Switzerland: Land of Jihad
Swiss lawmakers have filed a motion calling on the Swiss Parliament to ban the jihadist group Islamic State from operating in Switzerland.
Switzerland: Land of Jihad
Soeren Kern | Gatestone Institute | September 26, 2014
Swiss lawmakers have filed a motion calling on the Swiss Parliament formally to ban the jihadist group Islamic State [IS] from operating in Switzerland.
The measure—signed by more than 40 politicians from across the political spectrum—is in response to new revelations that the IS has established a network of cells inside Switzerland to raise money and recruit fighters for the jihad in Syria and Iraq.
The jihadist cells are primarily focused on providing financial, logistical and propaganda support to help the IS establish an Islamic theocracy in the Middle East, according to a report published by the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) on September 21.
But terrorism analysts are warning that the cells could easily be used to perpetrate terror attacks inside Switzerland.
According to the NZZ, Swiss authorities are investigating at least three Iraqi nationals who are the alleged ringleaders of IS activities in Switzerland.
In response to the report, the Swiss public prosecutor’s office confirmed that it is currently investigating at least 20 separate cases involving jihadist operations in Switzerland, including at least four directly related to the jihad in Syria.
