ABSTRACT
Introduction What are the most typical motivations and drivers for young Muslims who join jihadi terrorist cells in Europe?1 When he was asked about why he decided to go to team up with an Al-Qaeda-associated militant clique, and attend training in paramilitary camps run by Al-Qaeda2 in Afghanistan, the French jihadi and terrorism convict David Courtallier said:
“I couldn’t see a way out”, referring to his “dead end” life in a small village in the French Alps. Recalling his first mosque visit, he said: “It was impressive, all these people in the process of finding themselves. There was a serenity that showed on their faces”. About the Afghan experience he said: “Going there was going to be great. . . . I had never traveled . . . I was taken care of totally”.3
