Recruits For Al-Shabab
Canada's immigrant quotient from Muslim countries has placed us in a rather uncomfortable position. Where radicalized elements from abroad regularly obtain visitors' visas to come to this country to spread their vicious messages of hatred. Finding a ready enough audience among the disaffected young, like those from Somalia whose parents fled the chaos and unrest to find safe haven in Canada. It would appear that many young men of Somalia extraction are fascinated by Islamism.
They have become Canadian citizens, but have obviously not found a comfortable place for themselves within Canadian society. It's estimated that Canada now has between 150,000 and 200,00 ethnic Somalis making this country their home. For the older Somalis, it meant making a new life for themselves very far from their origins. It means living among a pluralist population in large part made up of immigrants like themselves.
Not necessarily like themselves as far as culture, geographic heritage and religion was concerned. Making it desirable for older immigrants to sequester themselves, to live within enclaves where they found comfort in the presence of those who did share their heritage and their religion. Their children, however, may find that same comfort eluding them.
They are 'different' than the prevailing indigenous population with whom they do not share a cultural affinity nor the religion most familiar to them through daily exposure at home. They find interest in the darker, seamier areas of city life, where the petty crime, clubs and taverns offer another, forbidden attraction. And they run afoul of the law in greater numbers than their demographic percentage might warrant.
"There are people in the community who are openly cheerleading for this nonsense", claims Ahmed Hussen, president of the Canadian Somali Congress, referencing the issue of Somali youth being recruited through the Internet blog postings of American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, inciting young Muslims to join the global jihad and become martyrdom material in the name of Islam. And the messages of visiting clerics.
Obviously the cheerleading community people are those who agree with the messages that al-Awlaki and al-Qaeda and its affiliates feed in a steady stream of encouraging jihad among Muslim youth conflicted about their loyalties. The choice to join the jihadists and go abroad for weapons training with Al-Shabab, speaks to the end of the inner conflict and the decision to join the violent jihad.
Which addresses the ongoing problem Canada is experiencing with jihadist radicalization and successful recruitment of Muslim youth living in Canada. A handful of Somalians have left North America to travel to Somalia to take up the Islamist cause, and now Canadian security agents have interdicted a young Somalian-Canadian, arresting him on suspicion of terrorism support en route to Somalia.
This is cultural dissonance at a lethal level, threatening a back-lash against Canada and Canadians as those in terror training join their jihadist brethren on the battlefield abroad, and there is always the prospect of their returning to continue trading on what they have become skilled at, right here in the country that gave their parents safe haven.
They have become Canadian citizens, but have obviously not found a comfortable place for themselves within Canadian society. It's estimated that Canada now has between 150,000 and 200,00 ethnic Somalis making this country their home. For the older Somalis, it meant making a new life for themselves very far from their origins. It means living among a pluralist population in large part made up of immigrants like themselves.
Not necessarily like themselves as far as culture, geographic heritage and religion was concerned. Making it desirable for older immigrants to sequester themselves, to live within enclaves where they found comfort in the presence of those who did share their heritage and their religion. Their children, however, may find that same comfort eluding them.
They are 'different' than the prevailing indigenous population with whom they do not share a cultural affinity nor the religion most familiar to them through daily exposure at home. They find interest in the darker, seamier areas of city life, where the petty crime, clubs and taverns offer another, forbidden attraction. And they run afoul of the law in greater numbers than their demographic percentage might warrant.
"There are people in the community who are openly cheerleading for this nonsense", claims Ahmed Hussen, president of the Canadian Somali Congress, referencing the issue of Somali youth being recruited through the Internet blog postings of American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, inciting young Muslims to join the global jihad and become martyrdom material in the name of Islam. And the messages of visiting clerics.
Obviously the cheerleading community people are those who agree with the messages that al-Awlaki and al-Qaeda and its affiliates feed in a steady stream of encouraging jihad among Muslim youth conflicted about their loyalties. The choice to join the jihadists and go abroad for weapons training with Al-Shabab, speaks to the end of the inner conflict and the decision to join the violent jihad.
Which addresses the ongoing problem Canada is experiencing with jihadist radicalization and successful recruitment of Muslim youth living in Canada. A handful of Somalians have left North America to travel to Somalia to take up the Islamist cause, and now Canadian security agents have interdicted a young Somalian-Canadian, arresting him on suspicion of terrorism support en route to Somalia.
This is cultural dissonance at a lethal level, threatening a back-lash against Canada and Canadians as those in terror training join their jihadist brethren on the battlefield abroad, and there is always the prospect of their returning to continue trading on what they have become skilled at, right here in the country that gave their parents safe haven.
Labels: Canada, Conflict, Crisis Politics, Immigration, Islam
posted by Pieface | 6:47 PM
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