Reporting and intelligence. The way of prevention in schools, oratories and prisons

Unfortunately, radicalism is “an existing phenomenon in Italy”. “Some of the youths who have joined the jihad came from Italy”, and “they are more than those mentioned in the press”. However, this phenomenon is very hard to control at investigative level. And it must be denounced, given the indefinite boundaries between what is lawful and what’s unlawful, between “radicalism” and “traditionalism”. Prevention is the only way forward; starting with schools, oratories and prisons. But experts are needed to support the work of educators, and education requires investments. But funding is nowhere to be seen. Paolo Branca, Professor of Arab language and literature, Islamic culture, at the “Cattolica” University in Milan is in full flood. He was asked to personally follow a number of cases of radicalism, also upon request of communities for the protection of unaccompanied minors. Unfortunately, his advice was sought when it was too late or when youths had already left to join the jihad.

The identikit of jihadists is known. In many cases they are converts who spend a lot of time on the web. “They pursue ideological and ‘humanitarian’ ideals”. They decide to enlist in Syria to save the Country from destruction. Unfortunately, ISIS has an apocalyptic vision that Al Qaida was lacking and its perception of reality is presented as a “battle between light and darkness”. Maladjusted young people are those who most often fall into their “trap”. Branca shared his experience: “I know of at least one case of a young man who used to be a drug-addict and completely dysfunctional. He gradually developed a radical approach to religion. He stopped making use of narcotics and became a person with greater self-control.

“Before leaving he wrote to the priest who had hosted him for years in a community for the protection of minors: ‘I’ll see you again in paradise.’”

Recruiting doesn’t take place only online. There are also people who attend mosques, places of worship and prayer, Islamic camps held throughout Italy during Ramadan. “But I don’t think – the Professor added – that official sermons are the cause of radicalism. Probably in those places the most fragile ones are identified by recruiters who eventually contact them personally”. It’s very hard to identify the “recruiters”. They are people of Arab origin who arrived from countries plagued by wars and who nurture strong feelings of resentment. They decide to do this job also because they are paid. They are mercenaries, drug-addicts, they are also given a wife: women who decide to leave, motivated by self-immolation to the cause of the jihad, local women, or even Christian and Yazidi women turned into slaves, sold as concubines.

“It’s an old story: money and sex have always been strong drives”.

The signs. The professor listed at least two. When persons who had been used to living in promiscuous environments and who found it natural to shake hands with their female teachers or educators suddenly shun all contacts with girls because they could have their period and thus would be impure, it’s a sign that they have fallen victim of a radicalization process. Also their attitude towards dogs, considered impure, could be a sign. “It happened to me”, Branca said. “I used to have friends who would come to my house, speak with my wife and play with my female dogs. Then they suddenly started to ring my home bell and asked me to meet them downstairs. That’s when I realized they had started mixing with extremely ‘traditionalist’ groups”.

They have “grown clever” in terms of beard and clothing: they know they risk being immediately identified.

There is no kind of training when it comes to identifying an ongoing phenomenon of radicalism. Educators and social workers in schools, oratories – 25% of young people attending the oratories of Milan’s diocese are Muslim – and even in prisons wander in total darkness, until they are faced with the blunt reality when it’s too late. Also denouncing is a complex process. “It’s very unlikely that a person would denounce an acquaintance after noticing he/she is going through a personal transformation. In fact, not necessarily those who suddenly stop greeting women have become foreign fighters. It might even be the result of a personal, extremist process of traditionalism”. The question is, how is it possible that Muslim community leaders don’t realize what’s going on while the “recruiters” have free rein? “I tend to compare this phenomenon to what happened in the 1970s with the Red Brigades – pointed out Professor Branca – . They were described as ‘comrades who made mistakes’ but deep down there was a shared understanding of the situation”. The same happens in Muslim environments today with the onset of radicalism. “Until he starts murdering, a brother who makes a mistake is not to be denounced. After all, although he exaggerates, ‘he is doing it for a just cause’”. In these environments it’s not unusual that those leaving for Syria are described as “heroes who defend a martyred population”. “It’s a worrying situation”, Branca concluded.