From model to militant?

Pictures of Jama have been published by his modelling agency, which feature him walking down the runway in smart attire on a beach. PHOTO: FILE

Friday, January 2, 2015

As the Islamic State’s (IS) global recruitment drive reaches an unprecedented scale, the professional background of its inductees becomes growingly interesting. Among the latest IS recruits is a male model from Melbourne, Australia, who has left the runway to become part of the militant group’s rampage. Sharky Jama, who has been described as a “budding male model,” is believed to have joined IS and resides in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, which has been under IS control for almost a year, reported Al-Arabiya News.

Pictures of Jama, who is of Somali descent, have been published by his modelling agency, which feature him walking down the runway in smart attire on a beach. The former model is said to have been accompanied by his friend, former La Trobe University student, Yusuf Yusuf. His friend has reportedly fled for the IS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria.

“Mr Jama’s former social media accounts, including one with the username ‘thelastkhliafat’, a misspelled reference to an Islamic caliphate, have been deleted. But he maintains a Facebook page under a different name in which he offers his perspectives on IS and life under its banners,” reported the Daily Mail Australia’s online portal.

Jama is described as a “brown-eyed, black-haired man who stands at 5’11 and wears a size 38R suit,” on his modelling agency page. “The materialism displayed in his sample photographs contrasts deeply with his new life and religious views,” the newspaper read. It added, “From his posts and comments, it appears Mr Jama first travelled through Europe after leaving Australia, telling one friend he ‘had to shave’ his beard ‘before crossing borders’.”

The federal government holds that more than 70 Australians have fled to join the IS fight in Iraq and Syria, reported the Daily Mail. Counter-terrorism researcher, Dr Anne Aly said, “It might take a year, it might take six months and, if they continue down that path and become more and more radicalised, they get to the point where they’re ready to take action.” The Australian newspaper stated that nearly 70 Australians are believed to be in Iraq and Syria, with government estimates suggesting that another 20 have been killed in fighting.

While many Australians have taken up arms for IS, others have become part of the group’s propaganda arm. It was earlier reported that a man from western Sydney offers his services as the organisation’s video editor. In an interview with The Australian, the man described his life as “pretty typical.” He said, “I have a job, I live in a HQ, eat, sleep, work, and hope an airstrike gets me so I can be Shaheed.”

Two Australian nationals, Abdullah Elmir, 17, and Zakaria Raad, 22, have featured in IS propaganda videos. Elmir last appeared in a video in October, in which he was surrounded by IS militants. Raad was reportedly killed shortly after his appearance in a recruitment video posted in July.

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