Waging #Eurojihad: foreign fighters in ISIL

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details No.53, December 2015
Publication Date 08/12/2015
ISSN 2315-1129
Content Type

Issue Alert by Florence Gaub.

Roughly 5,000 EU citizens currently live in the territory controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) – a figure which is constantly in flux due to individuals joining, leaving or dying. This cohort makes up 25% of the organisation’s non-Syrian and non-Iraqi contingent now known as ‘foreign fighters’, and around 12.5% of ISIL’s total adherents.

Europe is not the main source of volunteers (Tunisia and Saudi Arabia together have more) and Europeans are not known to hold high-ranking positions in ISIL’s hierarchy. However, the jihadist group continues to attract a steady stream of people from across the continent who, regardless of their country of origin, often share a number of characteristics.

Source Link Link to Main Source https://publications.europa.eu/s/dnCn
Related Links
Politico, 31.12.15: [Opinion]: ISIL’s elusive homeland http://www.politico.eu/article/isils-elusive-homeland/
ESO: Background information: After Paris: why ISIL is (also) a cult http://www.europeansources.info/record/after-paris-why-isil-is-also-a-cult/
ESO: Background information: Jourová: Over 6000 Europeans waging jihad in Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/jourova-over-6000-europeans-waging-jihad-in-syria/

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