The UK, however, is (not surprisingly) a close second with 600 — up from the 400 reported here. “Hundreds Of Westerners Have Joined ISIS — Here’s Where They Came From,” by Ben Winsor, Business Insider, August 27, 2014:
U.S. and European security services estimate that more than 1,000 of jihadist militants fighting in Iraq and Syria were drawn to the conflict from Western nations with some estimates putting the number as high as 3,000.
Business Insider compiled the graph below, which illustrates best estimates of where just some of those Western fighters originate.
Business Insider sought to use only official statements and credible reports in compiling the estimates.
The chart shows 700 recruits from France, 400 from the U.K., 320 from Germany, 250 from Belgium, 200 from Australia, 130 from the Netherlands, 100 from Canada, 100 from the U.S., and 51 from Spain.
The figures demonstrate alarming numbers from the U.K. and France in particular. In both countries, the integration of immigrant communities — and Islamic communities in particular— remains a hot-button political issue.
Per capita, Belgium is the biggest source of western ISIS recruits.
Joining ISIS
An ISIS supporter posts a photo of the organization’s flag on a cellphone in front of the White House on Twitter. The Islamic extremists have a comprehensive grasp of social-media campaigning.
Given the chaotic nature of the fighting, people who have left their home countries to join the conflict are hard to track. Further, there are multiple militant groups on the ground in Iraq and Syria that could attract Western fighters.
But from the studies Business Insider analyzed, it appears the majority of those who join the conflict end up fighting for ISIS. Some experts, such as professor Peter Neumann of King’s College London, estimate the number could be as high as 80%.
ISIS has been targeting Western recruits with social-media campaigns, slickly produced videos, and English-language publications.
The phenomena poses a special challenge to security services because the Western passports used by the fighters are not subject to the restrictions and visa requirements placed on many non-Western citizens.
“That’s my boy.” The message tweeted along with this image [censored] by Khaled Sharrouf, and Australian foreign fighter who joined ISIS. The image depicts Mr. Sharrouf’s son, thought to be seven years old, holding a severed head.
Western Response
Countries such as the U.K. and Australia are dealing with the growing threat posed by their citizens leaving to join ISIS by seeking to integrate divided communities and empower mainstream Muslims. They’re also beefing up surveillance and canceling passports of suspected militants.
The Westerners joining the conflict are predominantly young men, though there are increasing reports of women and even children traveling to the region.
Innes Bowen, author of “Inside British Islam,” told Business Insider there was no single type of person who becomes a radical in the U.K., and no single pathway to their ideology.
“There must be a range of motivations — a sense of adventure, a misplaced sense of duty or idealism — some of those recruited are well versed in ideology and the politics of their radical cause others are surprisingly ignorant,” Bowen said.
The New Republic reports that two young men who joined the conflict from the U.K. this May purchased “Islam for Dummies” and “The Koran for Dummies” before leaving.
As I explained here, that doesn’t necessarily mean what Business Insider and the New Republic think it means.



Champ says
Vive la France!!
Neil Jennison says
Hardly surprising since 10 % of the population of France are Muslims.
I wonder how all these leftists who insisted on uncontrolled immigration and “multiculturalism” will feel when they are second class citizens and paying the Jizyah?
Shane says
It was insane and suicidal to allow so many Muslims to immigrate into the West. May all these jihadis become martyrs ASAP.
Champ says
I must laugh at myself and give myself a ‘thumbs down’ because I didn’t read the headline very closely …my bad ;-D
Neil Jennison says
You should have kept quiet…..I thought you were being sarcastic! 🙂
Champ says
You’re too kind! …I’m 1/2 French so my wrongheaded enthusiasm for France got the better of me (what was I thinking?!)
Champ says
…lol, my first comment needs a “sarc” tag 😉
Myxlplik says
I though it was support, in a grim situation, sucks they lead the pack but it doesn’t have to be sarcasm to wish them life and health in dark times.
Champ says
Thumbs Up! …very good point 🙂
Peter Buckley says
I’m delighted these deluded individuals are leaving European shores for dar-ul-Islam.
Geert Wilders to Dutch Parliament: “Do not prevent jihadists from leaving our country. Let them leave, with as many friends as possible. If it helps, I am even prepared to go to Schiphol [airport] to wave them goodbye. But let them never come back. That is the condition. Good riddance.”
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4674/geert-wilders-speech
London Jim says
Dear Geert really has his feet planted in reality, Peter, does he not? Good on you for standing his corner.
Neil Jennison says
Much as I hate to say anything good about our useless PC Prime Minister David Cameron, he is considering making UK citizens (well mostly people who identify themselves as Pakistani but have UK passports) stateless if they go to fight for ISIS ISIL, IS or whatever they are being called at the moment.
However, the European Court of Human Rights apparently will not allow us to make these vicious fanatics stateless. Even after a tor of duty hacking off heads of the Kafir, they still have a RIGHT to be British.
Peter Buckley says
There is a simple answer to this “stateless” con:
Since we are giving millions in aid to muslim countries like Pakistan, why not make them take these “stateless” clowns as a condition of Aid: No deal, no Aid. But that would be “Islamophobic”…….
RonaldB says
It was a given that the European Court of Human Rights would nullify any attempt of a country to maintain its territorial and cultural identity or security.
The proper response is to withdraw from the Court of Human Rights, and more importantly, withhold all funding for it.
TH says
If the European court doesn’t allow it, then get out of the jurisdiction of that idiotic court. If they house is on fire, you don’t go argueing about metaphysics, you go and fetch as much water as you can.
Champ says
France leads West in sending jihadis to Islamic State, with 700
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What a sad statistic …what we need our troops from Europe and America increasing in number to fight *against* this evil: IS & company.
Jay Boo says
Converts are useful.
Here is a friendly reminder to any recent converts.
The world realizes that you truly looking forward to flaunt your first piety prayer display in a foreign land.
Feelings of supremacist self-righteous indignation are now rushing through your veins.
It will pass. The Serpent of Satan will soon tighten his slimy grip.
Remember well those false-promising words of the imam,
“The best decision you will ever make”, as you begin to witness and gaze into Islam’s hateful emptiness.
In between whispers and subtle smirks your new found Muslim ‘brothers’ will get bored and even annoyed at having you hang around and give you the dubious honor of delivering the suicide bomb.
Chabuco says
Why isn’t Sweden, Norway or Denmark in there? They’re in the top 5 for sure, Sweden specially since it’s one of the most compromised countries in Europe along with the U.K.
Oren Elbaz says
Does anyone believe these numbers?
They seem far too small to me!
I bet the real numbers are far higher than that, perhaps three or four times higher, and the Europeans are trying desperately to hide them.
Just recently we have learned that one in six French men supports ISIS. Do you really believe that a support base of some 10 million people produces only 700 volunteers? Suppose only one in a thousand supporters decides to actually join ISIS, this will amount to 100,000 people!
Rajivi says
Know more abt the contribution of Jihadis by Western countries to fight against them…
http://www.newsflicks.com/story.php?story_id=1643
Vostro says
Just wondering…how do they come up with these figures? Can they track these jihadists vs. somebody legitimately traveling for business or family reasons from New York, London, Brussels or Paris to Ankara? If there is a way to weed out just who the jihadists are, western countries need to unite and never let them come back. Hopefully, they end up in the fires of hell and make this a moot point.
Tim says
The chart seems to correlate quite well with the volume of Muslims in each country in percentage.
Ronald D. Bruno says
OK, that’s roughly 2000 jihadists from western nations. Islam has penetrated these countries in the last 20 years so why should we be surprised.
So that adds to their numbers of 20-30 thousand jihadists in ISIS and then add the Hamas, the Hezbollahs, Iran, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Turkey, Pakistan, etc.; but scratch that! Why don’t we just include totality of Islam with their agenda of converting the entire world. Wake up people, Judgment Day is on the horizon.
They will soon all be destroyed! Jesus will judge and the wrath of God will be upon all who oppose Him, His followers and Israel.