MEASURING AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF TERRORISM

Approximately 65 per cent of known fighters come from
countries which are members of the Organisation for Islamic
Cooperation (OIC).
Tunisia has the greatest number of nationals who have joined
groups in Iraq and Syria with a high-end estimate of 5,000
people. An estimated 500 Tunisians foreign fighters have
returned home, while between 5,000 and 6,000 additional
individuals have reportedly had their movements restricted to
prevent them from leaving the country. Saudi Arabia is the
source of the second most foreign fighters with an estimated
2,500 people.
Of the countries which are not members of the OIC, Russia and
France have the most foreign fighters. Vicinity to the region and
visa-free travel for Europeans into Turkey make it easy for
European jihadists to reach Iraq and Syria. The risk of returning
foreign fighters carrying out terrorist attacks in their home
countries has prompted different responses from Western
governments. For example, Denmark has established a
reintegration program whereas Australia has criminalised travel
to certain areas. France is estimated to have 180 returnees, and
as of April 2014, 76 individuals had been arrested.
Among non-majority Muslim countries, Russia has the highest number
of nationals who have travelled to fight, followed by France.
FIGURE 19
FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA FROM ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION COUNTRIES, 2015
The majority of foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria come from neighbouring Middle Eastern and North African states,
as well as Turkey. Tunisia has the greatest number of departing foreign fighters of any country in the world.
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Afghanistan
Somalia
Kuwait
Albania
Sudan
Kyrgyzstan
Yemen
Malaysia
Indonesia
Maldives
Algeria
Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
Pakistan
Libya
Egypt
Lebanon
Turkey
Morocco
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
Tunisia
MEMBER STATES, ORGANISATION
OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION
Conservative estimate, ICSR,
as of mid-2014
High-end estimate, ICSR,
as of mid-2014
Highest reported estimate,
alternative sources, through
October 2015
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000
Source: IEP, ICSR *ICSR High-end estimate for the UK as of December 2014.
NOTE: Estimates represent the best available figure for the number of fighters who have ever left the country, to join any armed group, including but not limited to ISIL. These
figures do not reflect those who may have been arrested, been killed or have returned to their country of origin. See Annex D for more data sources.
GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX 2015 | Trends
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