Deverethemuzzler This is not just about religion. This is about lack of opportunities, direction and those who can make a difference not stepping up and doing so
The socio-economic profile of your average Jihadi is that of educated middle -upper Class as seen by the preponderance of University educated militants in the ranks and file of IS and Al-Qaeda. Indeed Ayman Al-Zawahiri, leader of AQ being a surgeon himself may be the inspiration for the recent spate of British doctors and med students joining IS's ranks. Bin Laden was hardly short of a bob or two.
The 7/7 and 9/11 bombers didn't come from deprived backgrounds at all. Rather the contrary. They all had professional jobs, own homes and the usual trappings of success. University campuses are one of the biggest areas where the extremists recruit new followers, with fundamentalists Islamic societies and groups being formed by the students themselves.
I also take issue with this 'lack of opportunity' argument. Most British muslims in this country come from the Pakistani & Bangladeshi sub-continent. In appearance they look no different to their Indian-origin Hindu compatriots who came to this country at the same time. Why have the latter group excelled and the former not ?
Certainly before 9/11 there was no difference in most indigenous British peoples minds between Hindu's, Sikhs and Muslims. We were all 'Asian' and yet even back then the difference in educational achievements and professional progression between the two religious groups of immigrants was apparent.
Growing up as a 2nd generation Pakistani-Brit, in the pre 9/11 era, I had exactly the same opportunities available to me as anybody else and never faced obvious discrimination from the outside. However, there is a lack of opportunity for some, but it is imposed internally from within the family rather than from external racism. The religious restrictions of Islam and cultural ones from the 'homeland' are the barriers to success. Not prejudice and racism from white people.
Obviously in the current climate, undoubtedly there is now some overt or covert 'racism' towards muslims. But back in the late 80's and early 90's when radicalisation first started and before any muslim terrorism against western targets, there wasn't any Islamophobia. So those early radicals like Anjem Choudhary (who was a beer swilling typical uni student) of Al-Mahijaroun or the founders of Hizbt Tahrir had no excuses such as deprivation or discrimination for their radicalisation.