In recent years, a terrorist group called Boko Haram (literally translated as "western education is a sin") have carried out hundreds of violent attacks in Nigeria and surrounding areas. Led by a man named Abubakar Shekau, the group of Islamic extremists seek to rid Nigeria of all western influence and create what they believe to be a perfect nation. Boko Haram has grown dramatically since 2012 through kidnap. Armed recruiters lure boys away from their families only to give them a choice between immediate death or initiation into the group.
On April 14th, 2014, Boko Haram invaded a school in northern Nigeria and kidnapped 223 young girls from their classrooms. These particular girls were targeted because they were females recieving a western-style education. The event gave Boko Haram the international recongnition they'd been looking for as celebrities and political figures from the United States tweeted and popularized the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. Shekau released a video after the attack, elaborating on the gruesome intentions of the group. He claims they are doing Allah's work, collecting and selling women as sex slaves in order to fund themselves so they can continue to attack western culture. The search for the girls continues as the Nigerian military recieves European and American assistance.
On April 14th, 2014, Boko Haram invaded a school in northern Nigeria and kidnapped 223 young girls from their classrooms. These particular girls were targeted because they were females recieving a western-style education. The event gave Boko Haram the international recongnition they'd been looking for as celebrities and political figures from the United States tweeted and popularized the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. Shekau released a video after the attack, elaborating on the gruesome intentions of the group. He claims they are doing Allah's work, collecting and selling women as sex slaves in order to fund themselves so they can continue to attack western culture. The search for the girls continues as the Nigerian military recieves European and American assistance.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/12/world/africa/nigeria-boko-haram-chibok-journey/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/21/world/africa/nigeria-boko-haram-reach/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/11/world/africa/nigeria-escaped-schoolgirl-speaks/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/21/world/africa/nigeria-boko-haram-reach/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/11/world/africa/nigeria-escaped-schoolgirl-speaks/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
I chose this topic because I don't feel that Americans are sufficiently aware of the things like this that are happening in places like Nigeria and Somalia. Also, I don't feel that those who are aware care enough to actually act on it. This topic relates to the religion and development chapters because it is an Islamic terrorist group (although their actions are not truly Islamic) and women's rights are being compromised.