My Son Joined ISIS

In this episode of OMG Stories: Up Close, Nicola Benyahia shares the heartbreaking story of how her 19-year-old son Rashid became radicalised, travelled to Syria to join ISIS, and was later killed. Growing up, Rashid was a happy, intelligent and energetic child with a close relationship with his family. He loved football, excelled at school and planned to pursue a career in engineering. But during his late teenage years, Nicola began noticing subtle changes in his behaviour — from becoming increasingly withdrawn from family life to developing views that she struggled to understand. Then, one seemingly ordinary morning, Rashid left home and didn't return. After weeks without answers, Nicola finally received a call from her son confirming that he was in Raqqa, Syria — at the time considered the centre of ISIS-controlled territory. What followed were months of carefully navigating conversations with Rashid while desperately hoping she could convince him to return home. Nicola opens up about their final conversation, the devastating phone call informing the family that Rashid had been killed, and the complicated grief of losing a child without being able to have a funeral or properly say goodbye. 🎙️ In this episode, Nicola discusses: What Rashid was like growing up The subtle changes she noticed during his teenage years How young people can become vulnerable to radicalisation The day Rashid suddenly disappeared from home The message that made his family realise something was seriously wrong Discovering that her son had travelled to Syria Their conversations while he was living in ISIS-controlled territory The moment she realised Rashid was beginning to question his decisions Their emotional final phone call Learning that her son had been killed Coping with grief without a body, funeral or traditional goodbye Why she turned her experience into helping other families The warning signs she believes parents should look out for After experiencing an unimaginable loss, Nicola channelled her grief into supporting other families affected by radicalisation and extremism. Her story is a powerful conversation about grooming, vulnerability, family, grief and why recognising the warning signs early can make all the difference. 🎙️ OMG Stories: Up Close - real conversations with people living extraordinary lives. 🔔 Subscribe for more incredible real-life stories every week.