I argue that the social, religious and psychological environment in France creates a unique opportunity for Islamic radicalization, especially through social media and in prisons. After defining radicalization and explaining two radicalization processes and different types of radicals, I analyze the specific factors present in France that contribute to this radicalization. I use case study analysis to examine several French citizens who became radicalized, either online or in prison, to show how the recruiter worsened the situation in France.
Based on my case study analysis, I hypothesize that all Muslims in France are discriminated against by state laws, but that social media and prison serve as a tipping point environment in which Muslims are radicalized. They later discovered that the perpetrators of all the attacks were Middle Eastern terrorists, which was the start of a wave of attacks in France by foreign terrorists. In addition, I apply two different radicalization processes to each of these case studies and publications to determine which one recruiters in France use.
The second chapter explores the psychological, religious and social factors contributing to Islamic radicalization in France. The social position of Muslims in France is unique and this chapter also presents a brief history.
What Is Radicalization?
Instead, involvement in terrorism "results from gradual exposure and socialization to extreme behavior."19 Social psychologist Fathali Moghaddam calls radicalization "a stairway to terrorism."20 The end result of the process is committing some kind of violent act with hope . of achieving change. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the judicial arm of the United Nations, released its version of the radicalization process, which includes more steps than the Silber and Bhatt model. The importance of the ICJ model for the radicalization process lies in its inclusion of a role model in the process.
The other aspect of the radicalization process is social pressure, which includes things like reward and punishment and emphasis on social status, followed by the creation of role models.23 The presence of a role model plays a large role in the radicalization process. The next step is to make a moral commitment by making an oath or will on behalf of individuals, thereby redefining their relationship to the world. The ultimate realization of the radicalization process is the commission of an act of violence to achieve a political, religious or social goal.
Silber and Bhatt's model describes more of the mental state during the radicalization process, while the ICJ model explains how the process actually takes place. The Global Terrorism Database defines terrorism as “the threat or actual use of unlawful force and violence by a non-state actor to achieve a political, economic, religious, or social objective through fear, coercion, or intimidation.”25 This definition does not include state-sponsored terrorism .
Who Becomes a Radical?
29 Defense Human Resources Activity, “The Radicalization Process,” Department of Defense, accessed September 17, 2015, http://www.dhra.mil/perserec/osg/terrorism/radicalization.htm. 46Maria Konnikova, “Why We Need Answers,” The New Yorker, April 30, 2013, http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/why-we-need-answers. Converts are particularly useful to extremist groups for the following three reasons: the nature of conversion, the role of converts in the global jihadist cause, and “testament to the complex, amorphous nature of the terrorist threat.”55.
The radicalization process in France is so unique because of the history of Muslims in France. The Salafi movement, an ultra-conservative reform movement within Sunni Islam, became less relevant in France after the 9/11 attacks in the United States because French. authorities denied Salafist sheikhs entry into the country, expelling a Salafist in June 2001. This controversy stems from the translation of verse 33 of chapter 78 of the book sūrat l-naba in the Qur'an.
It is estimated that 8 to 10% of the population in France is Muslim, the highest percentage in Europe.63 Assimilation into society is extremely difficult due to different French laws and Muslim beliefs and practices. Therefore, only estimates are available for the Muslim population in France. who has little respect for French authority, little opportunity for social movement and a deep resentment towards most French or even Europeans.”64. 70 Soeren Kern, “The Islamization of France in 2013,” Gatestone Institute International Policy Council, January 6, 2014, http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4120/islamization-france.
Most people in France do not consider children of immigrants born in France to be citizens. 72 Alex Wilner, “We must make sure that prison is not a school of terrorism,” The Globe and Mail, last edited on August 23, 2012, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/we-must-make- sure-that-prison-isn't-terrorism-school/article4289638/. This continuation of discrimination and underrepresentation contributes to the reasoning behind the radicalization of Muslims in France.
74 John Sides, “New Research Shows French Muslims Experience Extreme Discrimination in Labor Market,” The Washington Post, November 23, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey- cage/wp new-research- shows- that-French-Muslims-experience-extraordinary-discrimination-in-the-labor-market/. The combination of the social pressure, discrimination and their belief systems places Muslims in France in a particularly vulnerable position in relation to The ICJ model of radicalization capitalizes on these types of social factors in the step of manipulation of communication.
The economic and political disadvantage to which Muslims in France are subjected plays a major role in the radicalization process. Furthermore, the religious environment and history in France can easily be highlighted through these radicalization processes.
How Are Radicals Recruited?
83Ines Von Behr, Anaïs Reding, Charlie Edwards and Luke Gribbon, “Radicalization in the Digital Age: The Use of the Internet in 15 Cases of Terrorism and Extremism”, RAND Europe, 2013, 17,. 84 Bruce Hoffman, “Use of the Internet by Islamic Extremists,” testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Edwards, “The Networking of Terrorism in the Information Age,” in Networks and Netwars: The Future of Terror, Crime, and Militancy, ed.
This transition from traditional Islamic websites to social media has been relatively easy for Islamic extremist groups because of the time and effort they put into the websites in the first place. For example, French citizens who have pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State create Twitter accounts to spread French-language information and propaganda. Twitter accounts spreading ISIL propaganda in the French language are easy to find, especially when searching with the hash tag #EI.
The title Dār al-Islām refers to the "land of Islam". The first edition focused on the importance of hijrah and travel to the country controlled by the Islamic State.120. The magazine names the chart "la charte de la mécréance", which translates as "The chart of disbelief."123 ISIL uses resources directly from the French government to incite contempt and feelings of oppression in Muslims who read the magazines. . The magazine also features an interview with Abû Samîr al-Urdunî, who is an influential person in the Islamic State, and also a section that mentions how the rest of the world views ISIL.
Every step of the ICJ's radicalization model is highlighted in Dār al-Islām magazines. The interview with Abû Samîr al-Urduni provides an immediate model, while the outcome of the moral commitment of the jihadists involved in the Paris attacks highlights that stage in the ICJ model. Prisons are one of the key places where Islamic radicalization occurs in France and have been called the "cradle of the future Jihad".125 About 70 percent of prisoners practice Islam, although Muslims make up less than 8 percent of the total French population. 126, 127 This disproportionate number of Muslims in French prisons compared to Muslims in the French population creates a breeding ground for radicalization.
The faith-based rehabilitation programs that exist in the United States are not available in France. 138 Fathali Moghaddam, “The Roots of Violent Islamist Extremism and Efforts to Counter It,” Washington, D.C.: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, July accessed November 1, 2015, http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings /the-roots-of-violent-Islamist-extremism-and-efforts-to-counter-it. Djamel Beghal accompanied both Chérif Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly in Fleury-Mérogis prison in 2005.
The process of radicalization involves a turning point in the individual's life that acts as a catalyst. The prison recruitment cycle that has taken place in France highlights the ICJ's model step of the importance of having a strong prison leader. Prislam: Recruitment and radicalization of terrorist operatives in the prison system and the threat to the American homeland. Doctoral Dissertation.
New research shows that French Muslims experience extraordinary discrimination in the labor market.” Washington Post.
