‘Malaysian Isis member’ shares Syrian experiences on social media

“Shams”, a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) and who claims to be a 26-year-old doctor from Malaysia, is on social media to narrate her months living in war-torn Syria.

Her posts on her blog, Diary Of A Traveler, describes her activities in Syria, including her marriage to a fellow Isis member after she set foot in the country in February, as well as the medical treatment she provides to the people there.

"After two months in Shaam (Syria), I finally think about getting married because life without a Mahram (husband) is quite hard and it can cause fitnah.

"When I told this matter to one of my best friend, she was the happiest person because I was never interested before," wrote Shams.

Her story spread on social media today first on the BuzzFeed website. Her Facebook account under the name "Diary of a Muhajirah" appears to have been started less than 24 hours ago.

She said she agreed to marry a man whom she had not yet met – a friend of her friend's husband – and wedded him the day she first laid eyes on him.

"He looked at me, our eyes catches each others'. I had palpitation that is faster than the speed of light," she wrote.

"He smiled. And he asked a question that I shall never forget for the rest of my life.

"'Can we get married today? After Asr?'

"Deep inside my heart shouted, 'noooo'. But I have no idea why I answered 'Yes'."

Such anecdotes are interspersed with posts advising interested Islamic State fighters to "re-new" their intentions, and with facts regarding marriage within the Islamic State.

“Shams” also gives reminders to women to join the Islamic State for Allah, and not for marriage.

According to "Shams", Islamic State members are given free houses in Syria and they need not pay electricity and water bills. Monthly groceries are also providedto all, as well as monthly allowances for married couples and children.

She also attempted to dispel the media's "attacks" against the Islamic State fighters, and described most of them as being "just like us".

"These men, mostly are in their 20-s and unmarried. Most of them are just like us, they were once lived in Jahilliah (ignorant) life, that made them fed-up with this worldly life and wants (sic) to make a change.

"These men, they are not from illiterate background. Many of them came from a wealthy family and lived like a king/prince back where they came from."

According to her Twitter and ask.fm accounts, which have both been deleted, "Shams" is from Malaysia and was 26 when she left for Syria in February.

However, it is unclear whether "Shams" is a real person, or is part of the Isis's social media propaganda to recruit women into joining their fight to set up a caliphate in Syria and Iraq.

Shams' writings gloss over the brutal war and violence that has ravaged the state since Isis forces lay claim over it.

Instead, she elicits sympathy from readers over her "bittersweet life" and her constant fears that her husband, too, may be martyred.

"Eleven days after we got married, he told me that he is off for an operation. It was the most heart-breaking thing I have ever heard since I came to Syria. I can’t deny that my heart bleeds and I can’t hold my tears...," she wrote.

"He noticed my gloomy face and said this to me, 'Habibty, I’m married to Jihad before I’m married to you. Jihad is my first wife, and you’re my second. I hope you understand'."

Sham's posts have attracted a large following online, despite the numerous times her Facebook accounts have been removed.

Although created only yesterday, her latest Facebook page has already received over a thousand "likes" and comments from Malaysians supporting her "hijrah" to Syria.

Last month, The Malaysian Insider reported that Malaysian women are believed to have joined Isis forces to offer Jihad Al-Nikah or sexual jihad.

Senior intelligence officials confirmed that three Malaysian women have journeyed to the Middle East to join up with Isis forces.

Jihad Al-Nikah refers to a controversial concept where Sunni women allegedly offer themselves in sexual comfort roles to fighters for the establishment of Islamic rule.

The concept originated from a Wahhabi edict around 2013, that called for Sunni women supporters to come forward for sex jihad and boost the morale of fighters battling against Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. – September 18, 2014.

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