Radicalisation: Not Only A Somali Issue

Often during economic downturns in all human societies, those existing today and those of the past, ethnic minorities are the first targets of the majority populous and their frustrations. Foreigners regardless of how assimilated or integrated they maybe be, often bear the brunt of misguided hate.

In 2012 I was asked to take part in a BBC debate on the radicalisation of the Somali youth, once again we being demonised, chastised and eventually ended up being victims of circumstance leading to a high number of hate crimes. What was even more disturbing was the other Somalis who were engaged in the debate along side myself. It seemed that they felt indifferent to the community; therefore they had no reservations in condemning an entire community for the actions of a very minute ill-advised segment of the British Somali youth.

I asked one gentleman whether the average white British citizen would be able to differentiate between him and the community he was denouncing on live television. His answer was somewhat muted, he mumbled something I didn't quite hear but he finished strongly with I am not an extremist. I didn't bother continuing the discussion because like many of us we fail to see the key facts in such issues.   

Recently the backlash has started again, I was equally disturbed like most of my community on learning that many young male and female British youth were traveling to join the enigmatic ISIS or IS, whatever these savages call themselves is irrelevant. Nevertheless, what was even more mystifying was how they could attract such numbers of youth from well-developed countries.

Lets be frank, without a doubt impoverished communities are more susceptible to ideologies regardless of their nature, so long as those who are offering it could help alleviate the lack of basic necessities, a key strategy of Al-shabaab’s success was money in exchange for your life. This might have been accurate before but the dynamics of our current quagmire suggests otherwise.

While our governments are busy jumping at the bit for war and our MPs are hectically trying to find new ways of hiding their expenses from the taxpayers. These criminal organisations are engaging the disenfranchised youth through well-constructed programs. They have found a use for one of democracies most treasured asset “the internet”. Just a quick Google search will reveal a world of dangerous narratives aimed at the most vulnerable segments of our societies.

These precariously crafted messages have attracted youths of all backgrounds, religions, class and any other social taxonomy we can muster. The results are plain and clear for all those of sound reasoning to observe. The underlying issue is one that without a doubt shows the lack of a coherent strategy in addressing the problem at hand.

Its not hard to understand why the young would be drawn to such perils, we could even say they are naïve due to their adolescence, nevertheless, these fledglings do not only come from my community. I am an African male, whether I am young or old may now be debatable.

There was a time I came across a misguided group of peers and to them I seemed like the perfect candidate for indoctrination. What saved me was a mixture of my religious upbringing by my family and the opportunities available for my own personal development within the British society.

Considering this era of austerity, it is hard to envisage going through adolescence in the UK without finding myself disenfranchised and down on my luck. After all doesn’t the old English saying state “A drowning man would clutch at a straw”.  Pounder that for a few seconds, then reflect on your own neighbourhoods baring in mind how many young you cross paths with everyday. 

What I learnt from that failed propaganda is that radicalisation starts at the point of social weakness, which then leads the young person into a well-developed personal experience. The effect that it had was most likely unique to me and the same process would have had a completely different effect on someone else. Therefore, any single countering approach would equally wield the same result, meaning it would work on some and fail on others.  

Governmental counter-strategies have made very little leeway, maybe because all had one thing in common an undertone of Islamic dislike, it also lacked any hindsight; a single solution policy will never appreciate the complexities of radicalisation. Subsequent British governments have failed to address the need for multi dimensional policies. I guess the discussions of radicalisation without real intent does play an important role in wining votes during political tussles.   

Nothing less than a genuine grassroots approach that understands and analyses the issues that lead these young into the hands of on the dole preachers, who act as a gateway to more radical elements, is the first step in stemming the flow of destruction facing the British youth. Furthermore a wider range of the Muslim community must be engaged in creating a tailored strategy that would counter this ever-growing threat.

Finally the media, these institutions are the first source of information, sadly they place profit before their obligations to the nation’s peace and stability. Without a doubt sensualising derogative headlines aimed at marginalising British communities is not only counterproductive, but also part and parcel of the radicalisation process.

When a young Caucasian “ Jihadi John” joins groups such as ISIS and Al-Shaabab the news agencies do not question the entire white race. In fact the blame is attributed to the organisations that drew them. When the same case occurs in non-white communities, these ethnic minorities are problematic read the headlines.

The double standards of the media must stop and such agencies must be challenged for breach of the freedoms that have intertwined the global municipal, the age of free flowing information has enabled this sort of defamation to destroy the image of peace loving people such as myself and my people. 

The onerous is not on the people of Somali origin but for all of the British public, we must soul search and ask the hardest of questions on why we find ourselves in this violent world. The so-called Somali community leaders need to stop playing into the media trap and show some backbone. Yes our community has an issue of radicalisation and we will not hide away from our responsibilities, however, we have so many of our young perusing a better life not only for themselves, their families but also the societies that have adopted them.

I urge all of my kinfolk, if you have nothing good to say or maybe you lack in the skills to articulate your point. There is no shame in educating yourself, but please do not use the plight of our people as your 15 minutes of fame. Stop condemning your own people for the sake of a little airtime.  

I am a Muslim first and foremost, I understand my religion and I adhere to its teachings of peace, nevertheless, naturally I am not a passive human being by any means. I find it repulsive that my faith is being used as a scapegoat by every Tom, Dick and Harry on one side and Abu this and Abu that on the other side. I will not allow my religion or my community to be tarnished by equally extremist groups who oppose peace and communal civility.

Hamza Egal © copyright 2014 all rights reserved.