THE REASON HOLLANDE IS WORRIED: FRENCH CITIZENS ARE FIGHTING IN SYRIA AND COULD 'IMPORT' JIHAD IN EUROPE THROUGH RADICALIZATION

 

French Premiere F. Hollande was the first to crimp his nose at the Russia-US proposed agreement on the disarmament of Syria.  

He has good reasons: even if Syria agrees to declare what chemical weapons it has, and in what quantities, before it does proceed to destroy them, an increasing large number of French citizens of Muslim faith are joining the ranks of the rebels on the ground.

The problem Hollande has, and by reflex all of Europe in a sense, is that when the war is over, and maybe even before, these militarized citizens may return home radicalized or imbued with a sense of mission and return home to create the premise for revolt and protest in France.  In essence radicalization creates a mission that does not end when the conflict in Syria ends or at Syria's borders. 

If this seems farfetched, it is not, and countries in Europe are taking notice.  Many of their citizens are traveling to and fro, and some are coming back to recruit young men in France and other European countries to join the ranks of the rebels.  

Their tone, furthermore, when they return, is quite different than before they left.  

Although the estimates are that a few hundred French citizens are on the ground, the numbers could grow if the conflict continues or spreads, which is a very real possibility.  Even if it does not, this number is worrisome.

In addition, both Syria and Lebanon, represent countries in which many French Muslim have either ethnic roots or at least identify with more than other countries.  

There is also  no way of knowing which side they will join.  They might just go to fight to free their Sunni brothers, but then, as the conflict become more and more sectarian, they might also adopt Al Nusra Front's much harsher and orthodox line, and become a serious threat as potential terrorists.  

Many European countries now have a strong minority of Muslim of both sects, Sunni and Shi'a and their divisions remain deep even in those liberal social contexts. There is no reason to believe that just because they might enjoy greater freedom, that they will set aside their differences and revert to a more pacific ideology.  

Partial Source : France 24/ 9.19.13