Amsterdam and Radicalization

1. Amsterdam and Radicalization Colin Mellis Policy Advisor Department of Public Order, Safety and Security (informatiehuishouding radicalisering: ‘information house’)

2. content • introducing a policy gap • analysis • policy • examples • questions and dilemmas

3. introduction • murder of van Gogh • gathering ‘municipal’ information = ‘signaling’ • a municipal role in counter-radicalization?

4. defining radical Islamism • Islamist radicalization: Growth toward ‘jihadism’ • Radicalization in this sense is the internalization of ‘jihadi’ ideology

5. analysis resilience cognitive opening DEMAND SUPPLY ‘BREEDING GROUND’ (frustration: discrimination, humiliation, alienation, injustice) = radicalization; when supply meets demand, the process begins

6. DEMAND • Seeking Islamic Identity • Generation Gap (other questions) • Weak religious infrastructure

7. SUPPLY • Extremist ideology • Jihadiyya (aka: salafiyya-jihadiyya, Qutbiyeen, Takfiriyeen, Tawheed-wal-Jihaad, Takfir wal Hijra, poldermujahideen, etc) • Actively spread through internet, audio cd’s, video’s, preaching • Seeking the seeking youth

8. SUPPLY • The Basics • Tawheed al Haakimiyya • Taghoet • Takfir • Wala’ wal bara’ • Jihad: fard ’ayn (‘amir not necessary) • Specifically for the West • Broken ‘Treaty’ • Government ally in war on islam • Public responsible for electing government • Public is legitimate target

9. BREEDING GROUND • Discrimination • Polarisation • Negative imagery (media) / slander • Closeness of international conflicts (satellite, internet) • Humiliation (of 1st generation) • Not represented (politically) • Marginal material future (socio-economic indicators) • National and international injustice vis-à-vis Muslims • Hypocracy / Double Standards

10. resilience cognitive opening SUPPLY crisis crisis • cognitive opening is prompted by crisis • crisis shakes previously held beliefs: open to new alternatives • crisis can be economic, social, political or even personal • In short: the crisis breaks through the natural wall of resilience and leaves a cognitive opening where the radical supply can penetrate

11. resilience cognitive opening DEMAND SUPPLY ‘BREEDING GROUND’ (frustration: discrimination, humiliation, alienation, injustice) = radicalization; when supply meets demand, the process begins

12. supply and demand • Increasing demand among Muslim youth for answers about islam • Active Supply of jihadi ideology • Specifically: How do we ensure that the supply of jihadism does not meet the demand of the seeking youth? • Diminish the demand? • Counter the supply? • Alternative supply? • Take on the breeding ground? • Invest in resilience of the youth and the communities

13. municipal policy • general prevention: tackling the breeding ground • Long term effects / macro level • specific prevention: building resilience and stimulating alternative supply • Medium term effects / meso level • de-radicalization: identifying and intervening in actual cases • Short term effects / micro level

14. general prevention: social cohesion • Goal: diminishing the breeding ground by building social cohesion and countering polarization • Examples: • Supporting various cultural initiatives intent on bridging cultural-religious gaps • Emphasizing the inclusivity of Amsterdam identity • Strengthening the fight against discrimination • (Continuing policies of socio-economic improvement for underprivileged youth)

15. specific prevention: resilience • Goal: strengthening resilience against radical supply • Examples: • Stimulating and assisting in empowerment activities • Training young, critical and active Muslims to be role models for their peers • Stimulating and assisting in (virtual) platforms for information and discussion on Islam (and its diversity)

16. de-radicalization: ‘information house’ • Goal: countering radicalization and informing policy • Functions: • Building expertise • Strengthening the information-position by building (in)formal networks and by gathering ‘signals’ • Advising and assisting the ‘reporters of signals’ • Advising interventions and policy initiatives

17. analysis and advice • analysis of the ‘signal’ based on developed expertise • bring the signal to the ‘case management team’ (CMT) • check with the police • involve external experts (depending on case) • support and assist the ‘reporter’ • develop case-specific interventions

18. the case process case update information key figure ‘reporter of signal’ information house CMT execute intervention with mayor’s approval intervention advice ‘reporter of signal’ information information & analysis case update information

19. interventions • No general standard for interventions • Basic concept of two-pronged approach: • Material/societal binding or guidance • Religious/Ideological guidance

20. case examples • 1: avoiding women • 2: external influences • 3: ex-hofstad

21. questions and dilemmas • Organizational: • what is the role vis-à-vis the national government? • what is the role vis-à-vis the police / security services? • Legal/political: • separation mosque and state: how far do you go? • Impinging on privacy: when is do you breach it?

22. questions and dilemmas • Finding Partners: • social work, youth workers, teachers • informal networking: muslim communities • orthodoxy vs. radicalism? • ‘Purist’ establishment Salafism: orthodox or radical? • Sahwa salafism: intolerant, active, militant, polarizing? • Hizb-ut-Tahrir: non-violent, non-dangerous? • Jama’at Tabligh: simply orthodox, or dangerously isolationist? • Conservative sunni groups: anti-gay, anti-ahmadiyya, gender issues, anti-semitism….?