ISIS Recruitment: How Russia Plans To Weaken Islamic State With A Brochure For Parents

Amid the continuing fight against the Islamic State group, Russia has taken to steps to help prevent its young citizens' being recruited by the terrorist organization. The country has published a brochure aimed at helping adults spot and deal with the attempted recruitment of young people, the Moscow Times reported Monday.

The brochure was created by the "Resistance to the Islamic State Recruiters" project, led by Yelena Sutormina, a member of Russia's Civic Chamber. "Parents often don't know that their loved ones are under the influence of [terrorist] recruiters," Sutormina said while presenting the brochure, according to the Moscow Times. The brochure is aimed at helping family members spot the signs of recruitment and stop the process.

Among the markers parents should watch for reportedly listed by the brochure are a sudden increased interest in religious texts or the usage of "Islamic terminology." The text directs parents who notice such signs to contact Russia's Anti-Terrorist Center, and in the event of a child going missing, with recruitment the suspected reason, parents are directed to contact police immediately.

Russia has conducted airstrikes in Syria, where the Islamic State group controls large swaths of land, since September. Many of the strikes have reportedly been in aid of Syrian President Bashar Assad, with whom Russian President Vladimir Putin is allied. A U.S.-led coalition has carried out strikes against ISIS as well.

ISIS has recruited heavily via modern tools such as social media, especially targeting young people. The young husband-and-wife attackers in last week's San Bernardino, California, shooting that killed 14 people, for instance, were reportedly at least inspired by ISIS.

The Russian brochure comes after a high-profile case in July in which a student attempted to join the terrorist group. Varvara Karaulova, 19, was suspected of attempting to cross into Syria and join the group. She was caught and confessed to authorities, her family and defense lawyers saying she fell in love with a man who posed as an ISIS fighter, according to Russian media. He convinced her to leave her life behind and join him in Syria. Karaulova is in prison awaiting prosecution and could face a sentence of up to 10 years should she be convicted, according to the Wall Street Journal.