Fighting radicalization to enhance e-strategy for a youth-comprehensive approach towards on-line terrorism

Trainings on preventing radicalization in Srinagar, J&K

19-11-20, Srinagar: Representatives of Save Youth Save Future (SYSF) organised the second event of series of full-day trainings as part of the project “Free 4 Youth: Fighting radicalization to enhance e-strategy for a youth-comprehensive approach towards on-line terrorism”. The event was attended by 75 youngsters from across the Kashmir Valley who actively participated and interacted with the trainers and the de-radicalization experts.

The session particularly focused on examining and explaining some of the push and pull factors that lead youth to consider joining a terrorist organisation. On the occasion, three guest speakers were invited to share their expertise and opinions with the audience.

The speakers explained how push factors are defined as the negative social incidents and circumstances that make it uncomfortable and unappealing to remain in a social group. The most important commonly cited push factors are: relative deprivation (discrimination, marginalization, exclusion, alienation), poverty, injustice, unemployment, state repression, mental health and personal problems etc. Pull factors, as further illustrated, referred to the positive factors attracting a person to a more rewarding alternative. Some of the cited pull factors involved ideology, group belonging, group mechanisms, financial rewards, charismatic leadership and promises of heroism, kinship and other incentives. As further described, both push and pull factors are interconnected; i.e. push factors like poverty and relative deprivation can cause resentment and increase the likelihood of pull factors like group belonging, material incentives to join extremist groups etc.

In the last part of the session, the young participants interacted with the deradicalization experts and posed queries relating to their day-to-day experiences. A vow of tolerance, non-violence and peace was taken by everyone and it was pledged never to indulge in arson and hooliganism.