Aqsa's Journey From a Typical Teenager to ISIS Bride

Muzaffar Mahmood, the first Pakistani cricket player from Scotland, shifted to Glasgow from Pakistan in the 1970s.

His life was an ideal one. He and his wife Khalida bought a home in an upscale neighborhood and had four children. The children were sent to a prestigious private school Craigholme near their house. They were intelligent and the moderate liberal framework of their family, allowed them the freedom to build a life on their terms.

One of their daughters, Aqsa Mahmood, used her intelligence and knowledge in a different direction. She was like any other 19-year-old, listening to Coldplay and reading "Harry Potter" books.

Mahmood said, "She was the best daughter you could have. We just don't know what happened to her. She loved school. She was very friendly. I have never shouted at her all my life, all my life."

But, something changed her after she learnt of the degree of violence in the Syria war.

She became more religious, was seeing praying and reading the Quran most of the time. In the university, too, she gave up her music and love for fiction, CNN reports.

This did not alarm her family members.

One fine day, in November last year, she bid farewell to her family and headed for Syria to join the ISIS. According to the National Post, she maintains an active profile on social networking sites and has emerged as an avid supporter of the Jihadist group. Her posts were aimed at encouraging other Muslims in the West to support the ISIS' cause.

"[I swear to Allah] there's nothing more beautiful than bringing fear into the hearts of the [non-believers] by attacking them where they think they are safest," the woman wrote soon after she surfaced in Syria.

Once when she called Muzaffar and Khalida from Syria, they told her: "We used to tell her ... this is not Islam, some of these groups are not Islam. They are doing wrong things which we don't approve of. Obviously, no Muslim approves this." But, it did not affect her.

She in turn informed them that she would marry soon. "That's the process here. They don't let a girl stay alone. Now we have to find a mahram (male guardian). We have to get married here. Don't worry. I'll be OK. My heart is good."

Scores of girls from various corners might be joining the Islamist group, but it is not being covered. Girls like Aqsa are dedicating their lives to a cause that they believe would be a victory for Islam.

Today, Aqsa is busy recruiting other "sisters" to join the ISIS, as her parents sit back home and wish she "comes back" to them.