Paris prosecutor Francois Molins expects that about 700 Muslims from France are fighting for jihad groups in Iraq and Syria, and “at one moment or another we will face the return of a large number of French fighters and their families.”
Given this menacing reality, Molins has announced longer prison terms for returning jihadis, of up to 30 years behind bars, instead of the usual 10-year maximum.
So let’s take a look at what’s happening on the jihadist-in-jail front in France: it’s reassuring to know that French prisons are separating inmates by religion in order to prevent radicalization from spreading, as psychological disturbance is said to be high in jail, making inmates more vulnerable to radicalization as a form of rebellion.
In French jails, jihadists are also enrolled in deradicalization programs, which are of dubious effectiveness, as Jihad Watch recently noted here. What’s more, French sociologist Farhad Khosrokhavar states that the effectiveness of some promising deradicalization programs can be compromised due to the laicite: religion is deemed private and the government should not get involved with it. But Khosrokhavar rightly indicates, “it is a matter of ideology when it comes to religion and jihad.”
Let’s hope that prosecutor Francois Molin’s much longer sentences, combined with separating jihadists from other inmates in jail and the recognition of a connection between religion and jihad, will at least have some positive impact on public safety.
“French Prosecutor Announces Longer Terrorism Sentences”, ABC News, September 2, 2016:
The Paris prosecutor has announced harsher prison sentences for returning French jihadis, saying the country faces an increased risk of attacks as the Islamic State group weakens inIraq and Syria.
Francois Molins, whose office is in charge of terrorism investigations, told Le Monde newspaper on Friday that around 700 people from France are fighting for extremist groups in Iraq and Syria and “at one moment or another we will face the return of a large number of French fighters and their families.” He said his office will hand down more severe criminal charges, with possible sentences up to 30 years, in cases that might previously have drawn maximum sentences of 10 years…..

Don McKellar says
All that French taxpayer money to be thrown away for the next 30 years on what is actually probably a few times the 700 estimate.
Once again I trot out my idea for a Jihadi Island. Somewhere off Antarctica, perhaps. Put up some prefab buildings and a mosque and a great big marker pointing to Mecca. And then drop them off, never to return. No food or supplies ever arrive at the island. Only more drop offs of more jihadis. Let nature take its course and there will be no problem with population control on the island.
billybob says
Sounds a little too soft on these people. I would amend that sentence to “then drop them off at 40,000 feet without a parachute”.
Anne Smith says
The French never used to have a problem with putting their undesirables on prison islands. Time to restore some of their great old traditions.
Dennis says
Just don’t let them back in. If they fight with ISIS then take away their French passports. They can live in ISIS.
Mong says
Penis poo. Let’s be nice. I reckon calling a spade a spade is legit xxx
Kumi Ho says
Why are you even letting them back in????????????? If they run off to join ISIS, strip them of their citizenship!!!!!!!!!
Dom107 says
Yes but that would be common sense and this war has the weird effect of adversely affecting the brains of all the European rulers except the eastern European countries.
I can’t explain it.The people have the only solution in their own hands.
Get rid of all these idiots at the next possible election as they stink of weakness from Paris to Bagdad !!!!
Angemon says
Why don’t they stand trial for treason instead of exposing themselves to lawsuits for religious discrimination?
DP111 says
Thirty years in jail is a really good idea. This will certainly deter many Jihadis returning to France. It follows that France does not have to spend huge sums of money to keep the Jihadis in jail. The second is that staying in Syria or Iraq, increases the chance of the Jihadis meeting 72 irate virgins.
Win Win. We should all be doing this.
Mark A says
How about stripping jihadis of their citizenship as well?
Guest says
Here’s an idea, why don’t they invoke the death sentence.
Anne Smith says
Unfortunately the EU has banned the death sentence.
Frank Anderson says
“Hostis Humani Generis” means “enemy of all mankind”. Under rules of piracy on the high seas a pirate loses all rights of citizenship by engaging in piracy. There are some centuries old court rulings that hold pirates can be shot on sight without trial. The Law of the Sea Treaty has moderated that rule, to some extent, but the concept of loss of citizenship by conduct should still apply. (Citizenship is normally waived by a proclamation. I suggest that it should also be lost/waived through acts/conduct/affiliation with people who are at war with our society.)
Under generally recognized, but applied differently from country to country a conspiracy is 1) an agreement 2) between two or more persons 3) to use unlawful means or 4) to use lawful means for an unlawful purpose. Under US law every person in a conspiracy is personally responsible for the acts and knowledge of all the others.
People who participate in the clear mass murders, other war crimes and hideously violent unlawful conduct of the IS to any extent should be considered equally guilty with all others. There is good reason, simple cost, to ask the question why should the people of France or any other country feed and house these monsters for any length of time when there is little or no hope of rehabilitating them to suitable conduct in their country? What they will do in 30 years or whenever they are let loose is the same today as later.
TH says
France has remote Pacific islands. They should open labor camps in one of them and make the jihadis work to pay for their stay there and never let them out. Penal servitude it used to be called. The death penality is no good against them as it would only give them the 72 virgins. Hard labor in a remote Pacific island, might make them think twice about jihad and the fact that there would be no virgins.
Matthieu Baudin says
But they should really be held in military prisons after first being tried in military courts. Furthermore it may be possible to deliver capital punishment for those combatants who can be shown to have been part of civilian massacres in the Levant and elsewhere. Those returning are not civilians but soldiers of Islam and they need to be held accountable for their actions at a level independent of that applicable to civilians. These are war crimes of the most serious and deplorable nature and the perpetrators ought to face the same fate of those tried after the Second World War hostilities in Europe and the Pacific.
RAB says
The question has been asked so many times on this website, namely why are these jihadis allowed to return after fighting for Islamic State against their own country, it seems pointless to repeat it. Longer jail terms is a great idea! it will give the returning jihadis more time to recruit more jihadis in jail. And what is the point of so-called “deradicalization” programs when the prisoners are allowed to keep their Korans and prayer rugs?
Sam says
What a waste and stupidity and disgrace to the French who will feed the enemy in prison for years and years.
When did such program work for the benefit of the French?
Jerry says
“deradicalisation” of Muslims only occurs
when they convert to:a more tolerant religion
or become atheists
or permanently leave our planet