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In search of credible voices

Most radicals imprisoned here were born in Spain and had little religious affinity before being indoctrinated; prevention is a job for the community

Jihadism is a global phenomenon and the effects of its terror are being felt in Western countries. Experts from different fields shared their knowledge and offered proposals to deal with them at the VII Symposium of Religious based Terrorism, organised by the Centre for Legal Studies (CEJFE) and the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) in Barcelona recently.

“Salafism, which aims to impose radical but not violent philosophy, was born in Europe. Young people do not find the answers they want in the mosques, but with Salafis, who can talk about sex or marriage,” explains Miguel Ángel Cano, professor of Criminal Law and Criminology of the University of Granada. But for him, “Salafism is the gateway of jihadism” and admits that “it’s still a criminological theory.” He argues that jihadism fits the criminal subculture based on juvenile crime defined in most societies. It matches four variables: violence is gratuitous, non-profit and destructive; rejection of rules of the official culture; hedonistic rewards, and autonomy of the group.

As few of the radicals that become activist are involved in religious activities, they are more difficult to identify within religious circles but rather weeded out from the Salafist group to be indoctrinated by unknown agents. The Internet also plays a major role in attracting possible recruits by offering rewards that are impossible for them to obtain elsewhere.

To counter this, society must seek out credible voices who can explain the true nature of jihadism, even including activists who have returned from the battlefield. Prevention must involve the whole community.

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