Joana Cook

Montreal woman who joined ISIS as a teen convicted of aiding a terrorist group | CBC News Oumaima Chouay, who fled her home in Montreal nearly a decade ago to join ISIS in Syria, is the first person in Canada convicted for providing family support to a terrorist entity as a spouse.

A Montreal woman who joined #ISIS as a teen convicted of aiding a terrorist group. Oumaima Chouay is the first person in Canada convicted for providing family support to a terrorist entity as a spouse.

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Their son joined ISIS. Then they learned he had kids in a Syrian detention camp Years after their son left the U.S. to join ISIS, a Minnesota couple learned they had two young grandsons trapped in a Syrian desert camp. Bringing them home was complicated — and took years.

Another success story of the innocent children of ISIS members being successfully returned home to join their family, and reintegrating into a normal life. Thousands more remain in northeast #Syria and their status remains urgent.
www.npr.org/2025/05/27/n...

Details emerge in Palm Springs bombing, including website. Alleged perpetrator references “abolitionist veganism,” “negative utilitarianism”, and “anti-mortality” then bombed an IVF clinic. A rather unique case with strong nihilistic tones @latimes.com

t.co/ZGhUfwF5Ur

The Sociology of Violent Extremism: Theoretical and Sociological Approaches This book is an essential collection addressing key challenges in studying violent extremism. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, terrorism

🚨NEW🚨

@surajlakhani.bsky.social and my new edited collection is out! Hard copy available in a few months. academic.oup.com/book/60071

Iraq says more than 19,000 prisoners have been released under a new amnesty law Judicial authorities in Iraq say that more than 19,000 prisoners have been released so far this year under a broad new amnesty law that eases prison crowding and frees some people convicted of terrori...

AP: "Iraq says more than 19,000 prisoners have been released under a new amnesty law" apnews.com/article/iraq...

Incredible images coming out of Saudi Arabia today of #Trump and #alSharaa following the lifting of US sanctions on #Syria. This will make such a difference for Syria’s recovery. This will be a case study for a long time to come of terrorist transitions to governance.

Photo: @spagov

Several years ago I met @mark-carney.bsky.social in London when he was generously supporting Canadian scholars with the ⁦‪@CCSF67‬. A warm congrats to him on his electoral victory in #Canada - it’s a complicated time, but I believe he will be an strong, highly competent PM for all Canadians

Girl, 15, in court accused of six terrorism charges in Dundee One charge alleges the girl belonged or professed to belong to a banned organisation.

Girl, 15, in court accused of six terrorism charges in Dundee. One charge alleges she belonged or professed to belong to a banned organisation, while another charge alleges she invited support for such an organisation. ⁦‪⁦‪@BBCNews‬⁩

www.bbc.com/news/article...

I am so pleased to announce that Dr. Lynn Schneider and I have signed a contract with @columbiaup.bsky.social for our book “Extreme Childhoods: Growing Up in Families Affiliated with Violent Extremism and Terrorism.” /1

Tune in to the Weekend program on BBC World Service this Saturday morning where I’m pleased to be back as a guest host alongside @alanposener.bsky.social. Lots to discuss in the world right now.

@icct.bsky.social @unileiden.bsky.social

@unileiden.bsky.social @icct.bsky.social

PREPARE - PREPARE Enhancing the resilience of children exposed to violent extremist environments PREPARE seeks to identify the unique stigmas, vulnerabilities, and resilience factors children may develop in family envi...

This book will be included in @hoffmanbruce.bsky.social series “Terrorism and Irregular Warfare.”

For more info on the original project, see prepare-project.eu /4

Utilizing new and original research, we systematically explore the actors and environments children interact with as they grow up including immediate family environments, schools, neighbourhoods, and wider society, amongst others. /3

Extending from the research conducted during the EU-funded PREPARE project, this book asks, “How are the lives of children affected when they grow up in families affiliated with terrorism and violent extremism?” and looks at children in jihadist and far right families. /2

I am so pleased to announce that Dr. Lynn Schneider and I have signed a contract with @columbiaup.bsky.social for our book “Extreme Childhoods: Growing Up in Families Affiliated with Violent Extremism and Terrorism.” /1

Almost 24 hours now, incredible

Iraq repatriates over 180 families from Syria’s al-Hol camp - Shafaq News Shafaq News/ Over 180 Iraqi families were repatriated from Syria’s al-Hol camp to Iraq’s Nineveh province on Saturday, in the latest phase of Baghdad’s ongoing return program. The transfer, which inc

Iraq repatriates over 180 families from Syria’s al-Hol camp. The transfer, which included 681 individuals, marked the seventh repatriation operation since the start of 2025 and the 24th overall. #Iraq #alHol #Syria

shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraq...

A Conversation With Jeffrey Goldberg About His Extraordinary Scoop How The Atlantic’s editor in chief found himself in a group chat with Trump-administration officials who were planning an attack on Yemen

“A mack-truck-sized breach”: @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social discusses being accidentally added to a Trump administration group chat planning military strikes.

Read more in The Atlantic Daily: theatln.tc/0VASTR78

So sorry to hear this John. Horrible. What a waste and travesty.

The population of Al-Hol Camp is rapidly decreasing⬇️

At its peak in 2019, Al-Hol held more than 73,000 residents. Six years on, the population has now fallen by more than half, and international repatriation efforts are continuing to accelerate. #AJourneyHome #Syria #Iraq

YouTube video by WashingtonInstitute Hope for al Hol? The Syria Breakdown, Episode Six

NEW VIDEO: Hope for al Hol? The Syria Breakdown Ep. 6 - where I address what's next after the fall of the Assad regime including factors that could greatly decrease the population in Al-Hol, turning the former unsolvable problem into a more solvable one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bM6...

Decision not to classify Southport killer as a terrorist was right, says UK watchdog Review concluded extending definition to cover extreme violence by ‘loners’ such as Axel Rudakubana is unhelpful The decision not to classify Axel Rudakubana as a terrorist following the Southport murders was right because it would be unhelpful to…

Decision not to classify Southport killer as a terrorist was right, says UK watchdog

The secret history of Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa Is the man once known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani intent on moderating or a brutal strongman?

An excellent and detailed profile of #HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) by @rayajalabi.ft.com for @FT

www.ft.com/content/8aa8...

Open-source investigation courses target ‘crisis in democracy’ News website Bellingcat co-creates module in partnership with University of Nottingham

#Bellingcat, a specialist in fact-checking and open-source intelligence (OSINT), has begun working with #universities to develop open-source #investigation courses and create student-led investigative hubs in an attempt to solve the “crisis in democracy”.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/open-so...

Having a beautiful little baby is the only immediate antidote I have found to the current state of global affairs. If I’m not posting much, it’s because I’m hanging with my little lady.

Also, no we are not the 51st state, and slava Ukraini - keep standing up to the bullies.

Trump’s global funding freeze leaves anti-terror programs in limbo U.S. officials say now-suspended programs across Africa were designed specifically to respond to national security threats and contain the spread of terrorism.

Trump’s global funding freeze leaves anti-terror programs in limbo. U.S. officials say now-suspended programs across Africa were designed specifically to respond to national security threats and contain the spread of terrorism.

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Two-year-old girl and her mother die from Munich car attack injuries Afghan man was arrested on suspicion of deliberately driving car into trade union demonstration on Thursday A two-year-old girl and her mother died on Saturday from injuries suffered in the car-ramming attack in Munich on Thursday that left 37 others…

Two-year-old girl and her mother die from Munich car attack injuries

Austria: Villach knife attack leave teenager dead and five wounded The suspect, who is a Syrian asylum seeker, was detained at the scene and is being questioned by police.

One dead, and five injured in knife attack in Austria
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Ex-Google boss Eric Schmidt fears for 'Bin Laden' AI scenario Eric Schmidt says AI technology could

Ex-Google boss Eric Schmidt fears for ‘bin Laden’ AI scenario
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Southport Killer Was Fixated on Extreme Violence. But Was it Terrorism? (Gift Article) Axel Rudakubana, who killed three girls in a stabbing spree at a dance class, was obsessed with violence but had no known ideology. His case has led to calls for a rethink of counterterror strategy.

In this deep dive for the New York Times, I've explored the Southport attack, its impact and what it means for the future of counter-terrorism and counter-violence efforts in the UK

Axel Rudakubana is part of a trend that has been building for years
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/w...