Breeding Ground

Terrorism is defined as an operational technique which involves violence or the threat of using violence, with the specific purpose of sending a message to a wider audience on part of an entity. The diabolical connection between discrimination, segregation and potential recruits for terrorist organizations such as ISIS however should not be ignored. The fact that platforms such as social media can have such an everlasting impact on the Muslim youth in Europe, who are often lured into the appeal of fighting for a wider cause; particularly, after bearing the brunt of discrimination in the society they have been brought up in, means that those at the helms of power need a reality check and a serious one at that. The question arises- What prompts young European nationals in peace loving countries such as Hungary or Ireland, to be persuaded towards adopting the agenda of ISIS, which essentially considers the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate and war against infidels as a divine duty, ordained by God?

The answer could possibly lie in the persistent discrimination which the Muslim youth has had to bear in Europe in modern times which ranges from denial of fair employment to impediments as far as practicing their faith is concerned. In many ways this proves to be the catalyst for the surge in ISIS recruits across the continent in recent times. Both France and Britain had witnessed periodic instances of social tension between political and social hardliners as well as the Muslim minority. Tommy Robinson’s English Defense League campaign which emerged out of the town of Luton is one such example; which many in the United Kingdom regard as a fascist street protest movement. The 2010 Hijab Ban by the Senate in France is another example of the Muslim minority witnessing increased alienation and isolation as such initiatives continue to infringe upon their fundamental right to express themselves the way they deem fit. Hence, it can be considered as a ‘no brainer’ as to why the radicalization of the youth continues unabated and Europe acts as a breeding ground for ISIS recruits.

The challenge boils down to addressing that discrimination and continuously striving towards integrating the wider Muslim community into the national fabric; especially in times when the ISIS rhetoric continues to find its voice on platforms such as Twitter or Skype and third generation teenagers who hail from immigrant family backgrounds continue to become infatuated with fighting for a wider cause under the garb of religion. Statistics certainly lend credence to the view that teenagers are the easiest of targets. In 2013 alone, the overwhelming majority of the 3,000 recruits from the EU, the US, Canada Australia and New Zealand to ISIS, were teenagers. Such teens; once exposed to ISIS’s vitriolic yet persuasive rhetoric, become an easy catch particularly in countries which witness bans on Hijabs, prompting the average teen to question as to what principles of human rights Europeans actually boast about.

The need of the hour is for states in the EU to educate and reach out to the Muslim community who often become scapegoats as the crackdown against ISIS continues. Reaching out would also mean abandoning stereotypes, promoting equal employment opportunities and helping those who feel marginalized and deprived as feeling equally European. This however, can only take place if the hatemongering diminishes and Islam is accepted as a religion of peace and part of the solution instead of the problem. Yet if such initiatives continue to go unheeded, potential recruits could mushroom which could compound the quagmire of dealing with ISIS, which for any sane human, is a damning reality to cope with.

Hamzah Rifaat is a certificate student in the Non Proliferation and Terrorism Studies Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and is currently a graduate assistant for The WIP. He has been a regular contributor to publications such as the Friday Times, South Asian Voices and the Pakistan Tea House.