As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps through nations crippling health systems and destroying economies, ISIS exploits this unprecedented modern calamity and brainstorms vulnerable young people spending their mandatory lockdown online to incite hatred and promote extremism.
ISIS continues to pose a threat as the extremist group plans to capitalize on COVID-19 induced instability to stage a broader resurgence. For his part, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that extremist groups are taking advantage of COVID-19 lockdowns to spread hatred and intensify social media efforts to recruit young people spending more time online. ISIS has now also begun its annual barrage of increased incitements for the month of Ramadan. The holy month, which began on April 24, is a time for prayer and reflection for the vast majority of Muslims. But for years, ISIS has attempted to make it one of violence and bloodshed.
Monitors have maintained that the increase in propaganda has corresponded with ramped up efforts to make more English language content available on ISIS channels. Although the effect is difficult to quantify, the pandemic has made for conditions very well-suited to recruitment with pro-ISIS groups now being active on more than a dozen social media platforms.
