Female IS recruiting network uncovered in Germany

Berlin, June 26: German authorities have discovered a dozen female recruiters working for Islamic State (IS) who persuade other women in Germany to join the jihadist organisation, media reported on Friday.

The way in which young women are being recruited to join IS is even more systematical than suspected, according to a report conducted by WDR and NDR networks, in cooperation with Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

There is potentially cooperation between women who are already in Syria and Iraq and partners operating in Germany, while security authorities have a secret document of a "network of girls", according to the report, which also stated that the size of the cell could be greater.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, or BfV, which is the secret service of the Interior Ministry, warned on Wednesday that 700 Islamists, including 100 women, have responded to IS calls to leave Germany and travel to combat zones.

In April 2015, the number of people who left Germany to join IS stood at 680, while the figure was closer to 550 in late 2014.

IANS