How To Tell If Someone Is Becoming Radicalized By Islamic Extremism? French Advice Attracts Mocking

A French government infographic designed to warn people about others who take the route of jihadist radicalization has drawn online attention...and sarcasm.

Following the attacks at the offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and a kosher shop, the government has launched an online information campaign through a new website to warn the public, particularly young people who could be swayed by the jihadist ideology.

The website was liked 17,000 times on Facebook while its official Twitter hashtag (#StopDJihadisme) was used 12,000 times. A video seeking to oppose jihadist recruiters gathered more than half a million hits.

The government's infographic, titled "Jihadist radicalisation: the first signs that could alert you," shows signs of radicalization that people should watch out for in others.

The signs include withdrawing from friends and family, quitting sporting activity, terminating old friendships, and changing the way they dress, BBC wrote.

One of the most retweeted comments read: "In fact, the campaign to #StopDjihadism isn't about identifying potential jihadists, it's about describing unemployed people."

One of "most cutting" posts were about the change in eating habits, signified by a baguette with a cross over it, implying those who suddenly change diets are likely to become extremists.

"The government invites you to be wary of those who do not eat baguettes," said one user.

Sarcasm is normal when it comes to government campaigns, said Jonathan Russell, political liaison officer at the London-based counter-extremism Quilliam Foundation.

"The general response is that people don't like to be told how to think," he said. "This doesn't mean that those doing the mocking are supportive of extremism. It's more that because it is a centrally run campaign it lacks an element of credibility."

But he also said he thinks the campaign was "a good and useful response to violent extremism in France."

"It does look a bit ridiculous having a big cross through a baguette, but if you take the infographic holistically what it is saying is that radicalization is a complex process and it's all-pervasive: It affects lots of elements of life and all corners of society. What this campaign says is that every French citizen has a role to report things and stop it."

Meanwhile, another tag, #Ahmed8ans ("Ahmed aged 8"), was gaining popularity online. It refers to the "arrest" of a boy, 8, a Muslim, who was summoned before the police in Nice. According to the boy's lawyer, the latter was asked by his teacher if he "was Charlie." He said he was against the Charlie Hebdo cartoons and told his teachers that he was with the terrorists.