Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Ph.D Student in Cultural Sociology, The University of Tehran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran
Abstract
Two decades have passed since the initiation of student jihadi camps, and the growing enthusiasm for these camps is evident in the increased participation. The significance of these camps as platforms for lived experiences that necessitate sociological study is underscored by the voluntary nature, lack of special rewards, challenging conditions in underprivileged areas, the disparity between the services provided by jihadi groups and the knowledge students acquire in universities, and the students’ eagerness for this experience. The objective of this paper is to investigate the lived experiences of female students who have participated in extremist camps. 21 students were interviewed using a qualitative approach that included semi-structured interviews and accessible sampling. The main reasons for participation were the desire for a novel experience, group living, and interaction with a distinct culture. The fusion of collectivity and detachment from it, the reevaluation of individual and collective identities, the detachment from academic status, and the transition from accumulated experience to real-time decision-making are among the most significant findings. In addition, participants had the opportunity to engage with a new local context and comprehend regional norms, as well as experience a meaningful integration of work and leisure toward spiritual objectives. Additionally, participants encountered a separation from their class-based identities, which enabled them to rediscover themselves within a new social network. Most interviewees highlighted that the shift in identity patterns and the creation of new grounds for self-discovery, centered around spiritual goals, were the most significant outcomes of their jihadi camp experience.
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