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Syria is now considered the biggest jihadist attraction since Afghanistan. A study by the London-based International Centre for the Study of Radicalization estimated that 2,000 to 5,500 foreign fighters had joined the Syrian opposition forces since 2011, and that 135 to 590, or 7 to 11%, were Europeans.

The government is not certain how many Canadians are fighting in Syria. Canada does not have exit controls and officials say it is difficult to track citizens abroad, particularly after they enter a conflict zone. But reports from Syria suggest Canadians are there.

An American photographer who was held for seven months by rebel forces, Matthew Schrier, told The New York Times he had been brought before “three young men in masks who spoke perfect English, and who he suspected were Canadian.”

A documentary by Britain’s Channel 4 featured a Canadian Muslim convert who called himself Abu Muslim. He was fighting with the Katiba al-Muhajireen, which is composed almost entirely of foreign fighters. Asked what his parents thought, he said, “On the one hand, they are happy I’m taking my own path, doing my own thing and helping people. At the same time, they don’t understand entirely why I’m here.”

There have also been reports of Canadian rebels being killed, although they are almost impossible to verify. Mubin Shaikh, who infiltrated the Toronto 18 for the RCMP, said he had heard — indirectly — that Dirie’s death had been announced at Toronto’s Salaheddin mosque.

The Post last heard from Mr. Clairmont a month ago. While he confirmed he was in Syria, he would not explain exactly where he was or what he was doing but his comments made it clear he believed he had found something better than what he called Western ideology.

“Sure, Canada — like this life — is a place where you can allow yourself to believe you have figured things out,” he wrote. “Among the simplest ways to do so is to forget that anyone or anything else exists beyond it, or that you have any responsibility to anyone or anything other than it.”

National Post