The frightening real-life story on how jihadists lure young women to become brides

Newe book 'In the Skin of a Jihadist' tells the story of how jihadists get young women to Syria.

To young women with normal lives the promise of royal treatment by charismatic men with wonderful stories of adventure seems like a real dream come true. However, the reality is these are no fairytales nor are the men princes with good intentions - they are the controversial jihadists luring young women to the Syrian warzone to become their brides. In a new book, a writer poses as a younger alter ego lured by an older terrorist, exposing the dangers for young women online.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "You can trust me. You'll be well taken care of here. You'll be important. And if you agree to marry me I'll treat you like a queen," said Abu Bilel, a well-known militant, the right-hand of the Islamic State group's leader.

He tried to woo the young, solitary and lonely 20-year-old woman, Melodie, from France to Syria, where he promised to marry her. Little did Bilel know Melodie was not a real person, or that a writer used her to gather valuable information regarding the internal system of the extremist group.

She found that the jihadists use words that easily mesmerize young, impressionable teenagers who want to escape their own lives.

During her conversations with Bilel, she noted the man liked boasting about his killings of "infidels" and the guns he has.  For cover, the writer wore hijab and spoke in girlish voice, eventually gaining his trust so that he would discuss more details on the organization.

"Like all liars he sometimes forgot what he'd said but the more horrible stories he told me, about battles and killings, were all true," Erelle, her pseudonym, noted.

Melodie gained a semi-celebrity status online, as it became well-known that she agreed to marry Bilel. There were girls who began asking her what to expect when they arrive in Syria, reassuring that the jihadists' tactics are effective.

Once she had refused to go after a series of plan changes, even bringing "Yasmine," Bilel became furious and she made Melodie disappear. Yasmine, 15, was actually a photographer.

Erelle continues to conceal her real name and is now under protection. However, her Skype account is still active, receiving death threats. "In the Skin of a Jihadist," by Anna Erelle was published June 4.

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