Dhul-Qarnayn hasn’t neglected the male students either. The outfit known around Mosul as the “Afghani costume” or the “Kandahar look” has been being produced in workshops in the city for some time now. It is called the Afghani costume because often fighters from the Afghan Taliban group wear clothes like this. Many of the fighters from the IS group wear the long shirt and baggy pants favoured by the Taliban too. And now smaller sizes are being produced so that the outfits can be sold to school children too.
Another of Dhul-Qarnayn’s initiatives involves attempts to recruit from among young men at secondary schools in Mosul. The IS group actually sent a delegation to a school to persuade the younger men to join the fight on their side. However locals say the delegation failed in their task; none of the young men showed any enthusiasm for joining the IS group.
Dhul-Qarnayn is also known for his jokes and for his willingness to laugh with staff, to show he is close to them. He speaks to them in his soft Egyptian accent and he also prays with them, demonstrating modesty and humility.
One of the teachers in Mosul, Wajih, was describing the new director of education to his family.
“He is a big guy and he has a big, thick beard,” Wajih told his wife. “He’s not even 30 years old and although he can be flexible with the employees, he can also be very ruthless and make others obey him.”
Wajih’s younger daughter was busy drawing a picture but she was also listening while he was speaking. Her picture ended up being of a monster with two horns carrying a sword. She then showed the picture to her mother. “Is this person my dad’s new boss?” she asked sweetly.
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