Jihadi tourism
Jihadi tourism is an emerging industry providing tourism products and services for those wishing to visit historically significant locations such as battle sites, or exhibitions displaying artifacts and images past struggles. Products and services can also include terrorist training.
Museum for Resistance Tourism
Hezbollah owns a 60,000 square meter tourism complex on a mountain top near the village of Mleeta (Mlita), Lebanon. This permanent exhibition, named Tourist Landmark of the Resistance is by far the largest of its kind, and contains a walking trek that is the centrepiece. It is a winding pathway displaying items related to Hezbollah's fight against Israel during the occupation. The park, opened in May, 2010, displays artillery shells and mockups with mannequin Hezbollah fighters.[1]
The inauguration of the museum was attended by Noam Chomsky, and representatives of the president and prime minister of Lebanon.[2]
Terrorism training purposes
al-Qaida camps
Between 1992 and 2002, approximately 4,000 Britons visited al-Qaida camps to receive training. Many of those returning from Afghanistan were traced, while others vanished.
Most of the training was received in camps in Afghanistan. An al-Qaida network that spanned Europe had organized the Islamic volunteers to travel to the camps and then return home.[3]
Somalia
US diplomatic cables have revealed that British and American citizens are travelling to Somalia to undergo training for terrorist attacks in the UK.[4][5][6]
References
- ^ Jihadi Tourism Hits Lebanon - WSJ.com
- ^ A Confident Hezbollah Promotes Itself Through 'Jihadi Tourism' - FoxNews.com
- ^ http://english.people.com.cn/200207/12/eng20020712_99617.shtml
- ^ British Muslims travelling to Somalia for jihadi tourism: Wikileaks
- ^ WikiLeaks cables: British Muslims travelling to Somalia for 'jihadi tourism' - Telegraph
- ^ WikiLeaks: "Jihadi Tourism" Worries U.S., U.K. - World Watch - CBS News