ISIS expands with recruitment video for deaf citizens

The Deaf Bible Society fights back

The Islamic State released a video in March featuring two men communicating in sign language, encouraging the deaf to join their ranks.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - When J.R. Bucklew, president of the Deaf Bible Society, learned that ISIS was attempting to recruit Muslim members of the deaf community, he decided to reach out with a Christian campaign.

The Deaf Bible Society is an organization aiming to bring the Bible to deaf individuals across the world. Bucklew said he believes that biblical access is a "human rights issue." He wants to be certain every individual has "true and free access" to the Holy text.

Though Bucklew was eager to get started, it was immediately apparent that the deaf in the Middle East had extremely limited resources. He said that there is "little to no access to Bible content" in the region and there are over 20 different sign languages spoken.

Bucklew claims a printed Bible does not present a solution, because many deaf individuals in the Middle East can't read. In addition to the inability to read, the written word is not their "heart language," so deeper meaning and tones are lost.

Bucklew knew the Islamic State video would be enticing, stating the deaf "have no true access to information and content and now all of the sudden you have a video that spread through the community that said, 'Hey, come join our team. We provide hope for you, we provide jobs for you, we provide empowerment for you.' And the deaf are saying, 'You know what, we've seen a lot of bad stuff but this is the only thing that I've seen on video that I can identify with in language.'"

When Bucklew saw the ISIS recruitment video aimed at the deaf, he said he wanted to create a video teaching Jesus Christ's life. The video is expected to be released by the end of 2015 and will be used in an undisclosed country featuring an unnamed sign language.

The two-hour film was recorded by a native Middle East refugee currently living in the United States. The signer's safety is a concern so he or she will be wearing makeup and prosthetics as an extra precaution.

Bucklew is hoping the video message will bring hope to those who watch it. The material will be available through an app and on the Internet. Due to security concerns, more information is currently unavailable.

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