Samar Fatany Saudi authorities recently announced the arrest of members of terrorist cells receiving directions from Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS) abroad. More and more foreign nationals from around the world continue to join the terrorist organization that now controls vast territories in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. Belgian police recently arrested 16 people in twin terrorism-related investigations involving Chechen extremists who belong to two separate groups allegedly active in Syria. Seven women were sentenced in absentia for supporting Daesh terrorist activities in Iraq and Syria and for radicalizing young women and persuading them to go to Syria to join Daesh and marry fighters of the militant organization. Of the seven women, five were from Belgium, one from Holland and one from Morocco. The women are believed to be in Syria with female battalions of Daesh. British and Australian teenage girls have also crossed into Syria to join Daesh battalions and become “jihadi brides”. According to the latest terrorist research available, “Daesh has obtained millions of dollars in new weaponry and is gaining more followers every day. The terrorist organization has been particularly successful in recruiting its members through social media. It relies on Twitter and Facebook to reach out to potential recruits around the world.” Meanwhile, Gulf ministers of information met in Doha this week to address the rise of terrorist attacks and the growing threat of the fascist ideology propagated by terrorist groups in the Arab world. Unfortunately, all initiatives to build a global society that is more conducive to dialogue, tolerance and moderation have failed to counter the terrorist campaign. In the Muslim world, terrorists attract the young with distorted Islamic views taking advantage of their ignorance and frustrations. In the West and elsewhere, they are able to entice youth with warped ideas, money and romantic and macho adventure. Social media today has exposed young people to the good and the bad in the global community. The Facebook generation share their ideas and frustrations with people who could have a positive or negative influence on their way of thinking. An open and transparent cyber dialogue with young people should provide a glimpse into their mindset and allow governments to address their frustrations and eliminate the obstacles that stand in the way of their aspirations. Governments, academic institutions, parents and civil society should pay more attention to the needs of our youth. They have all neglected to protect the young from devious cyber terrorist propaganda. Political scientists and military and security experts urge a complete rethinking of existing counterterrorism policies and assert that the challenge today is to develop new defenses against the amorphous and threatening terrorist phenomenon. More should be done to encourage the younger generation to participate in the global fight against terror with innovative ideas to put an end to terrorist activities that are causing destruction and ruin. The engagement of educated and responsible young people in global counterterrorism projects can certainly have a more credible and positive impact. Therefore, there is a need to conduct more serious awareness campaigns to educate the youth and provide them with the knowledge to counter the evil terror campaign. We need to encourage the global participation of the young and establish an effective interactive global dialogue that can counter the rhetoric of hatred, religious intolerance, racism and Islamophobia. A more serious global discussion among the youth of different cultures can create better understanding about matters of mutual concerns and controversial issues including the concept of jihad, Islamic jurisprudence, racism, extremism and the consequences of Islamophobia. Workshops to promote intercultural dialogue can be very constructive. Youth empowerment organizations must join efforts to celebrate diversity and global coexistence. There is not enough support for joint projects, film, photography, music and multilingual efforts to build universal relations at different universities around the world. Young people should be encouraged to work together in global joint centers of excellence that focus on research to improve the socio-economic level of their communities. Youth cooperation in cultural, political and business relations, and volunteer work in major events can have a greater impact if they are supported by governments and international organizations. An open youth dialogue and the exchange of ideas can also boost economic cooperation. Initiating sustainable business development centers around the world and promoting small- and medium-size enterprises as well as expanding more diverse partnerships could be great incentives for young people to create their own jobs and reduce the unemployment problem that is a source of frustration for many young people around the world. Therefore, it is time that we establish a “united youth front” that can have a greater impact on the global arena and influence a new world order of peaceful coexistence. Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
