Islamic State fighters parade on military vehicles along the streets of a northern Raqqa province in Syria
It is believed that two or three Muslims leave France to join militants abroad every day. Reuters

The French government is considering issuing a six-month travel ban to stop people travelling to Syria and Iraq and joining Islamist insurgents such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis).

According to a draft bill presented by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve to the cabinet on Wednesday, French citizens suspected of having links with militants abroad will have their passports confiscated and not be allowed to leave the country.

As around two or three young Muslims leave France every day to join militants abroad, the ban is necessary "to confront the rapid increase in the departures of young French for areas where training in armed combat is coupled with ideological indoctrination," the government said in a statement.

Cazeneuve told France Info radio that the ban would not be applied indiscriminately.

"There must be a body of evidence that shows that a person is decided and determined to go to areas of jihadist operations."

France's draft ban comes as a leaked document revealed that some French landmarks such as the Eiffel tower and the Louvre are considered as possible targets by terrorists.

The leaked report comprised a series of transcripts of internet conversations between a suspected French jihadist known only as 'Ali M' and an al-Qaida member.

Speaking to French newspaper Le Parisien, Cazeneuve said that some 600 French people have travelled, or are planning to travel, to the Middle East.

Meanwhile, at least 100 French people are planning to go back to France from Syria.

In June, French President Francois Hollande said the government will fight against jihadists trying to return to France from abroad.

His statement came after the arrest of French national Mehdi Nemmouche, suspected of killing four people near the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May, after fighting for Isis in Syria.

On Monday, France and another eight EU countries agreed to adopt an action plan to identify people travelling to Syria and stop them from joining terrorist organisations.

Isis Sunni insurgents have seized large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014, killing hundreds of people and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee.

The militants aim at establishing caliphates in Iraq and Syria and overthrowing the current governments.

Related