Dress code and visible appearance which has often been perceived to be a visible indicator of religiousness in a person (even extreme thoughts) is not a reliable indication of radicalisation, said John Walsh, US attorney, District of Colorado.

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Certain western countries have lately been at crossroads with the Muslim community in regards to their appearance. However, study on radicalisation has given a conclusion that it is not an accurate indicator of it. "According to our study from the examples of radicalisation, change of dress is not an accurate indicator of radicalisation," said Walsh

Jenny Presswalla, regional director for department of homeland security, added: "It is not a reliable indicator (for radicalisation)."

Walsh, along with Presswalla, were talking to media representatives of 14 countries who had gathered at their office in Colorado as part of a reporting tour on 'Youth and Countering Violent Extremism' organised by Foreign Press Center, US Department of State.

Stating that each case is different, Walsh said that federal government cannot be a solution to the issue. The authorities are meeting community members a number of times. "I meet them two to three times a week... developing mechanic of counselors, religious leaders to intervene is the way," he said. Officials are encouraging youth in universities to have peer-to-peer contest so that younger generation stays away from radicalisation.

"We conduct international competition on how to counter messages by ISIS over the internet. The idea that wins would be used to counter ISIS propaganda," said Walsh.

Talking about the issue of three girls, who had left to join ISI and were later arrested and let off, the attorney said that it was important that their response was proportional to what the person had done. In case of another person who was a late convert, Walsh said that efforts to get the person out of it had failed and which is why she was sentenced to jail.