Moroccan authorities concerned about nationals fighting in Syria

'More than 200' Moroccans are fighting with the FSA Hundreds of Moroccans have reportedly left the country for Syria, to fight alongside the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) against government forces, Moroccan media outlets have claimed. Meanwhile, security sources have told Arabstoday that there has been an exponential increase in demand for visas to Turkey, which officials believe is due to the ease of transit between Turkey and Syria.
A security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity said: "Growing numbers of young Moroccans are being attracted to the jihadist ideology of Islamic groups.
"The Moroccan authorities must tighten their border control mechanisms and vet individuals who apply for visas to Turkey, Jordan and Iraq, countries which allow easy passage to Syrian territories," the official claimed.
Moroccan security authorities are concerned about the increase in Moroccans jihadists, and fear a repeat of the history - when young men left Morocco to fight in southern Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Chechnya.
"In the last 10 years, Moroccan intelligence services have been able to dismantle dozens of Islamic groups formed by militants who had received training in Afghanistan, Syria, and Chechnya.
"Several extremist groups became active in the Moroccan cities of Casablanca, Sale and Safi, and they were plotting terrorist attacks against key Moroccan institutions," the official disclosed.
The source explained that the Moroccan Interior Ministry had warned government agencies in Paris, Madrid, Brussels, Amsterdam and other European capitals about the increasing number of Moroccan immigrants heading for Syria from across Europe, but these countries refused to take action.
Speaking to Arabstoday, the families of individuals who had left to fight in Syria claimed that their sons had been lured into a trap by the jihadists, whom they described as "merchants of death," adding that their sons had been paid up to $12,000 to leave their families.
University of Rabat researcher Mohamed Darif told Arabstoday that young Moroccans were attracted to the radical Salafist groups in Morocco, and were willing to answer their call for jihad. Darif explained that Salafists were divided amongst themselves over fighting on foreign soil, and he urged young Moroccans to take notice of the Salafis who had issued religious rulings against fighting in Syria.
Islamic extremism expert Saeed al-Khalil, cited concerns about the growing number of Moroccan nationals fighting in Syria, and claimed that such activities pose a significant threat to the future of Morocco.
Moroccan newspaper, Manara, claimed that more than 200 Moroccans were fighting in Syria, adding that the majority of the fighters carried dual Dutch, Belgian and French nationalities.
The publication claimed that jihadist Moroccans had managed to gain a foothold in the Syrian conflict, and were being led by ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee Brahim Benchekroun.