By Siham Ali
in Rabat for Magharebia
Dozens of young Moroccan jihadists participated in a new survey. The surprising results were released on November 23, 2014.
Religious beliefs are not the reason why young Moroccans join Daesh in Syria and Iraq, a new survey of jihadists finds.
Young Moroccan jihadists are not motivated by religion, according to a new report from the Tetouan-based Northern Observatory for Research and Human Rights (ONERDH).
“Religious factors, jihad and support for people caught up in the conflict are only of secondary importance to the Moroccans who are joining Islamic State and other extremist groups in the region,” the organisation announced in a report released November 23rd.
These young people are instead “on a quest for glory and adventure”, the ONERDH found. “They also want to improve their social situation,” it added.
There are some 1,500 Moroccan jihadists in Iraq and Syria. Sixty-seven per cent are younger than 25.
For the study, the ONERDH profiled some of these young jihadists – including two women. The organisation chose youths from Tangier and Tetouan, since 500 of the Moroccans now fighting with Daesh in Iraq and Syria reportedly come from the northern region of the kingdom.
Of the 30 fighters surveyed by the observatory, 74% came from deprived social backgrounds in Fnideq, Martil and other towns near Tetouan, and 57% had not been educated beyond the primary level. Just 10% had attended university.
The jihadists worked as traffickers, street traders, sales assistants and builders’ assistants.
Most had no affiliations with political parties or community organisations. A few were involved in the February 20 youth movement and supported the Joint Committee for Islamist Prisoners.
Forty per cent of the fighters were from the first wave of jihadists: those recruited before 2012 through traditional channels, such as family, friends or salafist networks.
The rest were from the second wave, after 2012. This group met recruiters online, through social networks.
They are easy prey for fundamentalist recruiters, political analyst Jamal Farhani noted.
Difficult financial situations may lead young people to join up with foreign jihadist groups, but they often find themselves trapped once they reach their destinations, he said.
“Some young people regret their decisions, but fear stops them from coming back. The authorities should open the door to all those who have changed their minds,” Farhani added.
Many citizens agree that the lack of money plays a part in the terror recruitment problem, and are calling on the government to integrate young people into society and provide them with jobs.
Young people should not be left in a big social, cultural and economic void, teacher Samiha Roghi told Magharebia.
“Guidance can be given to young people in schools and by developing facilities specifically for them, such as youth clubs,” she said.
