Roman Friedrich is involved in NRW against Islamist extremism, with a special focus on ultra-conservative Salafist circles. The number of radicalized Muslims is rising steadily, says the sociologist.
Roman Friedrich from the Violence Prevention Network, supported by the Federal centre for political education, tried, daily, to keep young Muslims in Germany, the radicalisation and radicalised young people and young adults reintegrate into society. The Chechen is involved, particularly in the Chechen and North African communities in North Rhine-Westphalia and is trying to let young people not in the clutches of the extremists. He followed the Salafist scene online and searches for the contact and build bridges with young Muslims who are receptive to their messages. We met Friedrich in Cologne.
Deutsche Welle: you say there is Westphalia a large number of Salafists in North Rhine-Westphalia. There is basic information that you can give us? Or a certain trend?
Roman Friedrich: Yes. We have an ascending trend, both in terms of numbers, the Followers, and the number of violent Salafists. Of the 300 violent Salafists in the year 2015, the number is increased until 2016 at the 500 alone in North Rhine-Westphalia. That is, it has almost doubled. These are disturbing trends, and the need for action on each case. What is the General Salafists number of concerns – as we are currently at about 2500. This is also politically motivated Salafists, who are not necessarily prone to violence. Please note, however, that these Figures by 2015.
Most of the Muslims seem to be in a mosque radicalized, but online. Why is this so?
Because of the language. The German language, the use of the recruiter of the Salafist scene, is the key. In mosques, the imams speak either Arabic or Turkish. You don’t necessarily speak the language of young people. This is important: The first contact Online. After that, the Offline contact, where the people meet. Those who addressed the feel of the Salafist and the jihadist ideology, meet with preachers who, in turn, have their networks.
What is the strategy of the recruiter to reach out to young people?
The strategy is to reach the heart of young people and young adults. Sending emotional messages in the Form of short videos, music videos, or Hashtags and texts. You also write in the comment columns to be very active, where you are twisting to reach with facts or with Facts emotionally to the target audience. The goal: When the heart of youth or young adults who consumed undifferentiated media is reached, then the path to the mind is not very far. So they are ideological, and indoctrinated.
What the young people receptive to these strategies and ideologies?
A variety of reasons: lack of prospects, unemployment, justice issues, drug problems, family conflicts, conflicts on the street, in school, in vocational school, multiple-identity problems, that is, the young people know what culture you actually, what you want them to live out now. The young people not to mention also the fall in value of the company, often as a Problem – even if they themselves often correspond to the highest criteria. The are actually layers of multi-problem. So you must be able to understand technically and professionally, so that you can make a Dialog.
Where do you find these young people, and how they help specifically?
There are informal meeting places, on the street, or in the medial area, such as on Facebook. As you can see, young people are conspicuous by their comments, the readiness to use violence, or affinity.
Who will be accepted by these young people as a conversation partner? Who do you take seriously?
Authentic personalities are strengthened in their Faith and a sense of authenticity to the outside world. But I would warn you to engage in Islamic or in General religious organizations for prevention projects. Each religious organization has its own coloring. Which is then rejected by other groups. Therefore, I tend to engage neutral, secular organizations, the Islam can draw the experts so that you can stay in the dialogue and professionally and support.
How can the German authorities better support?
I would hope that the German authorities work much more closely together with providers of youth work. The coordination is better designed. In the area of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention would be to very look closely, how the interfaces can be designed. I would like to see.
But there are also other factors. I would generally put the focus on extremism and not on a purely Islamist extremism, as do the media. We also need to look in the right corner. There’s a much greater Potential for violence and propensity to violence is noted. But of course it didn’t come there to similar terrorist attacks, as we know it from the Salafist scene.
The interview was conducted by Nina Haase, and Sumi Somaskanda.