Hollande vows to fight Syria jihadists

April 23, 2014

Paris: President Francois Hollande on Tuesday voiced determination to fight against the rising menace of Syrian jihadist by taking “all measures” to prevent his nationals from joining conflict in the country and put French security at risk.

“France will take all measures to dissuade, prevent and punish those who are tempted to fight where they have no reason to be,” Xinhua quoted French president as saying.

During a visit to the Arab World Institute, Hollande pledged to deploy “an arsenal using all techniques including cyber security and also human techniques which consist in talking and seeking families [of presumed Jihadists], a number of alerts that then allow us to intervene.”

Measures announced on Wednesday by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve include encouraging parents to alert police to concerns they have about their children’s intentions, so that travel restrictions can be put in place at European Union borders.

Authorities will also withdraw passports from individuals suspected of wanting to travel to Syria to wage war.

French officials estimate that around 500 French have left for Syria, including teens as young as 15.

France also plans to increase its monitoring of websites that post videos and other messages inciting jihadi activities.

“This plan is not to prevent to practice the religion but it is for that religion is not used for other purposes, including the most abominable one which is terrorism,” Hollande said.