Isis: UN study finds foreign fighters in Syria ‘lack basic understanding of Islam’

Research shows economic factors and ‘lack of meaning’ in life makes warzone attractive

• Lizzie Dearden
• Independent

Young men who leave their homes to fight for terrorist groups in Syria mainly come from disadvantaged backgrounds, have low levels of education and “lack any basic understanding of the true meaning of jihad or even the Islamic faith”, according to a new report.

A study for the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism found that despite claiming to protect Muslims, most of the returned fighters were “novices” in their religion and some did not know how to pray properly.

“Most saw their religion in terms of justice and injustice rather than in terms of piety and spirituality,” said the authors of the …

• Isis: UN study…