Radicalization to Terrorism: What to Do? Disarm by Helping
Young people radicalized to violence usually come to public attention only through reports of their departure to fight in in Syria and Iraq or threatening videos that circulate for days on end in the Internet. The shock is enormous, and the biographies of these men and women are combed for clues to a possible cause. In response, these individuals often point their fingers at society. While such finger pointing can hardly be justified, we must admit that we, as a society, are not entirely free of responsibility for the failure of its individual members. The experience we at 180° Wende have gained in our work confirms this.
When schoolteachers react to pupils’ expression of extremist views, even in casual conversation, with an immediate threat of expulsion, a threat that in many cases is acted upon, - that is already a failure of society. While dealing with the phenomenon of violent radicalization on an institutional level can be challenging, expulsion from school is the worst option. It diminishes career prospects, fuels the radicalization process and can drive young sympathisers into the hands of violent extremist groups. A central finding of extremism research is that if young people get social recognition and appreciation through their occupation, family or friends, there is a very high probability that they will not be susceptible to extremist ideas and the notion that violence is justified.
We need to better understand radicalization processes and their causes. Understanding them cannot and must not mean euphemizing their ideology. But it will give us the ability to better tackle such phenomena. From years of experience in the field, we can say that this work requires sensitivity and tact. It must be carried out with sincerity and authenticity.
The following story of a young man whom our network picked up from the street clearly illustrates the extent to which we, as members of society, can play a part, both in helping and in hindering an individual. The young man is in his early twenties, the son of a single mother. For reasons of anonymity we will call him Mustafa. A 180° Wende coach happened to meet him in the subway and asked about his wellbeing. They only knew each other passingly, but since the coach felt responsible for young people in his district and was actively engaged in street working, he inquired about the youth’s situation. Mustafa was frustrated, completely devastated. Throughout the conversation he kept repeating the narrative of the "clash of civilizations": “they just don’t want us to get any job at all! They just don’t want us to make it”.
We invited him to our centre. When he wrote down his resume, the gaps became obvious. The young man had a two-year odyssey behind him: after having applied for numerous jobs and completing three internships, to which he was always “lured” with promises of employment, he finally tried his luck in the navy. Away from family and friends, he became a victim of constant bullying by his colleagues. He repeatedly found his prayer mat, which his mother had given him and which had more symbolic than religious meaning for him, in the garbage bin. He constantly had to listen to insults, was called a “camel driver” and a “terrorist”. After much pondering he decided to go back home. Unfortunately, he was unaware at the time of the possibility of disciplinary complaints or of anti-bullying centres in public institutions and had no previous experience in pro-actively dealing with the experience of discrimination.
On his way home he was hit even harder. In a train station, he was controlled by police officers. They found that the jack-knife he was carrying in his pocket was not closed properly. This earned him a large fine. He arrived home at last – to a sad and dejected mother. The frustration which he carried within himself and the free time he now had led him to frequent sympathizers of violent extremism. The first step on the way to violent radicalization was taken.
When 180° Wende met Mustafa in the subway, it was not too late to help him to find a hold in society. All the stops were pulled. He was invited to participate in counselling groups and got to know other young people with similar problems. This helped him to realize that he was not alone. Older coaches assisted him during the counselling. The work experience he had gathered over the years was extracted from his mess of papers and repackaged into a presentable and detailed CV, which he could use for job applications. At his request, 180° Wende managed to overcome bureaucratic hurdles and use its institutional contacts to provide him with the opportunity to earn his high school diploma and, at the same time, complete a technical training course. His thoughts and prejudices were discussed with him.
Today, Mustafa’s view of the world is no longer bleak. He has newfound courage and takes time, while pursuing his education, to help other young people in the network. For this young man, the 180 degree turn for the positive has succeeded. He started into the new school year in August fully motivated. 180° Wende will continue to offer him a place where he can come with his worries and concerns.
This time we, as a society, were lucky again. But there are many stories like Mustafa’s. In the past three years, we have been able to help more than 900 young people, advise families and provide support to schools. There is a lot more to be done, however. 180° Wende, too, must continue to grow and contribute to a comprehensive change in society towards active awareness and assistance.
The society in which we live is of our making. We cannot afford to remain passive. The values for which we stand must be actively defended. We cannot leave young people alone. That is why we are all needed more urgently than ever.
Mimoun Berrissoun is the leader of the initiative 180° Wende.
180° Wende has won several prizes for its innovative approach, most recently in June 2015, when it was the national prize winner in the “startsocial” competition under the auspice of Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. It is a member of the European Commission’s RAN (Radicalization Awareness Network). For more information see: www.180gradwende.de