Islamic Radicalizaion in France
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ISLAMIC RADICALIZAION IN FRANCE Adèle Bigot (Research Assistant, ICT) Summer 2012 ABSTRACT For roughly a decade, Islamic terrorism has become one of the main threats to the security of Western societies. The recent attacks aimed at various Western countries have proven that the radicalization of Islamism is now closely tied to the issue of terrorism. This recent radicalization is a common feature in Western societies which find themselves challenged by homegrown as well as international terrorism. The challenge requires countries to find a way to implement efficient counter-terrorist measures. Therefore, it seems necessary to focus on the process of radicalization in order to identify its origins and possibly prevent this phenomenon. * The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT). Table of Contents Pages: Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 5 I – Overview of the Muslim Communities in France: 1. A history of immigration: how Islam came to France ................................................................. 5 1. 1. From the appearance of Islam to the colonies................................................................. 5 1. 2. Successive waves of immigration....................................... ............................................ 6 2. Statistics on the Muslim community.............................................................................................. 8 3. An unequal geographical repartition............................................................................................. 9 4. The great diversity of a heterogenous community....................................................................... 11 4.1. A community overwhelmingly Sunni............................................................................. 11 4.2. A small French Shi'a community.................................................................................... 12 5. Different degrees of religious practice and various elements of identification to Islam........... 12 II – The failed integration of the Muslim communities in France: 1. Islam in a culture of laicity: an unthinkable pair?................................................................... 14 1. 1. The 1905 Law of Separation of State and Churches.................................................... 14 1. 2. The tradition of laïcité challenged by the greater visibility of the newly established Islam......................................................................................................................... 14 1. 3. In the name of laïcité.................................................................................................... 15 2. Integrating the Muslim communities within the French society: a long and complex process 16 2. 1. The persistance of economic discrepancies................................................................... 16 2. 2. Social exclusion: the 'banlieues'.................................................................................... 17 3. The compatibility of Islam and Frenchness in question............................................................ 18 3. 1. Discriminations and Islamophobia................................................................................ 18 3. 2. Identity and Frenchness................................................................................................. 20 III – Organization, Structure and Representation of the Muslim communities: 1. The French Council of the Muslim Faith (Conseil Français du Culte Musulman)................ 22 1. 1. Promoting 'French Islam'............................................................................................... 22 1. 2. A questionable institutionalization which favors radical organizations......................... 23 2. Main Muslim organizations claiming to represent the Muslims of France.............................. 24 2. 1. La Grande Mosquée de Paris......................................................................................... 24 2. 2. Union des Organisations Islamiques de France (UOIF)................................................ 25 2. 3 Fédération Nationale des Musulmans de France (FNMF)............................................. 27 2/64 2. 4. Rassemblement des Musulmans de France (RMF)....................................................... 27 2. 5. Foi et Pratique - Jama'a at-Tabligh................................................................................ 28 3. Other radical organizations with more limited influence........................................................... 28 3. 1. Milli Görus - Tendance Nationale Union Islamique en France TNUIF......................... 29 3. 2. Kaplanci......................................................................................................................... 29 3. 3. Association des Etudiants Islamiques de France AEIF …..............................…........... 29 3. 4. Ahbachi - Association des Projets de Bienfaisance Islamique en France APBIF.......... 29 3. 5. Grande Mosquée de Lyon …......................................................................................... 30 3. 6. Small Shi'a cells............................................................................................................. 30 3. 7. Fédération Chiite de France and Centre Zahra.............................................................. 30 4. Groups striving to defend and promote a secular and moderate Islam...................................... 30 5. Influential voices of Islam in France.......................................................................................... 31 IV – The process of radicalization and the terrorist threat 1. The process of radicalization – theoretical background ............................................................ 32 1. 1. The four steps towards radicalization – NYPD............................................................. 32 1. 2. 'Moral disengagement' - Albert Bandura....................................................................... 33 2. France's vulnerability to the radicalization of some members of its Muslim community......... 34 3. Specific recruitment grounds....................................................................................................... 34 3. 1. Typology of recruitment grounds.................................................................................. 34 3. 2. Mosques......................................................................................................................... 35 3. 3. The prisons: an environment favorable for radicalization............................................. 36 3. 4. The internet: a 'virtual incubator' (Silber)...................................................................... 38 3. 5. Universities: the breakthrough of Islamists................................................................... 38 3. 6. The workplace................................................................................................................ 39 4. The influence of the Salafi in France.......................................................................................... 39 5. Dangerous connections with foreign countries, radicals, terrorist groups, organizations and cells.................................................................................................................................................... 40 5. 1. Influential foreign regimes on the Muslim organizations and community.................... 40 5. 1. 1. Saudi Arabia 5. 1. 2. Tunisia 5. 1. 3. Iran 5. 1. 4. Other threats 5. 2. International terrorist networks and connections........................................................... 41 5. 2. 1. Muslim Brotherhood 5. 2. 2. European connections 6. Chronology of the Islamic terrorist attacks planned, prepared or executed against French interests (1994 – 2012)...................................................................................................................... 41 3/64 V – Reactions to radicalization 1. International cooperation............................................................................................................. 42 2. 1. Bilateral cooperation...................................................................................................... 42 2. 2. Cooperation with members of the EU........................................................................... 42 2. 3. Multilateral cooperation................................................................................................. 42 2. The French counter-terrorism system: a unique model of law enforcement..............................43 1. 1. The development of a formidable body for countering terrorism................................. 43 1. 2. The legislation of 1986..…............................................................................................ 44 1. 3. The increasing centralization and specialization of the police and the judicial system 44 1. 4. The law of January 23rd 2006 on the fight against terrorism......................................... 45 1. 5. The White Paper on National Security Against Terrorism of 2006............................... 45 1. 6. Latest development of French counter-terrorism policies............................................. 46 1. 7. Elite units