Child Recruitment for Terrorism and Radicalism in Indonesia Goes Digital

This is important given that radicalism and terrorism have a negative impact on a child’s development. The negative impact is mostly on their character, understanding of religion, principles of nationalism, and ideologies.

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Data from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection indicates that terrorism cases involving children as the suspect or victim have happened several times in Indonesia.

The Surabaya bombing incident on May 13-14, 2018 resulted in seven children ending in hospital intensive care units. Three of those involved were children of the terrorists.

Another three were apprehended for suspicion of terrorist involvement, and one child was involved with a bombing incident at the Surabaya Police Headquarters.

Another terrorism- and radicalism-related cases involving Indonesian children were the terrorist act in Sibolga, North Sumatra that led to the death of one child. 

(Writer: Irfan Kamil | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana) 

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/07/08/18160401/kementerian-pppa-sebut-media-sosial-kini-dipakai-untuk-rekrut-anak-dalam