Many reasons . 1 they are a free secular society often clashing with the most extreme and visible brand of Islam . 2 more than 10 % of the people in France are Muslim or of Muslim origin , mostly from former colonies . Some haven ' t managed to fit in and are alienated . Many are flocking to Islam to get a sense of belonging . More than 1000 have joined the IS in the Middle East . Some have already come back . 3 France has been at the forefront of the fight against Islamic terror . They helped Algeria in the early 1990 s to fight the GIA and FIS . French troops have been in Afghanistan for 14 years now . French troops are in Africa and fighting the IS . France is everything islamists hate . Atheists with an attitude .