Off Topic Grace Dent for i

As the Metropolitan police flit off – somewhat pointlessly – to the borders of northern Syria in search of three teen Isis fangirls from Bethnal Green it’s hard for good liberals like myself to know where to chivvy blame.

It’s Twitter’s fault, reportedly. Twitter helped these girls connect with other gleeful fans of snuff-video beheading, cage-burning and the hobbysport of hurling gay men to their deaths from towers. Let’s blame Twitter. Sure, if Twitter shut up shop tomorrow – turfing off its 284m users - then Isis would use other social media platforms, but as none of those platforms are as famous as Twitter, it makes less sexy news.


Or is it Theresa May’s fault? Bad, culpable Theresa. Not once did this woman drive personally to any of these teenagers’ homes, check their Internet search histories and text messages, or give them a pep talk on why the mass beheading of Christians is simply not on. Or is it my fault for not shouting loud enough on a Stop the War demo? Or is it Turkish Airlines’ fault for not stopping and searching every young, brown woman trying to leave the country alone. Hang on, that’s actually racist and sexist. Scrap that. Gosh, this is confusing.

Some people must be wondering if the parents of Amira, Shamima and Kadiza are to blame. They appeared on TV this week, some clutching teddy bears belonging to their little blossoms, presenting them as easily-confused delicate ingenues. This differed, to my mind, from the cool-headed, elegantly pulled together, determined young women I’d watched the footage of on CCTV. Not silly kids wagging off school, but calm, considered, A-grade students who have researched their trip, found hundreds of pounds in funds, booked flights and headed towards earth’s closest vision of actual hell.

In Isis we are observing a level of atrocity towards mankind that, post-Nazism, we hoped we would never again witness. But with Isis there’s no excuse for not knowing what “they” are up to. There will no big post-war reveal where we can wring our hands saying, “Well, this is awful, but we had no idea”. I wanted to ask Abase Hussen, as he clutched his daughter Amira’s stuffed toy, what exactly he thought was the tipping point that made his delicate, innocent baby-girl leave the country in such a rush that she left teddy behind?

Was it the video of Alan Henning – a man who stood for nothing but kindness – having his head removed? Was it photos of crucifixions of in central Raqqa? The reports from Kobani of raped, mutilated six-year-old female corpses lying in the streets? Which image of a future life excited her the most? Submissive jihadi bride with a big strong executioner boyfriend? Machine-gun toting trained killer? And all this without her teddy bear? Thank heavens we know she uses Twitter. She can tweet Clintons Cards and see if they’ll post out a replacement Mr Fluffy. How will princess sleep without?



In pictures: Anti-Isis demonstrations across Europe
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Abase Hussen, and the rest of the families, are adamant that there were no signs that their daughters were plotting. That means, I surmise, no suspicious internet windows left open, no dubious items in search histories, no odd phone-calls, no suspicious comments at the dinner table, no new friends suddenly in the social circle, no mysterious requests for extra money, no mysterious selling of personal items to raise funds, no bizarre text messages, no rooting through drawers for passports, in fact, absolutely nothing remarkable at all. I have no reason to disbelieve the families, but this was a startling rouse to pull off. When I was 15 my family – via the Dent family mother-sibling Stasi network – would have sussed I was heading to Turkey before I’d even decided myself.

Of course, there’s a strong case to be made that fleeing abroad in search of Isis is simply a severe case of teen rebellion. Much, in fact, like the time, aged 15, when I pierced my nose and dyed my hair a sort of toxic cyan shade, imagining myself to look like a sexy mermaid, like Kate from The B52s, but instead resembling the Cookie Monster. I was a complete tit for almost all of the 1980s. The Nineties and Noughties were only marginally better. But still, I am lost for ideas on how we greet young teen rebels who hope to return here after mixing with Isis.


If the sight of gay men plummeting to their deaths excited you so much that you went and spent five years aiding and abetting the homophobic carnage, forgive me, but I don’t want to come across you in Bethnal Green Tesco Metro. I can’t imagine that time spent hanging out with horror-movie ghouls who hate Britain, gays, democracy, the rights of women and religious freedom will have done much good for your personal development.

I’d go as far as to say you shouldn’t be allowed back into the country ever, when surely there are dozens of other bloodier, more depressing places that suit your lifestyle choice better. However, I’ve asked my liberal friends what we should do and they all wring their hands and say after some mumbling, “Nothing”. So give me a call when you’re bored with all the stoning, crucifying and beheading. I’ll meet you at Heathrow Arrivals with your teddy.

 

These girls are old enough to know right from wrong and if they think they are doing the right thing then they had better understand that we think we are doing the right thing of not ever letting them back into the country again......

 

the world is mad hey

look at these fkrs

 

Well they'll certainly keep someone warm on those long dark nights ahead.

 

give me tha money

religion holds this world back I tell thee

 

Well I don't care about them, if they support ISIS, then I won't jive two ****s abut them if harm come to them.

 

It will not be long before the UN puts an end to all Religions, it's what most world leaders would want anyway, it's just about timing in my view, it will come......

 

How will that be enforced ?

 

It cant and will only make things worst....you cant reason with any religious nut whatever religion they belong too...

 

Easily, they will strip them of their wealth and property, the Vatican alone has amassed nearly 2000 years of wealth, which is mind boggling....

 

A bit like the Roman candles in this country who plead poverty but are the richest land owners in the land....

 

You can't be serious to think that a declaration from the UN that all religion is banned would work , and what about the countries who aren't part of the UN who would impose that ruling . Man since the year dot has worshipped something be it visual or from within and no piece of paper or force (unless you propose killing everyone )will put a stop to it . Muslims really don't take kindly to any other religion competing with theirs let alone kuffaars' imposing the will on them so there's problem there straight away ,

o I forgot we already have a problem

 

Why do you think that the world powers and the UN are holding off? For the very reasons you have mentioned, but in the end they will bite the bullet come what may.

 

Us more like .

 

I agree Never. If they want to support ISIS, they can **** off to Syria

 

That was my conservative reply, my true feelings are if they get killed then I DON'T CARE!!! Couple less fanatics in the world.

 

55282 ..... you said a mouthful .....well done kid !