Poetry as a communicative vehicle in the jihadi milieu : the case for modern extremist poetry

Abstract

For over a millennium, poetry has held a prominent role in the socio-political scene of the Arab world to the extent that it is regarded as a powerful transmitter of a particular ideological worldview. To date, the classical Arabic ode remains an influential vehicle for mobilization among jihadi circles. This study examines modern variants of the classical Arabic ode as an essential factor in the devious and pernicious efficiency of the jihadi propaganda. The article intends to provide a more granular scheme for modern jihadi poetry by discussing the art and function of this genre. By resorting to the discussions about conventional poetic themes, this article demonstrates how modern jihadi poetry works to spread jihadi values and the uncompromising worldview of these groups.