EU moves to combat calls for jihad
- 10 years ago
There are thousands of videos on the internet calling on people to take part in jihad or a holy war.
Now, European leaders are spearheading an international effort to find out what makes them so attractive and how to diminish their appeal.
Gilles de Kerckove, the man who coordinates Europe’s counter-terrorism unit believes young people who look to join jihads do not really understand what lies in store for them.
“We have young people looking for exciting adventures. It is a little sad to say but they must have exhausted the joys of virtual games on the internet and think they’ll find the same excitement by making war.”
Delegates at the Brussels conference also explored how to improve communication by sending counter-messages.
The target, ministers say, will be to engage with families and communities to find peaceful solutions.
Bernanrd Cazeneuve, France’s Interior Minister said:
“Our goal is to use all possible legal means to identify and monitor all aspects of jihad activities.
Sentiments shared by Belgium’s Interior Minister Joelle Milquet: “I am delighted to see that our services cooperate more and more: we exchange good practices. And on the basis of the information that is exchanged we are creating national programmes that are more ambitious and effective.”
In recognition that the problem does not just affect European member states, Jordan, Turkey and Morocco were among several countries asked to participate.
Euronews correspondent Charles Salame said: “By preventing jihadists going to countries like Syria, Europe will also deal with the problem of people returning with experience of terrorism. But the weak link in this conference has been the exchange of credible information between participating countries about jihadists.”
Now, European leaders are spearheading an international effort to find out what makes them so attractive and how to diminish their appeal.
Gilles de Kerckove, the man who coordinates Europe’s counter-terrorism unit believes young people who look to join jihads do not really understand what lies in store for them.
“We have young people looking for exciting adventures. It is a little sad to say but they must have exhausted the joys of virtual games on the internet and think they’ll find the same excitement by making war.”
Delegates at the Brussels conference also explored how to improve communication by sending counter-messages.
The target, ministers say, will be to engage with families and communities to find peaceful solutions.
Bernanrd Cazeneuve, France’s Interior Minister said:
“Our goal is to use all possible legal means to identify and monitor all aspects of jihad activities.
Sentiments shared by Belgium’s Interior Minister Joelle Milquet: “I am delighted to see that our services cooperate more and more: we exchange good practices. And on the basis of the information that is exchanged we are creating national programmes that are more ambitious and effective.”
In recognition that the problem does not just affect European member states, Jordan, Turkey and Morocco were among several countries asked to participate.
Euronews correspondent Charles Salame said: “By preventing jihadists going to countries like Syria, Europe will also deal with the problem of people returning with experience of terrorism. But the weak link in this conference has been the exchange of credible information between participating countries about jihadists.”