Tiny Minority of Extremists Update from Algeria. Why didn’t these teachers, presumably reasonably well educated people themselves, know the teachings of the Religion of Peace well enough to be able to avoid the lure of Al-Qaeda? This kind of story gives the lie to the still-prevailing assumption that the mujahedin are generally ignorant people who have been manipulated by cynical leaders. “Algeria: Teachers Joined Al-Qaeda Affiliate, Minister Says,” from AKI, :
Algiers, 6 April (AKI) – Some 300 Algerian teachers have in the past belonged to the al-Qaeda linked Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), the country’s education minister has said. Bakr Bin Buzayd, quoted by the website of the Al-Arabiya satellite network, said that over the past decade of violence in Algeria, close to 300 teachers had left their classrooms to join the GSPC terror cells in the mountains. “To date we have not received any requests from these people to resume their teaching roles” said Buzayd.
“Despite this, there is no reason why in the future they could not be gradually reintegrated into the teaching staff” he said.
Sure. Because the ideology to which they adhere is held by many more than just active Al-Qaeda members.