Terror analysts told The Straits Times that women have been taking on more dominant roles in extremist groups, and not as mere sympathisers or supporters of the men in their lives. There has been a large push online via chats on platforms like Telegram for women to take up arms and a strong demand for women to take up more significant roles in terror networks, said Ms Amalina Abdul Nasir, a Research Analyst at RSIS. Counter-terrorism sector also lacks female officers who make strategic decisions on deradicalisation measures specific to women. Ms Amalina said: “This can be due to factors like longstanding culture, weak leadership and capacity in understanding the rising threat of extremism so change may take a while to happen from within.”