A report covering French intelligence on radical Islamic activities has unveiled a link between teen fashion and extremist Islamism.
The study, quoted by the French daily newspaper Le Figaro, came after a six month investigation lead by the local and regional branches of France social services and its interior intelligence services.
It showed that at the heart of French suburban projects the "streetwear" trend mixes with support for oppressed Muslims around the world without providing an understanding of the link between hip-hop clothing and the Islamic cause.
Part of the investigation by the French intelligence was aimed at businesses managed by Islamists.
The investigation’s report claims that "there is a growing number of stores, more particularly the ones specialized in sportswear that are linked to radical and fundamentalist Islam."
"These links will keep rising in the coming months and years," the report added.
Ideological profit
Selling fashionable clothes and spreading their ideology is an efficient way for Islamist shop keepers to make substantial profits and to take on their ideological agenda because it attracts youngsters, the article added.
Between 1 May and 31 July 2005, the French intelligence took on several legal actions against such stores.
 These links will keep rising in the coming months and years
French intelligence report on the link of teen fashion and Islamism |
One investigation included a shop at the centre of Toulouse owned by a fundamentalist Muslim. The report showed how initially the store seemed innocuous with techno music playing and fashion clothing sold. However, the store was managed by other members of a fundamentalist group residing in the region who had been promoting their controversial views.
Two Paris based clothing companies drew the attention of the French intelligence for their managerial links with Islamist movements. Without naming the brands, Le Figaro pointed out that they were well represented in several stores around France, in vogue among teenagers with an annual profit of more than a million euros.
Some 1,000 people, 500 prayer places and business have been investigated since 1 January 2005, while more than 350 legal actions were engaged, according to the report.