Stating that radicalisation is not about loners who are into it, US research fellow at George Washington University, Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, Mokhtar Awad said that it was result of human and cluster interaction. He added that social media was only the amplifier and not the originator of radicalisation among youths which was said to be the driving force behind individuals (loners) reading up material online after turning violent extremist.
"Radicalisation is through human and cluster interaction. It is not about loners who are into it," said Awad adding, "Social media is only an amplifier and not the originator of radical thoughts." He was talking to media representatives of 14 countries who have gathered at the Foreign Press Center in Washington DC as part of a reporting tour on 'Youth and Countering Violent Extremism' organised by Foreign Press Center, US Department of State. The talk was in the backdrop of Muslim youths getting attracted to IS and other terrorist organisations and other violent extremism that is being countered like the white supremacist, racist and nationalist among others.
Awad also debunked allegations by Muslim community leaders that it is America's Israel policy that is the reason for all the anger against the Us in the Muslim world and terror problem. "That thing has been debunked long back. Israel policy is no longer the animosity issue," said Awad.
Reflecting upon the policies of his country towards countering violent extremism (CVE), Awad said that the Unites States does not have one overarching policy for CVE. Elaborating on various measures, Awad said that one of them was intervention, counselling, rehabilitation and preventing people from crossing the line. Calling CVE a "problem" and not a "crisis" in US, Awad indicated that integration, prosperity and education among Muslims were the reasons for it.
"There are number of reasons. US Muslims are integrated and affluent. They have high degrees and no criminal background," he said elaborating 85 individuals who have been charged in the US with IS related offences since March 2014.
Of the 85, 34 have pleaded or were found guilty and most were averaging in the age group of 26 years of age. Fifty four per cent were charged in an operation involving an informant or an undercover agent. "There is no standard for why someone becomes radical. In a number of cases, there have been recent converts to Islam who are linked to IS," he added.
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