Raad Adayleh/AP/Press Association Images. All rights reserved.In the light of the June attacks in Jordan, the Hashemite Kingdom has closed its borders with Syria and continues to imprison its nationals for terrorism-related charges.
Jordan has already taken steps to limit the threat from extremists, but without fully understanding the many reasons why these men have traveled to Syria, effective counter-radicalization and de-radicalization will not be possible. Furthermore, understanding why Jordanians fight in Syria sheds light on possible motivations for European foreign fighters.
Each individual has unique circumstances and beliefs that drew them to Syria. However, the following is a breakdown of the major motivations, determined through independent research and expert interviews, that have played some role for many of Jordan's volunteers. These motivations were determined through analyses of news reports, scholarly works, and interviews I conducted in Jordan with Salafi experts and activists.
