{"id":4033,"date":"2022-01-05T15:10:53","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T11:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/?p=4033"},"modified":"2022-01-05T15:10:53","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T11:40:53","slug":"understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/report\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding PJAK&#8217;s Social Media recruitment process"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">This investigation<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"> explores the issue of PJAK\/PKK<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">recruitment through social<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">media, <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">most<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">particularly<\/span> on their Telegram channels that are set up to look like &#8216;news channels&#8217;, a <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Twitter campaign,<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">and<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">videos<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">posted<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">on<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">sites<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">such<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">as<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">YouTube<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">and <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ANFpersian.<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">This is an attempt to analyze the<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">comm<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">unication process between a <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">well<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">&#8211;<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">crafted message and<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">a vulnerable audience<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Social media is an especially effective <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">means<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">by which to reach a vulnerable audience, inside their homes, already isolated due to a global pandemic and difficult socioeconomic circumstances.<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">. A better understanding of this use of social media will enhance the abilities <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">of NGO&#8217;s in the prevention of child recruitment by this group.<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">. By an odd or rather unfortunate <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">coincidence of sociopolitical<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"> history and innovation in communication technology, a <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">perf<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ect storm of propaganda has been unleashed by the promulgation of PJAK messaging <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">through social media glorifying the sacrifice of one&#8217;s own life for a &#8216;greater goal&#8217;, namely Kurdayeti (Kurdishness).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">PJAK and PKK<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"> are each targeting people from a d<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ifferent perspective;<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">however, the missi<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">on of <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">bot<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">h groups remains the<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">same despite their use<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">of<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">different strategies. They are <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">increasing their long<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">&#8211;<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">term strength by targeting youth th<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">rough social media and <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">attacking<\/span> other Kurdish parties (such as KDP, PUK), and the governments it sees as their nemesis (mainly Turkey, but also Iran)<span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Purpose and significance<\/h2>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Any attempt to understand<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">how PJAK can create messages to lure hundreds of Kurds<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"> to their cause, requires<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">a critical analysis <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">of the interaction between the rhetoric of the message and the psychology of the <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">vulnerable receiver, including a pro<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">file of those drawn to PJAK and PKK.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Governments in the Middle East in general<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"> do not, of course, welcome terror<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ist groups. However, many of those who are influenced by the narrative of terrorist groups and <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">inhabit these countries believe<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">they have no other recourse<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">. In such areas, the often uneducated people that form the target group, have<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">no power to influence the governments <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">of their<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">own countries.<\/span> More radical d<span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">emand<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">s for change<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">or attempts to i<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">mprove the situation often <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">land<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">them in prison.<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Western powers, for the most part, have<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">t<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">urned a blind eye to these <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">oppressive governments with which they have done business, as for example in their <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">insatiable app<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">etites for carbon based fuels. On the other hand, they also close an eye to opposition groups as they obviously need them to retain the status quo &#8211; and thus their occupation &#8211; in the Middle East.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Opposition groups such as PJAK and PKK &#8211; although officially marked as terrorist organizations &#8211; have offices in Western countries, spread their propaganda freely through Europe-based TV channels, and are often glorified in Western media. The same media tend to close an eye to the less glamorous sides of these groups, such as the involvement of child soldiers, and the repeated extortion of locals to fund &#8216;the cause&#8217;. Locals that are exposed to an attractively packaged propaganda message, fabricated in sophisticated European propaganda factories, are easy targets.<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">This is because to whom PJAK <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">appeals<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">are<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">not<\/span> well-<span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">educated,<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">sophisticated,<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">or<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">experienced adults, but teenagers and adolescents that live in the countries&#8217; border regions, are often impoverished, and have left school early to help provide for their families, in short: those<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">who cannot see PJAK \u2018s message for what it is: propag<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">anda.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Behind PJAK&#8217;s and &#8216;mother party&#8217; PKK\u2019s public face and domination of Kurdish news outlets and social media, there<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">are clearly <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">educated and well<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">&#8211;<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">practiced communication managers who have created a range of mediums<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"> that blend the familiar elements of a proto-typically attractive, western music video with <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">PJAK\u2019s proclamations of friendship, martyrdom, freedom, dancing circles, &#8216;sticking to one&#8217;s culture&#8217;, and the heroic pursuit of a common enemy. Young attractive women form the center pieces of these videos. Next to these videos, messages concerning the deeds of the perceived enemy are enlarged, and no other Kurdish initiatives to improve living conditions of local Kurds are showcased. PJAK is the only possible savior.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">These <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">com<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">municative skills are put to use to create a familiar and accessible format to uproot <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">new adherents from typically mundane, directionless lives as factory workers, farmers, shopkeepers, cross-border smugglers (kolbers) etc. to join a cause that serves a <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">purpose &#8216;far greater than themselves&#8217;. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Leaving that mundane, directionless life is easy: one only needs to send the admin a message to be able to run off to the &#8216;mountains of freedom&#8217;<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">. However, it is the skills of the <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">communication managers who have led them to that conclusion. And once trapped in the mountains, far away from home, the new recruit sees no way back.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Glorifying &#8216;martyrs&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">A<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">study conducted by<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">IKHRW analysts<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"> reviewed how PJAK <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">relies on<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">social media<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">for recruitment, especially for its fighters that come from larger towns, which passing forces cannot enter easily. The <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">organization<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">needs to control their followers and maintain<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">the<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ir<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">allegia<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">nce<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">while at the <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">same time substantially increasing their numbers after loss due to death or desertion. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The organization&#8217;s members that were killed-in-action dominate its media narrative. By showing videos and pictures of the fallen member over and over again, in combination with the phrase &#8216;Shahid namirin&#8217; or &#8216;Martyrs never die&#8217; suggesting its fallen members become immortal (i.e. they will never be forgotten), it glorifies &#8216;martyrdom&#8217; in the same way Islamic terrorist groups are known to do.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Consequently, e<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">xtensive<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">efforts at recruitment by means of the PJAK media machine <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">play an ever more dangerous role in achieving<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">the<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ir central objective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4034\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/martyrstweet.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"484\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/martyrstweet.png 484w, https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/martyrstweet-300x249.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 484px) 100vw, 484px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>For example, in this tweet we observe a photo-shopped image of three of the group&#8217;s killed members, with a link to a telegram-channel that pushes about 10 to 15 messages per day, and the text: &#8220;By joining the guerrilla ranks, you can take their revenge from the Iranian occupation regime. Click for more information.&#8221;.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In one message, the group&#8217;s media wing tries to trick the reader in to multiple actions. It lures a passing Twitter-user to a more active Telegram-channel, where it will bombard the user with propaganda multiple times per day, it glorifies the deaths of its previous recruits and plays on the emotions of those users that feel sympathy for them, and provides a way to join the organization &#8216;just one click away&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Their strategy is to <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">appeal to th<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">e emotions of their followers. It also provides steps to its followers. The follower can join the organization easily by contacting the admin of a channel, the follower is asked to share the message with his\/her own followers and social contacts, and the follower is asked to join a second channel where he or she will receive an even larger amount of propaganda, which then again will lead to the follower to physically join the group, or share its messages.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Social Media and the &#8216;Need for affiliation&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Let&#8217;s see why Social Media is such an effective means of recruitment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The use <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">of social media such as Telegram, Facebook, and Twitter satisfies some basic human needs to feel connected to other people, which is <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">more commonly satisfied by interpersonal contact within families and communities but <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">in this case<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">through social media for those who are disaffected and alienated. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">psychologists Henry Murray and Abraham Maslow both laid the foundation for the <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">study of this need for affiliation with others. The role that previously was taken by <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">living as a part of a<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">social group has now become instead being a part of a social <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">network. Membership in a group offers a feeling of emotional safely and the needs met <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">by emotional support arising from community living. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">This need for a social connection is the main reason social media users are easily attracted<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">.<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Had Twitter or other social media outlets not existed, these PJAK <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">recruits might have sought social support through more traditional and established <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">means.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Now, the organization that has attracted a vulnerable follower, with a need for a social connection, is presented with a way to not only fulfill this &#8216;need for affiliation&#8217;, but to also become a hero.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4035\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/gozardemo.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"445\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/gozardemo.png 445w, https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/gozardemo-300x260.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Example: A message on the Telegram-channel Gozar Demokratik. &#8220;In the end, we call on all young people in eastern Kurdistan to take the peaceful path to annihilate and destroy the invading regime of Iran and to continue the path of martyr Hemin and martyr Fasih Yasamani by participating in the guerrilla ranks and take historical revenge on the Iranian invading regime.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>A sense of purpose<\/h2>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">On a more psychological level, PJAK offers its recruits a sense of purpose, <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">commitment, even identity, as well as fellowship, social support, and even material <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">survival since many come from backgr<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">oun<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ds of chronic unemployment, lack of education and poverty.<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">All of these <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">factors combine to create a sort of \u201cbrand\u201d loyalty on the part of these former recruits <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">who are now active militants themselves in possession of a sense of gratitude and <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">indebtedness within the community and a high<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">er call<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ing in their lives. Now they will <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">be able to take part in the videos to be posted on social media to encourage others to join <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">them: &#8216;where you are now, I once was there too&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p>PJAK does this by taking videos of its new recruits when they leave the obligatory 40 days military and ideological training in its headquarters Qandil. These videos are posted all over social media, but also on its affiliated newssites, such as ANFpersian.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Once in the mountains, new recruits see no way back. They often wrongly fear persecution upon returning to their home countries, fear for vengeance of the group, and are simply not allowed to leave. And once having taken a public stand for PJAK, the <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">recruits remain loyal despi<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">te the hard demands ma<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">de upon them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">In the face of danger, they <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">d<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">evelop a careless, indifferent<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">attitude toward their lives, facing death with equanimity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4036\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/anfvideo.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"757\" height=\"913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/anfvideo.png 757w, https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/anfvideo-249x300.png 249w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Commitment to PJAK, however, (perhaps the first true commitment to anything <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">or anyone they have made in their liv<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">es) now gives these new combatants a sense of <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">purpose and direction in their lives and the military<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">&#8211;<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">like social structure around them, <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">and ensures that that they will keep their promises to <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">PJAK for the rest of their li<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ves, howe<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ver long or short they may be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The recruits keep <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">their word and the organization keeps them in check if necessary. In point of fact, these recruits <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">usually adopt a &#8216;nom de guerre&#8217; as part of their new identities, and thus leave behind every trace of their former self.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This investigation explores the issue of PJAK\/PKK recruitment through social media, most particularly on their Telegram channels that are set up to look like &#8216;news channels&#8217;, a Twitter campaign, and videos posted on sites such as YouTube and ANFpersian. This is an attempt to analyze the communication process between a well-crafted message and a vulnerable audience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4037,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-report"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Understanding PJAK&#039;s Social Media recruitment process - Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understanding PJAK&#039;s social media recruitment process shows how PJAK uses social media to recruit young Iranian Kurds, by messages directly targeting them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/report\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Understanding PJAK&#039;s Social Media recruitment process\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Understanding PJAK&#039;s social media recruitment process shows how PJAK uses social media to recruit young Iranian Kurds, by messages directly targeting them.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/report\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-01-05T11:40:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ikhrw.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/social-media.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"956\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"627\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ikhrw.com\\\/en\\\/report\\\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ikhrw.com\\\/en\\\/report\\\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"Understanding PJAK&#8217;s Social Media recruitment process\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-01-05T11:40:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ikhrw.com\\\/en\\\/report\\\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1779,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ikhrw.com\\\/en\\\/report\\\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ikhrw.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2022\\\/01\\\/social-media.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Report\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ikhrw.com\\\/en\\\/report\\\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ikhrw.com\\\/en\\\/report\\\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ikhrw.com\\\/en\\\/report\\\/understanding-pjaks-social-media-recruitment-process\\\/\",\"name\":\"Understanding PJAK's Social Media recruitment process - 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