ISIS is usually portrayed in Western media as backwards-thinking Middle Eastern fanatics. Yet Hakam, Lumia, and Abu Laith all notice that many of the most extreme ISIS members are the foreign ones. What does this say to you?

It's widely known that ISIS recruits all over the world, but the group is usually portrayed in Western media as backwards-thinking Middle Eastern fanatics. Yet Hakam, Lumia, and Abu Laith all notice that many of the most extreme ISIS members are the foreign ones. What does this say to you?

I think many of us in the Western world don't want to admit that we could have people with that level of fanaticism. Unfortunately, as in every culture we do, and by joining with ISIS those that want to be fanatic, have the perfect forum for living out that desire.

New converts to any movement are always quite fervent , even fanatical. They need to prove that they wholeheartedly believe!

I suspect Westerners joining such a ethnically -based extreme movement must feel compelled to demonstrate their loyalty and commitment by being "super fanatics," lest their sincerity be questioned.

Laurap - in the above response - makes an interesting point. If you are coming from the outside to join a group, you might work extra hard to prove that you belong.

I would think the "powers that be" in ISIS are the backward-thinking Middle Eastern fanatics. The ISIS members that Haka, Lumia and Abu Laith encounter, however, are soldiers not the "leaders" and thus, they are probably those recruits from other countries described in the other answers above.

Very interesting topic; I agree with the other comments here that new people to the group would be more inclined to show their commitment and dedication.

KatharineP and laurap put it succinctly, that newcomers to groups often feel they have more to prove. It is well known that ISIS is recruiting worldwide and the new followers are often quite fanatical.

I go along with RRO also that obviously not all the members of ISIS were middle-easterners. We have had some tragic things happen in our culture with Americans converting to ISIS.

I think there are many people who are easily brainwashed into believing things that are not true. Many young people are distrusting of their government and join radical groups trying to fit in. Members of ISIS misinterpret the Koran and try to justify violence and killing people who they believe are not following their interpretation of what is written. The leaders of ISIS encourage and praise violence. These people believe they are making God happy by punishing those they feel are doing wrong. I agree with what others have written about new members trying to fit in by demonstrating their loyalty.

It is no different than what is seen in Western culture with converts to a denomination of Christian faith. We live in a predominantly Catholic community in a rural area and everyone laughs that the converts are much better Catholics than the born and breds.

Fanatics are fearful, close-minded individuals who cannot open their minds to whatever the next day brings unless they can control everything about it. There are fanatics in every Nation and they are attracted to each other because of the safety of being in the closed circle of thought. They fight because they are fearful, because evil people prey on their weaknesses to frighten them more with divisive rhetoric .... and I believe, because they have never experienced love and acceptance in their lives. In my mind it's the Old Testament thinking versus the New Testament thinking. My beliefs more closely align with the love and forgiveness of the New Testament. Each religion has their believers in both of these camps. Sometimes the fearful take over and then more people become fearful if they are not strong in their beliefs of good in this world. ISIS is the manifestation of the people fearful of change in the world of Islam. We pray for their enlightenment.

Some people are rabble rousers. Some people have an unquenchable thirst for power. Some people want to rid the world of anyone who does not look like them or believe the things they do. It is unfair to say that the Middle East has the majority of religious fanatics. Religious fanatics are everywhere. The fact that the most extreme ISIS members seem to be foreign just shows that religious fanatics are not happy just controlling their own corner of the world. They feel the need to spread their discord throughout the world.