France to pass new law to tighten up on domestic terrorists

The French government is to propose shortly a new law to parliament to tighten up on "home-grown" terrorists and more closely monitor and sanction French nationals who go abroad for terrorist training and to fight in foreign wars. Government sources said Monday, that the new text will be examined by the cabinet this month, probably next week, and shortly after will be presented for a vote in parliament, where it is certain to be approved given the ruling Socialist majority in that body. The sources said that the law has been drafted to combat individuals travelling abroad or networks which are recruiting young and easily-influence Muslims and transporting them for training in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and previously in Iraq. Those leaving for such training will now be more harshly dealt with when they return and the new law will criminalize what is being called "terror tourism" in camps abroad. The decision to tighten up on this phenomenon is a direct result of the incidents in southern France six months ago, when a 23-year-old French Muslim of Algerian origin went on a killing spree and murdered seven people, including three French soldiers who had served in Afghanistan and four Jews in a school, three of them young children. The self-appointed "Jihadist", Mohammed Merah, was later killed by police in a shoot-out after a 30-hour siege in Toulouse. The French public was shocked to learn that Merah had made several trips abroad to Pakistan and Afghanistan, where he had been arrested and sent home, and that he was not under closer surveillance. Moreover, public reaction was strong when it was learned he faced no charges when he returned to France, even though he already had a criminal record.