In the Skin of a Jihadist, Anna Erelle
In the Skin of a Jihadist, Anna Erelle
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In the Skin of a Jihadist
A Young Journalist Enters the ISIS Recruitment Network

Author: Anna Erelle, Erin Potter

Narrator: Anonymous

Unabridged: 5 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperAudio

Published: 05/26/2015


Synopsis

The inspiration for the new film PROFILE, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, with a screenplay by Britt Poulton, Timur Bekmambetov, and Olga Kharina.A young French journalist’s riveting and unprecedented look at how today’s most ruthless terrorists use social media and technology to reach disaffected youth—witnessed through the undercover investigation that led to her deep involvement with a key member of ISIS.On Facebook, “Melodie”—a twenty-year-old-convert to Islam living with her mother and sister in Toulouse—meets Bilel, a French-born, high-ranking militant for the Islamic State in Syria. Within days, Bilel falls in love with Melodie, Skypes her repeatedly, and adamantly urges her to come to Syria, marry him, and do jihad. The honey-tongued suitor promises the innocent, fatherless young girl a life of material comfort and spiritual purpose. But “Melodie” is actually Anna Erelle, a Parisian based journalist investigating the recruitment channels of the Islamic state, whose digital propaganda—Jihad 2.0—constitutes one of its most formidable and frightening weapons, successfully mobilizing increasing numbers of young Europeans.In this taut and riveting true story, Erelle chronicles her intense, month-long relationship with Bilel—who turns out to be none other than the right hand man of Abou Bakr al-Baghadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of ISIS. Impatient for Melodie to join him, Bilel tells her that, according to an imam, they are already all but married, and will be officially when she arrives in Syria. As she embarks on the final, most dangerous stage of her investigation, Melodie leaves for Amsterdam to begin her journey to the Middle East. But things go terribly wrong.A gripping and often harrowing inquiry into the factors that motivate young people to join extremist causes, and a shocking exploration of how technology and social media are spreading radicalism, In the Skin of a Jihadist is a riveting page-turner that helps us better understand the appeal of extremism—and how an Islamic militant attempts to brainwash, seduce, and manipulate a vulnerable young woman.

About Anna Erelle

Anna Erelle is the pseudonym of a thirty-something French journalist who has written for major newspapers and magazines in France. In the Skin of a Jihadist is her first book.

About Anonymous

anonymous1. not named or identified 2. of unknown authorship or origin


Reviews

It was eye-opening to read about the recruitment process of young, impressionable youngsters. It just shows how dangerous talking with strangers when feeling isolated and alone can be. What was especially interesting was how even the journalist felt some of the manipulation by the recruiter, and how......more

A French journalist creates an online identity to talk to jihadists, but unwittingly attracts the attention of a crazed ISIS fighter? Sign me up! I've stalked those ISIS idiots on Twitter for more years than I care to admit, and non-fiction about crappy countries is totally my thing. This book shoul......more

Goodreads review by Kate

Catfishing in Syria An amazing story let down by an average translation. It was also very short, considering the topic. What the book did give me was a clear understanding of the levels manipulation these men go to, to recruit the girls, and why the girls go. Her biography of her character Melodie th......more