ISIS has appeared in an Arabic magazine edition that specifically targets France, urging Muslims to take violent action against “Christians and Jews” in the United States and Europe.
While the Islamic State lost its territorial control after defeats during the first Trump administration, its radical members continue to push a stringent interpretation of Islam, which has begun to influence many young Muslims in the West and incite acts of terror in its name.
A copy of Alnaba was obtained by the Centre for Terrorism Analysis (CAT) and shared with French news outlets. In it, ISIS declared: “Monotheistic Muslims are under attack… Jews and Christians, in crowds and convoys, on the streets and roads of America and Europe, particularly in France. Don’t hold back—attack them, kill them by any means necessary.”
“Every unbeliever you kill adds to their suffering… Use lone wolf attacks as we’ve seen in Paris, Brussels, and other so-called Crusade countries.”
Despite France and other European nations expressing support for Palestinian states, radical groups are urging Muslims to dismiss these efforts, suggesting they are merely attempts to “disarm Muslims and neutralize jihad.”
The publication asserted that some Western calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas primarily serve to protect Jews from potential losses inflicted by the Mujahideen.
Terrorism researcher Mark Hecker suggested that France is viewed as a symbol of “institutionalized Islamophobia,” making it an attractive target for ISIS and other extremists, especially considering laws that promote secularism.
These laws have led to the closure of Muslim institutions, including the European Institute of Human Sciences (IESH), which, despite its name, is considered a training center for Imams and has faced accusations of endorsing “armed jihad” in France.
Hecker also noted that the involvement of the French military in coalitions against jihadist groups in Africa and the Levant is often portrayed as an “armed struggle against Muslims.”
“By targeting France, terrorist organizations appear to be attempting to weaken social groups through various attacks (using a ‘thousand cuts’ strategy),” Hecker added.
