In the Skin of a Jihadist: A Young Journalist Enters the ISIS Recruitment Network

Anna Erelle · Erin Potter

May 2015 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

The inspiration for the new film PROFILE, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, with a screenplay by Britt Poulton, Timur Bekmambetov, and Olga Kharina.

A young French journalist’s riveting and unprecedented look at how today’s most ruthless terrorists use social media and technology to reach disaffected youth—witnessed through the undercover investigation that led to her deep involvement with a key member of ISIS.

On Facebook, “Melodie”—a twenty-year-old-convert to Islam living with her mother and sister in Toulouse—meets Bilel, a French-born, high-ranking militant for the Islamic State in Syria. Within days, Bilel falls in love with Melodie, Skypes her repeatedly, and adamantly urges her to come to Syria, marry him, and do jihad. The honey-tongued suitor promises the innocent, fatherless young girl a life of material comfort and spiritual purpose. 

But “Melodie” is actually Anna Erelle, a Parisian based journalist investigating the recruitment channels of the Islamic state, whose digital propaganda—Jihad 2.0—constitutes one of its most formidable and frightening weapons, successfully mobilizing increasing numbers of young Europeans.

In this taut and riveting true story, Erelle chronicles her intense, month-long relationship with Bilel—who turns out to be none other than the right hand man of Abou Bakr al-Baghadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of ISIS. Impatient for Melodie to join him, Bilel tells her that, according to an imam, they are already all but married, and will be officially when she arrives in Syria. As she embarks on the final, most dangerous stage of her investigation, Melodie leaves for Amsterdam to begin her journey to the Middle East. But things go terribly wrong.

A gripping and often harrowing inquiry into the factors that motivate young people to join extremist causes, and a shocking exploration of how technology and social media are spreading radicalism, In the Skin of a Jihadist is a riveting page-turner that helps us better understand the appeal of extremism—and how an Islamic militant attempts to brainwash, seduce, and manipulate a vulnerable young woman.

Ratings and reviews

It was so interesting to see exactly what goes on behind the scenes of recruitment for this group from a safe distance. I really liked this book and her writing style is great. My only qualm about the book is that it all seemed to jumble up at the climax of it and I experienced a sudden drop of interest due to the vast decline of continuity. Otherwise, great read and I appreciate the author's bravery for sticking with this story for the sake of people's awareness.

10/10 loved it. It was thrilling! It took me on a journey to find out about things I previously did not know about to the other side of the world, to Paris and the Middle East. It took me through her story, both the journalist and her fake online profile, Melodie's. As a reader, there was moments of high tension, and I began feeling what she was feeling: the restlessness, the anxiety and the fear... Finished this in three days. Best summer read so far! And the movie inspired by this story brought me here, which I also highly reccomend!

Wonderful, frightening book, but online articles give away the whole story. This is just an extended version of the articles you find on news sites.

About the author

Anna Erelle is the pseudonym of a thirty-something French journalist who has written for major newspapers and magazines in France. In the Skin of a Jihadist is her first book.