BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's Interior Ministry (MVD) Wednesday (September 5) highlighted the number of women joining the ranks of extremist groups, 24.kg reported.
"As of today, 7.4% of all detected active members of extremist organisations are women," said Erlan Bakiyev, the head of the ministry's Theological Support Department.
"At least 24.9% of [Kyrgyz who went abroad to join insurgencies] are women," he added.
"Unfortunately, women are filling the ranks of terrorists and extremists," he said. "They, alongside the men, actively promote radical ideas [and] create women's groups."
The problem posed by returnees from conflicts in Syria and Iraq is still "acute", he said.
Poor religious education, lack of parental attention and the harmful influence of the internet are all factors leading to radicalisation, Bakiyev noted.
