Leaving slums of Paris, two Muslim teens turn to waging jihad

AP Wire | November 27 2004 | Scheherezade Faramarzi/AP

[knighthawk]

PARIS -- The two teenage friends hardly seemed like Islamic radicals. They smoked marijuana, drank beer, listened to rap music, and wore jeans.

But the pair of French Muslims died insurgents in Iraq -- one a suicide car bomber, according to relatives who traced the young men's path from the slums of Paris through a religious school in Syria to the fight against the US-led coalition next door.

Like many young Muslims in France, Abdelhalim Badjoudj and Redouane el-Hakim did not have jobs, and relatives and friends say they grew more alienated in recent years, surrounded by secular Western culture and by what many Muslims see as a subtle bigotry among the French against Arabs.

Badjoudj, who would have turned 19 on Dec. 16, allegedly blew himself up Oct. 20 while driving a car filled with explosives near a US patrol on Baghdad's airport road, wounding two American soldiers and two Iraqi police officers. He is thought to be the second French citizen to have carried out a suicide attack in Iraq.

The body of Hakim, 19, reportedly was found July 17 after US troops bombed a suspected insurgent hide-out in Fallujah, the city west of Baghdad that was overrun this month by American and Iraqi troops.

French officials also confirmed the death of a third French insurgent, identified as Tarek W. In his 20s, he reportedly was killed Sept. 17 after operating for several months in the so-called Sunni Triangle in Iraq, where most foreign fighters are based. No other details were available.

Although the number of French-born fighters in Iraq seems small -- perhaps a dozen or more -- counterterrorism officials worry that some of the young men of mostly Tunisian and Algerian descent will return home with combat skills to wage jihad in France.

''They become like stars," Gilles Leclair, director of France's Anti-Terrorism Coordination Unit, said. Leclair confirmed the deaths of Hakim, Badjoudj, and Tarek W., and he suggested there are more young men like them in Iraq.

''We have intelligence information that some people are still present in Iraq," Leclair said. But he said ''it's too early to say we have 10, 15, 40."

Hakim and Badjoudj lived in the same northern Paris neighborhood. Both were unemployed and came from broken families.

''If he had work, this wouldn't have happened," said Badjoudj's uncle, Hicham. ''He saw no future for himself."

The uncle, who insisted that he be quoted only by his first name, said Badjoudj never knew his father, an Algerian who left his Tunisian mother when he was 3 and his brother Sabri was about 1. Badjoudj's mother -- Hicham's sister -- had five more children with her second husband, an Egyptian, and may be living in Syria or Egypt, he said.

Hicham said Sabri, 17, followed Badjoudj to Iraq a couple of months ago and may have recently moved to the northern city of Mosul after the US offensive in Fallujah.

The uncle is at a loss to explain why Badjoudj was willing to sacrifice his life in Iraq, when he could hardly speak Arabic or identify with that country's culture.

''Abdelhalim drank beer, he smoked hashish a lot," said Hicham, describing his nephew as extremely shy and quiet but ''super kind" and ''super polite."

But Hicham noted many Muslims in France and other Western countries have trouble relating to secular culture and often find it hard to make a living. Nearly a tenth of the 60 million people in France are Muslims, many of whom live in high-rise public housing slums that breed violence and crime.

''There's no work here. There's no caring father," said Hicham, 36. ''Life is tough."

Also, America's presence in Iraq and Israel's occupation of land inhabited by Palestinians are behind much of the anger among Muslim young people, including in Europe. Their anger and frustration are fanned by daily images on television of Palestinians being shot and killed by Israeli forces or Iraqi towns coming under US bombardment. Extremist and radical leaders use this anger and despair to recruit fighters for the holy war in Iraq.

Hakim, a Tunisian, was one of five children and was raised by his mother, Habiba, according to the newspaper Le Parisien. He reportedly dropped out of an apprenticeship at a neighborhood bakery and later started a sandwich shop that failed.

Hakim's family could not be reached for comment. According to the report in Le Parisien, friends and relatives described him as easygoing until he came under the influence of an older brother, Boubakr, said to be a more religious man who wore traditional Muslim clothing. Boubakr is in a Syrian jail, apparently for trying to cross into Iraq this year.

The Hakim brothers reportedly frequented the Iqra Mosque in the western Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret. Authorities closed the mosque in June and briefly arrested its members, including an Algerian cleric who is thought to have preached radical views and encouraged worshipers to pursue jihad, or holy war.

Hakim's radicalization was recent, his family said. ''He was smoking [marijuana] until six months ago," his sister, Khadija, told Le Parisien.

Hicham said Badjoudj and five or six other French Muslim friends -- all unemployed -- had gone to Syria last year and enrolled in a theology school in the capital, Damascus. All ended up in Iraq, he said.

Six months after leaving for Syria, Badjoudj returned to Paris for a visit, his uncle said. He married an 18-year-old sweetheart of Moroccan background but less than a month later went back to Syria. ''He said, 'Inshallah [God willing], I will be going to Iraq,' " Hicham recalled. ''He wanted to help the brothers, the Arabs. He wanted to be with them."

Hicham said he could not change his nephew's mind.

Leclair, of Anti-Terrorism Coordination Unit, said there is no organized network in France recruiting young Muslims to join the insurgency in Iraq. He said Islamic radicals look for recruits at places where young Muslims congregate, such as fast-food restaurants, cellphone shops, and cybercafes.

''They go to the mosque, discuss, they receive radical prayers, they hear a lot of things, and most of the time they are unemployed . . . And it's a kind of adventure," he said. ''They go because it's an honor to go."

[kdot]

I agree. But this scum hurt our soldiers and some Iraq police ("wounding two American soldiers and two Iraqi police officers"). Their injuries are a high price to pay for the elimination of human scum. No sympathy because they couldn't find work.

[michaelbfree]

But Hicham noted many Muslims in France and other Western countries have trouble relating to secular culture and often find it hard to make a living.

Ya Think? But we are supposed to conform to and accomodate a 7th century barbian culture - or they cut off our heads - phuck 'em!!

[mylife]

Does the French gov't give the six weeks holiday pay to the unemployed as well?

Hadnt thought of that. It would be interesting to find out were the funding came from

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

ping

[TADSLOS]

Badjoudj and Hakim's excellent adventure.

[SC Swamp Fox]

counterterrorism officials worry that some of the young men of mostly Tunisian and Algerian descent will return home with combat skills to wage jihad in France.

Oh, the irony. Do the frogs want us to kill them or do they want us to capture them, hold them at Gitmo for a while and then return them to Paris?

[NoClones]

those stupid, little punks took the easy way out. they gave in to hate, violence and bigotry. they believed the lies put out by the imams whose main goal is recruiting cannon fodder. the 'leaders' of the cult of islam does this to keep their own positions secure, to keep the uneducated and ignorant, uneducated and ignorant and thinking they really do need the 'imams' and the bin ladens to tell them what to do

ultimately, as the author notes, it comes down to having no home life; something leftists the world over would have everyone believe isn't necessary for civilization.

[Ciexyz]

It's a real honor to go

Yup, and the first one to take down the Eiffel Tower will be a mega-hero.

[ALPAPilot]

They were French citizens and Jihadis: isn't that a two fer. . .

[johniegrad]

He was such a good boy. ''He was smoking [marijuana] until six months ago," his sister, Khadija, told Le Parisien. Oh where did we go wrong?

''There's no work here. There's no caring father," said Hicham, 36. ''Life is tough.".....and then you die.

The two teenage friends hardly seemed like Islamic radicals. They smoked marijuana, drank beer, listened to rap music, and wore jeans. Sorry but they sound exactly like Islamic radicals. Mohammed Atta frequented strip bars and drank. They lie, they steal, they cheat. Why do these idiots in the press try to sell the idea that these are devout religious people? They aren't. They are filthy, murdering pigs.

''If he had work, this wouldn't have happened," said Badjoudj's uncle, Hicham. ''He saw no future for himself." Sorry, "Hicham", root cause analysis: Bad seed perpetrated evil, got killed, and is now hopefully burning in hell.

Geesh. Bring out the violin. I feel so bad for these French criminals. What a load of crap in this article.

[McGavin999]

They go because the french and the europeans in general, have painted the US as the enemy. They go because the europeans have sided with the Palestinians instead of taking a balanced approach.

They say the US is one sided, but if that were so, why are we the only ones proposing a state for them (once they stop blowing up Israelis).

Face it, this thing has been nurtured by the french and it's going to come back and bite them.

[antonia]

the pair of French Muslims died insurgents in Iraq -- one a suicide car bomber, according to relatives who traced the young men's path from the slums of Paris through a religious school in Syria to the fight against the US-led coalition next door. >snip< The body of Hakim, 19, reportedly was found July 17 after US troops bombed a suspected insurgent hide-out in Fallujah, the city west of Baghdad that was overrun this month by American and Iraqi troops.
	Imagine if these and the many other young men just like them through out the Middle East, Europe and the Polynesians islands, had instead gone to Iraq to join with the coalition to help remove Saddam's fascists empire.
	Imagine, then if they had then staid in Iraq and were at the fore front of the huge opportunity creating new legitimate businesses in an environment that is not only democratic, but very unrestricted for new businesses.
	Imagine how instead of having blown him self up, and/or destorying lives, as an offering to the demon god allah, they would have been at the fore front, a founding father, of a new democracy.
	Imagine the beauty, and wealth that is possible in peaceful democratic Iraq. In the fertile Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what is now modern Iraq, with a new beautifully designed canal system with which to reclaim the desert and grow and abundance of delicious foods, an abundant and profitable oil surplus's. They could have been princes, and allah gave them what?

[MarineDad]

"The body of Hakim, 19, reportedly was found July 17 after US troops bombed a suspected insurgent hide-out in Fallujah, the city west of Baghdad that was overrun this month by American and Iraqi troops."
Any dead raghead = your basic good thing.

"Nearly a tenth of the 60 million people in France are Muslims, many of whom live in high-rise public housing slums that breed violence and crime."
Waaaaaay past time to call "L'Homme d'Orkin!" Tout de suite! Vite!!

[pineconeland]

slam is a retrovirus which infects a host culture.

 

[SauronOfMordor]

Sorry but they sound exactly like Islamic radicals. Mohammed Atta frequented strip bars and drank. They lie, they steal, they cheat. Why do these idiots in the press try to sell the idea that these are devout religious people? They aren't. They are filthy, murdering pigs.

It is the essence of Islam

"Martyrdom" is the one act that a Muslim can perform that absolutely guarantees he will go to the Muslim paradise. It logically follows that, for someone about to commit "martyrdom", all things are permitted. He can drink, screw, smoke, eat pork -- ALL acts are permitted, because all will be forgiven once he commits "martyrdom". Conversely, for someone who has sinned against the laws of Islam (like a girl being with a guy), "martyrdom" is the only sure way of getting absolution.

Islam is the religion where murder/suicide is the highest sacrament

[dila813]

"Hakim and Badjoudj lived in the same northern Paris neighborhood. Both were unemployed and came from broken families." Sounds like they are adopting the worst of Western Culture and none of the good.

[melbell]

"The body of Hakim, 19, reportedly was found July 17 after US troops bombed a suspected insurgent hide-out in Fallujah, the city west of Baghdad that was overrun this month by American and Iraqi troops."

HOW DARE Bush slaughter that poor innocent little boy in his prime?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! This is an outrage!

"counterterrorism officials worry that some of the young men of mostly Tunisian and Algerian descent will return home with combat skills to wage jihad in France."

oh and let me guess...now you want the good ole USofA to protect your sorry arses? Ok sure thing, because you were so supportive of us going in there, you even volunteered to help! OH NO WAIT! NO YOU DIDN'T!

Maybe the boys will come home to you with their new-found skills. And you can all be America-haters together in your little corner of the world...or is that bringing the war too close to home for your pansy little French comfort? Don't worry my little poodles, the mean boys won't hurt you...you will make perfect little pets for them.

What a bunch of turkeys...

[weegee]

They could have been princes, and allah gave them what?

Satan is a seductress. The Anti-Christian Mohammed promised them 72 virgins.

[ApplegateRanch]

The French are too tolerant, enlightened and sophisticated for such base emotions.

Absolutely.

It is a little know fact of Galactic history that Vulcans are descended from the French, when a piece of the Nexus brushed Earth in the late 19th Century, and sucked a French village to ancient, unpopulated, Vulcan.

That is why the Vulcans able to develop their unemotionally logical abilities later.

[oldbrowser]

This just in from Allah.......

If you muslims commit suicide WITHOUT killing anyone else
you go to heaven and get 100 virgins.

this change is effective immediately