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Returning Islamist Foreign Fighters Threats and Challenges to the West Elena Pokalova Returning Islamist Foreign Fighters Elena Pokalova Returning Islamist Foreign Fighters Threats and Challenges to the West Elena Pokalova College of International Security Affairs National Defense University Washington, DC, USA ISBN 978-3-030-31477-4 ISBN 978-3-030-31478-1 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31478-1 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover image: © Alex Linch/shutterstock.com This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland The views expressed in this book are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. A cknowledgements Countless individuals supported me through the process of writing this book. I am indebted to many friends and colleagues at the College of International Security Affairs of the National Defense University for providing me with an opportunity to embark on this research project. My special thanks go to Hassan Abbas, R. E. Burnett, Charles Cushman, Craig Deare, and Jay Parker for their encouragement and advice. I greatly benefited from the wisdom of Tom Marks, who was willing to read and comment on my work that contributed to this book. Rameez Abbas, Matthew Dearing, Geoffrey Gresh, Erica Marat, Sean McFate, Andrew Novo, Peter Thompson, and David Ucko assisted the writing process in multiple ways. They patiently listened to my ideas and offered invaluable feedback. Thank you for championing my work. My special gratitude goes to the Center for Transnational Studies, Foreign and Security Policy of the Otto Suhr Institute of the Free University of Berlin. Dr. Thomas Risse graciously welcomed me to his department, where the core of this book was written. Dr. Ingo Peters tirelessly assisted me in all institutional matters making my stay in Germany flawless. Tobias Berger, Enver Ferhatovic, Anna Holzscheiter, and Simon Koschut made me feel at home in their department and shared their insights with me. Thank you for empowering me to conduct the research and making the book writing process so enjoyable. Many colleagues kindly volunteered their time to review my research and offered their wisdom that helped strengthen this book. I am thankful to Tricia Bacon and David Malet for providing me with their vii viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS feedback and advice. I greatly benefited from interactions with experts at meetings and conferences. Conversations with Victor Asal, Joseph Brown, Bennett Clifford, Erik Dahl, Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn, William H. Hill, Karl Kaltenthaler, Adrian Shtuni, Christine Sixta Rinehart, and Anne Speckhard prompted me to think about the issue of foreign fighter returnees. Alejandra Bolanos relentlessly supported me in my every research endeavor and encouraged me to write. Tiffany Clarke was of great assistance in doing research. Interviews with numerous individuals who preferred to stay anonymous helped shape my thinking. I am grateful for the knowledge and expertise they shared with me. c ontents 1 The Returnee Challenge 1 2 Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Aberration from History or History Repeated? 11 3 Foreign Fighters After the Conflict Ends 59 4 Foreign Fighter Returnees from Syria and Iraq 79 5 Dealing with the Challenge: Responses to Foreign Fighters and Foreign Fighter Returnees 105 6 Prosecution of Foreign Fighter Returnees 137 7 Women, Jihad, and Female Returnees 165 8 Child Returnees 195 9 Moving Forward 217 ix x CONTENTS Appendix: Islamist Terrorist Attacks in the West, 1990–2019 223 Index 237 CHAPTER1 The Returnee Challenge Abdelhamid Abaaoud’s pictures featured prominently on the pages of ISIS’sEnglish-speakingmagazineDabiq.Inone,heisshownsmilingatthe camerawithablackISISbannerwavinginthebackground.Inanother,he posesholdingtheQuraninonehandandtheblackflagintheother.Such appearances in ISIS’s propaganda materials turned Abaaoud into a poster child of foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq. A Belgian of Moroccan roots, Abaaoud, also known as Abu Umar al-Baljiki, traveled to Syria where he roseintheISISranksandrecruitedandtrainedotherforeignfighterslike himself.HeboastedofhissuccessinevadingEuropeanintelligenceservices during several of his trips between Belgium and Syria. He incited terror- ism and praised those who carried out attacks on his orders. “I ask Allah to accept the fruitful deeds of the shuhada’ who terrorized the crusaders ofAmerica,France,Canada,Australia,Germany,andBelgium,”Abaaoud shared.1 AbdelhamidAbaaoudgrewupintheMolenbeekdistrictofBrussels.Not many details are known about Abaaoud’s childhood, but his upbringing doesnotseemtostandout.HewasenrolledinanexclusiveCatholicschool, CollegeSaint-Pierred’Uccle,butwasexpelledfromit.2 Hesoonbecame involved in criminal activities and as a result spent time in prison. It was 1Dabiqno.7,February12,2015,74. 2DavidA.Graham,“TheMysteriousLifeandDeathofAbdelhamidAbaaoud,”Atlantic, November19,2015. ©TheAuthor(s)2020 1 E.Pokalova,ReturningIslamistForeignFighters, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31478-1_1