is strategically fused with proximate, emotive local issues, such as the Rohingya crisis and domestic Malaysian political-religious debates, and (3) a corresponding adaptation in form to "lo-fi," ephemeral, and "snackable" media, a tactic designed to evade AI-driven content moderation and decentralize production by encouraging user-generated content (UGC). This study concludes that this "glocalized virtual insurgency" is a more insidious and resilient threat than its state-based predecessor. Its ability to co-opt local issues renders traditional, reactive content-removal policies insufficient. We assert the urgent need for a policy shift toward proactive, culturally-resonant counter-narratives and the promotion of critical digital media literacy to inoculate vulnerable populations in the region.