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France leads West in sending jihadis to Islamic State, with 700
Jihad Watch ^ | September 6, 2014 | Robert Spencer

Posted on 09/07/2014 3:11:40 PM PDT by NYer

The UK, however, is (not surprisingly) a close second with 600 — up from the 400 reported here. “Hundreds Of Westerners Have Joined ISIS — Here’s Where They Came From,” by Ben Winsor, Business Insider, August 27, 2014:

U.S. and European security services estimate that more than 1,000 of jihadist militants fighting in Iraq and Syria were drawn to the conflict from Western nations with some estimates putting the number as high as 3,000.

Business Insider compiled the graph below, which illustrates best estimates of where just some of those Western fighters originate.

Chart

Business Insider

Business Insider sought to use only official statements and credible reports in compiling the estimates.

The chart shows 700 recruits from France, 400 from the U.K., 320 from Germany, 250 from Belgium, 200 from Australia, 130 from the Netherlands, 100 from Canada, 100 from the U.S., and 51 from Spain.

The figures demonstrate alarming numbers from the U.K. and France in particular. In both countries, the integration of immigrant communities — and Islamic communities in particular— remains a hot-button political issue.

Per capita, Belgium is the biggest source of western ISIS recruits.

Joining ISIS

attached image

Twitter

An ISIS supporter posts a photo of the organization’s flag on a cellphone in front of the White House on Twitter. The Islamic extremists have a comprehensive grasp of social-media campaigning.

Given the chaotic nature of the fighting, people who have left their home countries to join the conflict are hard to track. Further, there are multiple militant groups on the ground in Iraq and Syria that could attract Western fighters.

But from the studies Business Insider analyzed, it appears the majority of those who join the conflict end up fighting for ISIS. Some experts, such as professor Peter Neumann of King’s College London, estimate the number could be as high as 80%.

ISIS has been targeting Western recruits with social-media campaigns, slickly produced videos, and English-language publications.

The phenomena poses a special challenge to security services because the Western passports used by the fighters are not subject to the restrictions and visa requirements placed on many non-Western citizens.

attached image

Twitter

“That’s my boy.” The message tweeted along with this image [censored] by Khaled Sharrouf, and Australian foreign fighter who joined ISIS. The image depicts Mr. Sharrouf’s son, thought to be seven years old, holding a severed head.

Western Response

Countries such as the U.K. and Australia are dealing with the growing threat posed by their citizens leaving to join ISIS by seeking to integrate divided communities and empower mainstream Muslims. They’re also beefing up surveillance and canceling passports of suspected militants.

The Westerners joining the conflict are predominantly young men, though there are increasing reports of women and even children traveling to the region.

Innes Bowen, author of “Inside British Islam,” told Business Insider there was no single type of person who becomes a radical in the U.K., and no single pathway to their ideology.

“There must be a range of motivations — a sense of adventure, a misplaced sense of duty or idealism — some of those recruited are well versed in ideology and the politics of their radical cause others are surprisingly ignorant,” Bowen said.

The New Republic reports that two young men who joined the conflict from the U.K. this May purchased “Islam for Dummies” and “The Koran for Dummies” before leaving.

As I explained here, that doesn’t necessarily mean what Business Insider and the New Republic think it means.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: france; isis; syria; uk

1 posted on 09/07/2014 3:11:40 PM PDT by NYer
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To: NYer

An observation: Notice that Obama ALWAYS refers to this group as ISIL. The media interchange ISIS and ISIL but Obama never uses ISIS. Your thoughts?


2 posted on 09/07/2014 3:12:51 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: NYer

We need to get on the stick and send more. One way free tickets?


3 posted on 09/07/2014 3:13:50 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (It's a shame nobama truly doesn't care about any of this. Our country, our future, he doesn't care)
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To: NYer

ISIL: the “L” means the Levant, which includes Israel and murdering all the Jews who live there.


4 posted on 09/07/2014 3:16:59 PM PDT by SatinDoll (A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN IS BORN IN THE US OF US CITIZEN PARENTS.)
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To: NYer

700 or 12, it is a sign we in the West have failed in our duties to our young men. And that failure is not providing our sons with a foundation in faith. Perhaps more than women, men need to believe in a just, moral belief system with an idea that there is punishment for evil behavior and a reward for good behavior - in this world or the next.


5 posted on 09/07/2014 3:24:11 PM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard III: Loyalty Binds Me)
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To: NYer

It’s got to be some kind of code or sending some kind of message of solidarity with the radicals imo.

Or, when he fails to reign isis in, he can claim he never said he would do such and such to isis, only isil. And the msm will gladly go along. Bank on it.


6 posted on 09/07/2014 3:28:36 PM PDT by Paulie (Get off the grid.)
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To: Paulie; SatinDoll
It’s got to be some kind of code or sending some kind of message of solidarity with the radicals imo.

You may be on to something. Notice, as well, that Obama approved 2 rescue missions - one for the Yazidis and the other for the Iraqi Turkmen. Meanwhile, the christians are still on top of that mountain waiting for assistance.

7 posted on 09/07/2014 3:41:08 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: NYer
All western countries with thousands of young Muslims should advertise:

"Young Muslim warriors....a great adventure awaits you....free transport to the mideast where fun and excitement beheading infidels and raping and enslaving women awaits you. Enroll now for your free tickets!!!" Then when they leave, revoke their passports. Problem solved.

8 posted on 09/07/2014 4:23:05 PM PDT by driftless2 (For long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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To: NYer

Wait until the ones that don’t get killed return to France. The “youths” that torch cars by the hundreds at the end of the year could really spice up the party.


9 posted on 09/07/2014 5:28:43 PM PDT by jim_trent
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To: NYer

And within the USA, Minnesota, the state that elected Al Franken, is on top or close to it.


10 posted on 09/07/2014 5:32:08 PM PDT by Jane Austen (Boycott the Philadelphia Eagles!)
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To: miss marmelstein
men need to believe in a just, moral belief system

They also need to be grounded by commitment to a family and a community that depend on them. Our excuse for a civilization ignores human nature. Men without duty will look for conquest to develop a sense of worth.

11 posted on 09/07/2014 5:34:37 PM PDT by grania
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To: NYer

The only thing to do with rabid dogs is kill them.
These volunteer jihadis are no different. They need killing.


12 posted on 09/07/2014 7:24:19 PM PDT by BuffaloJack (Bomb ISIS; bomb them again; bomb them again; take no prisoners.)
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To: NYer
Hundreds Of Westerners Have Joined ISIS

I would not call them Westerners.....

13 posted on 09/07/2014 7:38:20 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie (The media must be defeated any way it can be done.)
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To: NYer
“France leads West in sending jihadis to Islamic State, with 700”

Maybe ISIS wants someone to wave the white flags when they lose? /s

14 posted on 09/08/2014 12:58:22 AM PDT by tdscpa
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To: grania

Yes, indeed.


15 posted on 09/08/2014 4:03:29 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard III: Loyalty Binds Me)
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