july 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 7 hundreds of prisoners. The jailbreaks possesses an adequate legal appeared well-planned, suggesting that Swiss Foreign Fighters framework to mitigate this threat. the operational planners had access to Active in Syria insider information. The assault group A Small, Underdeveloped Scene was divided into several teams, each By Daniel Glaus and Lorenzo Vidino Throughout the 1990s, small networks with their specialized task. It is possible of mostly North African militants used that the IMU participated in the attacks, switzerland has traditionally Swiss territory to raise funds, spread performing one or several specialized experienced little domestic jihadist propaganda and provide other support functions. Due to the large participation activity. Unlike other Western European activities to organizations operating of local fighters, however, it is unlikely countries, no successful terrorist outside of Europe.3 The largely laissez- that they played an overall planning or attack of jihadist inspiration has been faire attitude of Swiss authorities coordinating role. perpetrated on its territory and there (an approach, it should be noted, not is no publicly available information dissimilar to that of most European Conclusion indicating that concrete plans for an countries at the time) and convenient It does not appear that the IMU has attack in Switzerland were ever made.1 geographic position at the heart of become an essential strategic asset to Less than a dozen individuals have been Europe made the country an ideal the TTP. The IMU continues to have a tried for terrorism-related crimes, all of permanent or temporary location for small footprint outside its sanctuaries in them involving non-violent activities of jihadists. FATA, and they are dependent on local material support and propaganda. The networks to operate. The IMU continues number of Swiss residents who have The attacks of September 11, 2001, to be a fragmented organization, traveled abroad to join jihadist groups is changed the Swiss government’s operating as a loose network of also estimated to be significantly lower approach toward jihadist networks. criminals, urban terrorist cells and than in other European countries. While still correctly assessing that religiously motivated insurgents. While Switzerland was not a likely target for the IMU has some strategic value to the Yet Swiss authorities are not attacks and did not have a large jihadist TTP, it would be wrong to view the IMU complacent, and they argue that presence, authorities began to monitor as a potent threat to Pakistani national “Switzerland is not an island.”2 jihadist activities in the country more security. Counterterrorism officials have closely and, in some cases, took action.4 consistently warned that there is Yet throughout the mid-2000s, Swiss The IMU in Pakistan, however, ample evidence suggesting that some authorities experienced difficulties should not be dismissed. The IMU are of the same radicalization trends with successfully bringing terrorism vehemently opposed to negotiations that have long characterized other charges against members of networks with the Pakistani government. They are Western European countries also exist they suspected to be funding various willing to support groups in Pakistan in Switzerland, albeit on a smaller scale. terrorist groups through petty crime.5 who do not follow “mainstream” Recent developments, for example, Given the challenge of bringing charges militancy, such as the TTP or other indicate that a small contingent of Swiss against them for any terrorism-related breakaway factions. In spite of being citizens and residents have traveled to offense, Swiss authorities often opted heavily targeted in recent years, the Syria to join various militant groups. to charge them with regular criminal IMU has the potential to re-emerge in offenses or, more frequently, deported the region after NATO withdraws from This article first provides a general them.6 Afghanistan in 2014. Moreover, the overview of the jihadist scene in

Karachi airport attack demonstrated Switzerland. It then analyzes a 3 “DAP Annual Report,” Swiss Service for Analysis and that the IMU has the potential to act as number of known cases of Swiss-based Prevention, 2002, p. 38. a spoiler in future peace processes in individuals who have fought in Syria. 4 Ibid. Pakistan. The article finds that, as authorities 5 The first such case was the so-called “affaire Saoud,” have long claimed, a comparatively an operation triggered by the discovery that various Anne Stenersen, Ph.D., is a Research small but, by Swiss standards, Swiss phone numbers had been in possession of one of Fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research alarmingly large number of citizens the masterminds of the May 12, 2003, bombings in Ri- Establishment (FFI) in Norway. and residents have recently traveled yadh, Saudi Arabia. Swiss authorities subsequently to Syria. These subjects appear to be uncovered a sophisticated document-forging network mostly “homegrown,” with a sizeable led by a Biel-based Yemeni businessman that smuggled percentage of them tracing their roots into Switzerland illegal immigrants including, it was sus- to the Balkans. It is debatable whether pected, terrorists. Yet the terrorism charges against the network largely fell apart in court, and the members of 1 Potentially the only exception could be the plans dis- the network were only convicted for minor illegal immi- cussed by a cluster of Swiss-based North African mili- gration violations. See “Summary of Legal Proceedings,” tants to attack Israeli El Al aircraft at airport in Dossier SK.2006.15, Federal Criminal Tribunal, Bellin- 2005. The militants reportedly conducted surveillance of zona, 2006. the airport, but it is debatable whether their preliminary 6 That was the case, for example, with a network of activities could be qualified as a plot. North African militants involved in theft to fund the 2 Christiane Imsand, “La Suisse n’Est pas une Ile,” Le Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) and Nouvelliste, June 22, 2012. suspected of potentially planning to blow up an El Al

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The only exception is the conviction of in which online social networks were groups and recruiters with roots in the Moez Garsallaoui and Malika el-Aroud in their infancy, their sites played a Middle East (Kurdish Ansar al-Islam,13 in 2007.7 Garsallaoui was a Tunisian- crucial role in connecting like-minded Turkish Hizb Allah14), East Africa born member of Hizb al-Tahrir who French-speaking individuals, spawning (al-Shabab) and North Africa have a received asylum in Switzerland in an informal community of militants presence in the country. Clusters of 1997. He met el-Aroud, the widow of that has operational implications homegrown activists sympathizing today, almost 10 years after the pair’s with jihadist or militant Salafist “In May 2014, the Swiss demise.10 ideology are active in Switzerland, often organizing events throughout the intelligence agency publicly By the late 2000s, Swiss authorities country and frequenting online jihadist stated that it believes that began to observe that an increasing forums and social media.15 number of terrorism-related activities up to 15 Swiss residents involved individuals who were either Despite these actions, the number of have gone to Syria to fight, born or at least had grown up in the Swiss-based jihadist sympathizers country, replicating the homegrown and the intensity of their activities although it could only dynamic seen throughout Europe. This are substantially smaller than in confirm five cases.” phenomenon gained the attention of the most Western European countries, Swiss public with the case of Majd N., including those with a comparably a 19-year-old high school student from sized population. The Swiss “mini- Biel who was arrested in May 2012 in scene” is also split along linguistic Abdessatar Dahmane—the al-Qa`ida Kenya and accused of having fought lines, as French- and German-speaking militant who killed Afghan Northern with the al-Qa`ida-linked al-Shabab.11 militants do not seem to frequently Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud interact with one another.16 Rather, two days before the September 11, 2001, The case reinforced the argument each milieu draws inspiration from attacks—in a chat room.8 After getting long made by Swiss authorities that the more developed scenes in France married, the two began running various Switzerland is “not an island,” but and Germany. Swiss-based activists jihadist websites out of an apartment rather experiences radicalization seeking to develop their intellectual near .9 Operating in an era dynamics similar to those of or operational involvement, in fact, neighboring countries, just on a often travel to other countries or invite 12 airliner in Zurich. See Sebastian Rotella, “Theft, Fraud significantly lower scale. Structured foreign personalities to Switzerland. in Europe Fund Terrorist Group, Police Say,” Los Angeles The radicalizing elements from the Times, April 1, 2007; Sylvain Besson, “Cellule Terroriste 10 Several individuals who met through the sites created en Suisse: Le Parcours d’un Delinquant Devenu Islamiste by el-Aroud and Garsallaoui have been involved in ter- ence: 1) lack of an “infecting cluster”: Switzerland never Radical,” Le Temps, July 3, 2006; “DAP Annual Report,” rorist activities during the last 10 years. In several cases, hosted an openly jihadist mosque or high profile jihad- Swiss Service for Analysis and Prevention, 2007, p. 16; their mobilization took place through connections first ists, elements that in other countries have been crucial in “Swiss Deport Last Suspect Held in Plot to Blow up Is- made on said sites. For an Italian example, see Lorenzo spreading jihadist ideology; 2) good degree of social, eco- raeli Airliner,” Associated Press, July 16, 2007. Vidino, Home-Grown Jihadism in Italy: Birth, Development nomic and cultural integration of most Muslims living in 7 The couple did not serve time in Switzerland and and Radicalization Dynamics (Milan: Istituto per gli studi Switzerland, rendering them more resilient to extremist moved to Belgium, where they were soon charged with di politica internazionale, 2014), p. 52. For connections in narratives; 3) demographic characteristics of the Swiss recruiting local young Muslims to travel to Pakistan. the French-speaking world, see Sylvain Besson, “Fin de Muslim population: some 80% to 90% of Swiss Muslims In the subsequent trial, a Belgian court sentenced both Parcours pour Garsalloui, ex-Refugie en Suisse Tue par trace their origins to the Balkans or Turkey, where the el-Aroud and Garsallaoui to eight years for recruiting un Drone,” Le Temps, October 18, 2012; Benjamin Ducol, vast majority of Muslims traditionally espouse forms of for al-Qa`ida, although the latter only in absentia as he “Uncovering the French-speaking Jihadisphere: An Ex- Islam that are more tolerant and apolitical; 4) Switzer- had managed to flee the country before Belgian authori- ploratory Analysis,” Media, War & Conflict 5:1 (2012). land’s foreign policy, whose largely neutral stance does ties could swoop in. Garsallaoui continued his activities 11 Daniel Glaus and Marie Maurisse, “La Descente aux not provide a source of grievances. While these concur- from the tribal areas of Pakistan. In 2008, he published Enfers de Majd N., le Biennois Apprenti Terroriste,” Le rently operating factors can potentially explain the low an open letter inviting Swiss people, government and se- Matin Dimanche, November 18, 2012; Daniel Glaus and levels of jihadist radicalization in Switzerland, none of curity forces to convert to Islam, and threatening revenge Marie Maurisse, “Le Dangereux Voyage de Majd pour them is a guarantee. Each, in fact, presents weaknesses against them. He also became involved in Jund al-Khilafa Devenir Combattant Islamiste,” Dimanche, No- and exceptions. and other jihadist groups operating in the Pakistani tribal vember 25, 2012; Quand Al Qaida Recrute en Suisse, RTS, 13 “DAP Annual Report,” Swiss Service for Analysis and areas, providing training in various weapons, bombmak- November 8, 2012; Samuel Jaberg, “Un aller sans Retour Prevention, 2005, p. 31; “DAP Annual Report,” Swiss ing, document forging and use of the internet. Thanks to pour la Guerre Sainte,” Swissinfo, July 4, 2012; “Un Gym- Service for Analysis and Prevention, 2006, p. 31. his skills, Garsallaoui became one of the top trainers and nasien de Bienne Inculpe pour Liens avec les Shebab,” Le 14 Martin Stoll, “Geheimdienst observiert Basler Mo- handlers for recruits coming from the West and particu- Temps, March 25, 2004; “Abu Sa’ad al-Urduni or the Im- schee,” Sonntagszeitung, September 2, 2012. larly from the French-speaking world. According to var- probable Matches - Episode II,” Geneva Centre for Train- 15 Lorenzo Vidino, Jihadist Radicalization in Switzerland ious French media reports, Mohammed Merah had been ing and Analysis of Terrorism, December 5, 2011. (Zurich: Center for Security Studies, 2013). one of his recruits. Garsallaoui was killed in a U.S. drone 12 As in any other Western European country, radi- 16 These details are based on the monitoring of online strike in October 2012. calization by jihadist inspiration seems to affect only social media activities of Swiss Salafists carried out by 8 “L’Islamiste Refugie a Fribourg Tue par un Drone au a statistically marginal segment of the Swiss Muslim both authors independently since June 2012. This analy- Pakistan,” Le Temps, October 18, 2012. population. But radicalization in Switzerland appears to sis has been confirmed by interviews with officials in the 9 “Summary of Legal Proceedings,” Dossier SK.2007.4, be a limited phenomenon also when compared to other Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) and the Swiss Federal Criminal Tribunal, Bellinzona, 2006. European countries. Four factors can explain this differ- Federal Police.

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Balkans are particularly influential— day he obtained his license, he posted After nearly three months of silence, an area to which some 60% of Swiss a message saying: “If all things are Mathieu resurfaced online on March 16, Muslims trace their roots.17 destroyed…there still is The Creator of 2014.26 Back in Switzerland, he gave an all things. We do not need anything else anonymous interview to Swiss national Swiss Foreign Fighters in Syria but Allah, he is our best guarantor.”22 television station RTS in which he In May 2014, the Swiss intelligence Days later, he left France for Turkey claimed to regret his decision to travel agency Nachrichtendienst des Bundes to Syria.27 “At the time, for me it was (Federal Intelligence Service, NDB) a legitimate jihad, to fight against the publicly stated that it believed that “Clusters of homegrown regime of Bashar who used chemical up to 15 Swiss residents have gone to activists sympathizing weapons to massacre his people,” he fight in Syria, although it could only explained. He recounted how he lodged confirm five cases. Of those five, stated with jihadist or militant in a house with “80 to 150 jihadists” NDB Director Markus Seiler, one has Salafist ideology are in which “the upper floor was for the returned and two have died.18 These future fighters, the ground floor for numbers are smaller than for most active in Switzerland, those who wished to blow themselves European countries, even in relative often organizing events up. They were about 15, did not get terms. Yet they constitute a disturbing military training and were treated trend for Switzerland, as they are higher throughout the country better.”28 Mathieu did not specify than any comparable mobilization the and frequenting online which group ran the house and claimed country has witnessed in the past. not to be involved in any fighting. An jihadist forums and social investigation on Mathieu has reportedly One of the confirmed cases is that of media.” been opened, but no charges have yet Mathieu, a 29-year-old convert from been filed against him.29 He appears to a prominent Catholic family from be continuing his paragliding activities . In his early 20s, Mathieu in the Alps.30 worked odd jobs and developed a keen with two fellow aspiring jihadists, interest in paragliding. In 2012, he one of whom was a 17-year-old French A bloody incident on March 20, 2014, unsuccessfully ran for elections in the citizen of North African descent whose brought to light the case of another small municipality in the Valais canton smartphone was tracked to Turkey.23 jihadist fighting in Syria with Swiss where he lived in a small chalet.19 In On December 21, he wrote his parents links. Three individuals linked to the May 2013, he converted to Islam at a an e-mail with the telling subject line Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant local mosque, and by early fall he was “New life. Hard news for you. Terribly (ISIL)31 responded to a routine security chatting via Facebook with individuals sorry.”24 In the e-mail, he stated that check by Turkish authorities near the apparently belonging to armed Islamist “in order to best follow Allah’s path, I Hatay border crossing by opening fire groups in Syria. have decided, because I feel able to both and throwing a hand grenade, killing physically…and mentally (even though I a policeman, a non-commissioned In lightning speed evolution from know it won’t be easy always), to leave gendarmerie officer and a truck new convert to aspiring jihadist, by to accomplish the jihad in Syria.”25 driver.32 One of the three attackers who early December 2013 Mathieu told had crossed from Syria and was heading

Facebook contacts that he was planning 22 Ibid. The original reads: “Si toute chose et détruite…Il to Istanbul was Cendrim, a native of 20 to soon leave for Syria. He went to reste Le Créateur de toute chose. Allah nous suffit il est notre Kosovo who had moved at the age of neighboring France and took a test to meilleure garant.” The post was accompanied by a pic- pilot Ultra-Light Motorized Airplanes ture showing a bearded and apparently screaming man ment (bien que je sais que ce ne sera pas facile tous les jours !), 21 (ULM) on December 18. On the same standing in front of a heavily destroyed and burning de partir pour accomplir le Jihad en Syrie.” house stretching his arms to the sky. 26 Glaus and Haederli. 17 Dialogue avec la Population Musulmane 2010 (: 23 Ibid. On December 21, 2013, Mathieu wrote his par- 27 There are indications that he crossed the border in Federal Department of Justice and Police, 2011), p. 29. ents that he had parked his vehicle by Lyon’s airport, Akçakale and was stopped by Turkish authorities. It 18 “NDB Annual Press Conference,” Swiss Federal Intel- where they could pick it up. He also wrote: “I am about to does not appear that he was expelled from Turkey, but ligence Service, May 15, 2014. return to Syria, traveling with two French brothers and that he returned to Switzerland voluntarily. 19 Daniel Glaus and Alexandre Haederli, “Vom Chalet in others who arrived last night. I have many contacts with 28 19.30 le Journal, Radio Television Suisse Romande, den Jihad,” SonntagsZeitung, April 6, 2014. French jihadists who are already in Syria and who will April 4, 2014. 20 Ibid. The authors were able to save most of Mathieu’s facilitate our arrival!” (“Je suis actuellement sur le point de 29 E-Mail Statement by Spokesperson of the Office of the Facebook interactions before he erased the more incrimi- rentrer en Syrie, voyageant donc avec deux frères français, et Attorney General (OAG), April 2, 2014. nating content. One former Facebook friend confirmed d’autres arrivés hier soir. J’ai beaucoup de contacts avec des 30 These pictures were posted on his Facebook page. Mathieu mentioned “fighting in Syria.” djihadistes français déjà en Syrie, qui nous faciliteront notre Apparently he moved from his chalet in Lower Valais 21 Ibid. Mathieu wrote his parents: “I took my ULM arrivée”). See also: “Jihad en Syrie: l’inquétante dispari- back to his parents’ address in Lausanne. The website of exam in Lyon on Wednesday and it went well” (“Je me tion de Brahim, 17 ans,” Le Parisien, January 18, 2014. his paragliding instruction company is still online. suis rendu à mon examen ULM à Lyon mercredi, qui s’est bien 24 Ibid. The subject line in French read: “Nouvelle vie. 31 In June 2014, the ISIL shortened its name to the “Is- passé”). Pictures published on his Facebook page indicate Dure nouvelle pour vous. Milles excuses.” lamic State.” This article, however, still refers to the he trained on a Zodiac 650-type ULM with a maximum 25 Original text: “De plus, toujours pour suivre au mieux le group by its more common name, the ISIL. speed of 260 km/h. There are no indications that his chemin d’Allah, j’ai décidé, car je m’en estime capable, tant 32 “Syria Back on Turkey’s Agenda,” al-Monitor, March training with ULM was related to his militant interests. physiquement [ma hanche va vraiment mieux !] que mentale- 21, 2014.

10 july 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 7 seven to Brugg, in canton Aargau.33 militants who call themselves “Team From a young age, Cendrim engaged in of Shock.”39 Reportedly a naturalized Dutch Foreign Fighters various criminal activities, including Swiss citizen of North African descent Continue to Travel to Syria armed robbery and assault. In 2011, from canton Vaud, Suleyman told one he was imprisoned for 24 months and, of the authors that he was “the official By Samar Batrawi and Ilona Chmoun upon release, deported to Kosovo.34 recruiter of Al-Qa`ida in Switzerland.” Some reports indicate that Cendrim’s He asked for money to further elaborate as the war in syria continues, the radicalization might have begun during on this claim—something the author Netherlands faces a number of his incarceration.35 In June 2013, shortly declined.40 challenges in monitoring Dutch foreign after his deportation to Kosovo, he fighters. In a worrying note published traveled to Syria, where he reportedly Conclusion in June 2014 by the Dutch General joined the ISIL.36 The number of Swiss jihadists in Syria Intelligence and Security Service is small when compared to most other (AIVD), the agency claimed that budget Another Swiss-based individual who European countries, including those cuts paired with “new dynamics” in apparently joined the ISIL in Syria is with a similarly sized population. the jihadist movement have triggered Valdes, a 33-year-old from the town of Yet the presence of an undetermined a serious capacity crisis.1 The AIVD Kriens, near Luzern.37 Valdes married number of its citizens and residents teams in charge of tracking jihadists into a family that plays a central role fighting in Syria is a relatively new are barely coping with the workload, in the Bosnian Islamist networks in phenomenon for Switzerland. It and additional planned budget cuts Switzerland. His wife is an activist demonstrates that Switzerland suffers will reportedly force the agency to drop for various Islamist causes, and his from radicalization dynamics similar several of these teams. Nevertheless, father-in-law is well-known for his to its neighbors, albeit on a smaller the dynamics of the radicalization connections to militants in Bosnia.38 scale. and recruitment of jihadists in the Until April 2014, Valdes was highly Netherlands are continuously evolving. active on Facebook, posting pictures Moreover, the issue of foreign fighters apparently from Syria before deleting might be particularly problematic for This article addresses recent his profile. Switzerland, whose legislation does not developments among the Dutch foreign possess extensive and precise provisions fighter contingent in Syria. It examines A six-month-long monitoring of the covering the phenomenon. As of July a manifesto that describes the motives online jihadist sympathizer scene 2014, Swiss authorities have not filed and goals of the Dutch fighters, reviews in Switzerland carried out by Swiss any criminal cases against individuals these fighters’ visibility on social media weeklies SonntagsZeitung and Le Matin suspected of having fought in Syria, and profiles two of them, and concludes Dimanche revealed the existence of including in a case like Mathieu’s in with an analysis of the measures taken other individuals apparently fighting which evidence of his ties to jihadist by the Dutch government. It finds that in Syria who seem to be Swiss citizens activity is strong. the visibility of and popular concern or residents, but whose real identities surrounding Dutch jihadists in Syria cannot be fully verified. Many of Daniel Glaus is a reporter for the Swiss has increased, while the government’s them appear to have an Albanian or weeklies SonntagsZeitung/Le Matin response remains tepid. Bosnian background. Several of the Dimanche. apparent Swiss jihadists use their The Dutch Foreign Fighter Manifesto home country as part of their kunya, Lorenzo Vidino, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow Through social media, the Dutch press calling themselves “al-Suisri” or at the Center for Security Studies, ETH and information released by Dutch “As-Swissry.” An individual calling Zurich. authorities, the authors have identified himself Abou Suleyman Suissery is 37 Dutch individuals who have fought in tagged in a photo smiling and holding Syria. This means that an additional 17 a gun in the company of other armed people have been identified since October 2013,2 including three women and two 3 33 “Radikalisiert durch Balkan-Prediger,” SonntagsZei- minors. The general composition of the tung, March 30, 2014. 17 newly identified fighters does not 34 “Aargau muss Genugtuung an Dschihadisten zahl- differ significantly from the 20 fighters en,” Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, May 14, 2014. 35 “Reaktionen zum Brugger Terroristen Cendrim R.” 1 “New dynamics” refers to the shift from forums and Solothurner Zeitung, March 30, 2014; “Der gewalttätige preachers to the more dynamic platform of social media Gotteskrieger aus Brugg,” Tages-Anzeiger/Der Bund, as the foundation of homegrown radicalization. For more March 27, 2014; “Er war renitent und unzufrieden,“ 39 These details are based on the authors’ analysis of details, see “Veiligheidsdienst AIVD verliest zicht op es- Blick, March 31, 2014. Facebook pages. Originally published in French, the calerend jihadisme,” NRC Handelsblad, June 20, 2014. 36 “Der gewalttätige Gotteskrieger aus Brugg,” Tages- photo caption read, “L’équipe de choc... un renouveau et 2 See the author’s previous article on the Dutch foreign Anzeiger/Der Bund, March 27, 2014. un nouveau départbi idhnillah.” It was published on April fighter contingent in Syria: Samar Batrawi, “The Dutch 37 These details are based on the authors’ analysis of 11, 2014, by a French jihadist (also tagged as being in the Foreign Fighter Contingent in Syria,” CTC Sentinel 6:10 Valdes’ Facebook account in 2013 and 2014. picture). (2013). 38 Daniel Glaus and Ursula Zenger, “Im Netzwerk des 40 This conversation occurred in a Facebook chat with 3 For the full interview, see www.eenopeen.incontxt.nl/ Attentäters,” SonntagsZeitung, November 20, 2011. the author on March 30, 2014. seizoenen/2014/afleveringen/10-04-2014.

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