France: Interview with a security service agent

UPDATE2:

I've uploaded the clip again, this time with integrated subtitles.

UPDATE:

The interviewee is Eric Denécé, who heads the Centre français de recherche sur le renseignement (French Center for Intelligence Research) and is editor of the magazine Renseignement et opérations spéciales (intelligence and special operations).

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Belgian TV station VRT interviewed a top French security service agent about the threat of terrorism and radical Islam. The clip is in French with Dutch subtitles.
The interview starts at about 00:30 into the clip. I've added English subtitles, available by clicking on the bottom right side arrow.




There is still always very present in Europe a serious terrorist threat. This threat has not diminished because Bin Laden and al-Qaeda lost power, the threat just evolved.
There are two types of threats at the moment. One comes from the countries of North Africa, particularly Algeria. The other comes from our own European suburbs where the radical fundamentalist groups are active and are ready to act against the West.

Many radicals, who are not necessarily terrorists, are convinced that they can change French society from the inside. For them attacks would thwart this strategy because it would create a rejection phenomena against them. Compare for example with the Netherlands where Theo van Gogh was murdered. There there was an immediate harsh response because the Dutch authorities felt their society was threatened.

In France we have a long history of living together with people from North African countries. We think it's normal that we have a considerable concentration of Muslims in France and anyhow we are a secular (laïcité) state. Therefore any attack would call that model into question. Many radicals in France prevent the terrorists from acting because they expect in the coming years to win local elections. Therefore they say: spare us your terrorist attacks.

What most struck us in the suburbs and municipalities in France but also in private companies is the rise of this sectarian type of society representing radical Islamism or several individuals who pretend to follow Islam but that has nothing to do with the doctrine of the prophet. They systematically look for ways to impose their new rules of the game, such as in companies where they continuously ask for prayer areas, continuously ask that women can be veiled, ask for Muslim holidays instead of the holidays on the regular calendar. Or demand that alcohol won't be served anymore in the company cafeteria, that pork won't be on the menu anymore. So little by little through actions of that type they perform a repeating undermining action. But it can also go further, for example by installing a real parallel network system. Some even control recruitment in some companies and even the company’s computer networks. There is thus sometimes a real threat.

In France there are three important economic sectors influenced by the increase of radical Islam. The first is large-scale distribution: all the big chains like Carrefour, Auchan etc. They put many youth to work who are not educated and who come from the suburbs and who are sensitive to the influence of radical Islam that is well represented there. The second sector is that of guarding and surveillance. Also here many youth find work as guards in large-scale distribution etc. Also again youth who didn't get much education, as is the case for many immigrant youth. The third sector is that of transport of all kinds. There you see a similar phenomenon. These are the three sectors which are most threatened.

Unfortunately in France you also see in administration, in hospitals, in the police, in prisons, where radical Muslims are very much present who try to impose their system of standards and values: that of a radical Islam which is exclusive and completely intolerant. The first victims are the normal Muslims, the common French citizens who suffer under this fascism of ideological radicals.

Source: VRT (French/Dutch)

14 comments:

joe six-pack said...

Excellent. This makes my stopping in every so often well worth it.
Thanks.

Saadia said...

Hello.

You've approached the subject from an interesting angle. Do you reckon that this "fascist" lobby is stronger than the regular, average Muslim guy in France?

And in light of that, did you support or oppose France's decision to ban religious attire in schools etc.?

FreeSpeech said...

Saadia

Do you mean to say that these youths are not regular, average Muslims?

Saadia said...

I mean to inquire your opinion on whether you see all French Muslims as radical in behaviour, or are these just a few? Do most of them mind their own business when it comes to their religion?

Saadia said...

I'm asking because Islam is essentially a religion, which respects other faiths, and requires Muslims to adopt a to-everybody-his-own. It is an unfortunate misconception that apostates are to be killed in Islam, that people should be forced to convert, so on and so forth...

Anonymous said...

Dear Saadia, "It is an unfortunate misconception that apostates are to be killed in Islam". Do you mean that Sura (4:89), Sura (9:11-12), Sura (2:217), Sura (9:73-74), Sura (88:21), Sura (5:54) and Sura (9:66) are not anymore part of the Quran? These verses support the many Hadith demanding death for apostates. May be you can clarify this for the poor dhimmies that are still allowed here around?

Saadia said...

They are a part of the Qur'an, but misunderstandings have arisen among people who pick and choose verses out of it, without paying heed to the context. All these verses, and those pertaining to Jesus and Moses, for example, which elaborate exceptional laws and circumstances (the virgin birth, the healing of the lepers, the parting of the Red Sea, the shaft that became a snake), were for the direct addressees of the Prophets, and the consequences for THEM.

Since the Qur'an extrapolates on the lifestory of Muhammad (pbuh), after the phase of admonishing and preaching is over, he is told to tell everybody, "To you, your religion. To me, mine".

So, if you care to delve deeper into the Book, you'll discover a passionate stance towards believers in God, today, no matter their faith. Of course, the Qur'an is harsh towards atheists, but insofar as the Hereafter is concerned. As for this world, they are to be left alone, and unharmed. We are all warned against judging people. If anybody does that, their fault. Don't tarnish my faith. I don't tarnish yours.

Daphne said...

There is no misunderstanding. The Koran is quite clear about killing pagans wherever you find them. And abiding by this surah 82 million hindus were killed during the Islamic imperialist invasion of India.
Muhammad committed genocide on the Banu Qurayza male population and enslaved all their wives and children.
Following the edicts of the Koran Jews & christians were forced to wear the yellow badge of shame by the caliphate.

Saadia said...

I am sensing how hostile everybody is over here, so there is no chance of reasonable discourse, because you all have your minds made up. It will be an exercise in futility, so I will no longer validate the comments here with a response. Its your problem if you want to be judgemental, not mine.

Anonymous said...

Dear Saadia, may be you don't understand very well why people have all these questions about Islam. You shoudl know as well that several have kidnapped Islam. It may therefor be important to explain what Islam you mean here? Are you Ismaeli by chance? Or are you a neo-mutazila? Both are quite different from mainstream Islam.

Saadia said...

It is not mainstream Islam that you should be worried about, it is the extremists, the radicals. I do not belong to a sect. I am a Muslim, and Muslim alone.

If you sincerely want to lend me an ear, then this article will give you my bent of mind: http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=17.

To be more specific to the issues at hand, please scroll down to the last two sections on Jihad and Non-Muslims. Thank you.

Saadia said...

Sorry, that link just gave the Table of Contents. The text is at: http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=16.

Daphne said...

There is a chance of reasonable discourse with reasonable people. People who believe the Koran is the literal word of god are not open to discourse and are not reasonable.
How can we as mere mortals debate with God?
And to say we have all made our minds up brings to mind three words. Pot, kettle and black.

Joachim Martillo said...
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