Not Yet Dead: The Establishment and Regulation of Slavery by the Islamic State

Author: Al-Dayel, Nadia; Mumford, Andrew & Bales, Kevin

Abstract: The Islamic State is an organization at the nexus of modern slavery and terrorism. This article provides the first in-depth analysis of how it regulated slavery. With a consideration of gendered approaches, it applies multiple data sources to reveal a three-part assessment of the forms, establishment, and regulation of slavery from 2014 to 2017. Beginning with the August 2014 Sinjar massacre, it reveals the logistics of slavery through an innovative process entitled the Division and Regulation of Enslavement Framework. It concludes with a discussion on the domestic and international aspects of this crime, detailing recommendations for research and policy.

Keywords: Islamic State, Sinjar Massacre, slavery, human trafficking, terrorism