Masood Azhar's new JeM: Female jihad will counter Hindu women

New Delhi: Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed is raising a female brigade to counter 'Hindu women' and women journalists in India, its founder and leader Masood Azhar has said.

In a sermon at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, Azhar detailed plans for the brigade, saying that cadres will be given specialised training and will join a global jihad.

Azhar says the brigade is being formed to counter "Hindu women" in the Indian armed forces as well as women journalists that he alleged have been set up against his outfit. Azhar said he will mobilise women jihadists to fight against them.


Members of Jamat-ul-Mominat will undergo a 15-day "Daura-e-Taskiya" course to be conducted at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur. This will be followed by another two-week course to teach them jihad.

He also says women who join Jamat-ul-Mominat "will go straight to paradise from the grave after death", adding that JeM's male Mujahids will stand alongside this new female unit. Countering Pakistani claims of cracking down on terror, Azhar announced that Jamat-ul-Mominat branches will be established in every district of Pakistan, each headed by a person responsible for recruiting women into the organisation.

Sources said Azhar appointed sister Sadiya Azhar as head of the women's brigade. His other sister Samaira Azhar and Afeera Farooq, widow of Pulwama attacker Umar Farooq, are also part of the leadership. Samaira has already started online classes, being held five days a week.

Rules imposed on women joinees

They cannot speak to any unrelated men through phone or messenger, except husbands or immediate family members.