French jihadists used as lackeys
Letters show disillusionment with conflict
PARIS — Letters home from French jihadists to their parents have revealed the misery, boredom and fear suffered by Islamist recruits as the gloss fades from their big adventure.
In a series of letters seen by Le Figaro newspaper, some of the 376 French fighting in Syria have begged for advice on how to return. Others have complained that, rather than participating in a noble battle, they have been acting as jihadists’ lackeys.
“I’ve basically done nothing except hand out clothes and food,” wrote one, who wanted to return. “I also help clean weapons and transport dead bodies from the front.”
One complained he wanted to go home because he was missing the comforts of life in France.
Yet another wrote fearfully: “They want to send me to the front, but I don’t know how to fight.” Some were concerned, more prosaically, about the nationality of children born in Syria to jihadist wives and not recognized by the French state.
Le Figaro reported that Islamist commanders had noticed some of the French want to leave. One Frenchman was rumoured to have been beheaded when he explained to his commander he wanted to follow his friend who had already left.
A group of lawyers in France is acting on behalf of the families of the jihadists to try to persuade the state to allow them to return. They told Le Figaro they were trying to make contact with anti-terrorist police, the directors of internal security and the office of the interior minister. The lawyers said nothing was agreed in advance on behalf of the jihadists. Of the approximately 100 jihadists who have returned to France, 76 are in prison.
The story of the French jihadists parallels that of an Indian man who spent six months fighting for Islamic State before returning home.
Majeed, 23, was one of four young Muslim men from Kalyan, a city east of Mumbai, known to have journeyed to the Middle East to join the extremists.
“There was neither a holy war, nor any of the preachings in the holy book were followed,” Majeed was quoted as saying during his interrogation. Islamic State “fighters raped many women there,” he said.