by Paul Dakiki

Some 10 per cent of 30,000 Jihadi fighters are young European converts to radical Islam. The lack of meaning in life, the need to belong and a desire to do something greater are the main motivations. However, some militants are also motivated by money, power, and bloodthirsty violence. Better religious education in schools, mosques and social media is part of the solution.

Beirut (AsiaNews) – A study by King's College London indicate that young Europeans leave France, Britain, or Germany to join the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq for a number of reasons, ranging from a quest for meaning in an otherwise empty life to a desire to belong in order to break their isolation and seek guidelines and goals in life.

The study’s findings were presented at a conference held last weekend (12-13 December) in Beirut, Lebanon’s French-language newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour reported on Tuesday. The Maison du Futur and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Foundation) organised the event, which brought together local and international experts to vet the issue of why Europeans in their 20s and 30s join terrorist death squads.

Too often, Islam is blamed, especially in its Salafi version. The more so since about 10 per cent of the caliphate’s 30,000 fighters are converts to this religion. However, for experts, the question is what drives these young men and women to convert? What motivates their radical choice to give up on Europe’s way of life?

Discrimination, marginalisation, and poverty among young people are often the root causes; however, for Kristina Eichhorst, an expert in terrorism and ethnic conflicts, these criteria are not a sufficient explanation because whilst it is true that sometimes converts are petty criminals, quite often they are successful people in life, with diplomas and degrees.

Likewise, the psychological profile of the subjects in the study found little evidence of psychosis, mental illness, depression, or suicidal tendency.

Speaking via Skype, educator and psychotherapist Ivan Tyrell said that the findings in the King's College study show that, in addition to basic human physical and emotional needs, militants express a desire to belong to a larger group or to a community that gives meaning to their life, that allows them to feel connected to a higher cause, and enables them to get attention from the outside world.

When these needs are not met, anxiety, depression and conflict follow. "The Islamic State,” he explained, “has been able to offer these people what they want. It has been able to draw their attention."

In his presentation based on "confessions" by young ISIS deserters or prisoners in Iraq or in Syria, Jean-Pierre Katrib, director of strategic relations in Quantum Communications, came up with a nine-profile typology.

Broadly speaking, young radical jihadists are motivated by a quest for money and power, for identity or a sense of belonging, by revenge (after witnessing the suffering of their families), or the need for redemption. Some feel they must protect their people or families; some adhere to a certain ideological outlook, whilst others are just thirsting for blood.

In the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks, the French government launched air strikes in Syria and boosted security in French cities and along its borders. From the above, it is clear that such measures cannot address the root causes of jihadi militancy among young people.

According to the experts at the conference, it is important to boost religious education – especially in schools, mosques and social media – and offer a meaningful alternative proposal to those who promote radicalism and violence.

• lebanon
• islam
• deradicalisation
• adenauer
• foundation
• france
• paris
• attacks