Muslims are not radicalized by poverty, racism or lack of integration. Muslims are radicalized by Islam. The fact is that Islam is the only religion where its followers become more violent the more they follow their religion.
Translated by Thomas for 10News:
The better integrated, the higher the risk of radicalization.
Author: Dr. Marion van San, Senior Researcher at RISBO, an independent research institute active in the field of learning and society that is affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Since 2009 she has conducted ethnographic studies of families of radicalizing youths.
Since we know that many young people left Belgium, but also from other European countries, to join the armed conflict in Syria, a fierce debate has erupted. However, the debate as conducted in Belgium is permeated by a series of stereotypes that are not consistent with what is known from international literature, and that block a proper analysis of the phenomenon.
That young people from Europe who leave for Syria are victims of a society that does not accept them, and does not offer them sufficient opportunities – a proposition that Rik Coolsaet has supported in an earlier edition of this newspaper – is, however, not supported by empirical evidence. Not only in literature on Islamic extremism, but also on terrorism in general and terrorism of any kind, the conclusion is always the same: it does not always concern people with low socioeconomic status. Neither does it always concern the marginalized and the frustrated, or people with a psychiatric disorder. The Belgian families from which the young people have left are not all from the lower classes, and the young people who left are not all unskilled and frustrated. For the discrimination they are suggested to be victims of, there has usually been little empirical evidence. In recent years, a lot of international research has been conducted on radicalism and extremism. What it shows is that young men and women who radicalize and sometimes indulge in extremism often come from middle-class families. There are also a few examples of young men and women who belong to upper class families. Keep in mind that the hijackers in the September 11 attacks mostly came from prominent families. There is another important point to remember. Low socioeconomic status and lack of opportunity are a reality for a very large group of people, but only very few of them take the extremist path. And if lack of opportunity would indeed lead to extremism, the poorest countries in the world would supply most extremists. And we know that this is not the case. Are there no destitute ones amongst those who leave? Of course there are, and those are the ones Coolsaet writes about. But again, the group that left to join the armed conflict in Syria, is much more diverse than he suggests.
Another common stereotype in the debate in Belgium is that despite research that refutes this, radicalization is still far too often misunderstood as a process resulting from failed integration. Research, however, suggests that it is the so-called integration paradox that is a breeding ground for radicalization. What is meant by this paradox is that the children and grandchildren of immigrants, who were born and raised here, focus heavily on Belgian society. They seek social acceptance and mobility, and do everything possible to integrate. The result is that they have higher social expectations than others and are often more sensitive to exclusion and (alleged) discrimination. Negative experiences can turn them away from society and cause them to seek refuge in a deviant group identity.
I therefore dare say that the better young people are integrated, the greater the chance is that they radicalize. This hypothesis is supported by a lot of evidence. Often young people who have been radicalized were very Western-oriented before their radicalization; they were drinking alcohol and would often use soft drugs. In a later stage of their life they started to concern themselves more and more with their faith, or converted to Islam and consequently radicalized in no time. In many cases they completed their education or held a job and have friends from mixed ethnic backgrounds.
What stands out in the debate of these recent weeks and months is that not only standard explanations are given for the departure of so many young people, but also only standard solutions are brought forward; solutions that are actually meant for different problems. It has become too risky to persevere in such false solutions now that the problem has become a matter of life and death. The fact that the group that we are dealing with is so diverse, immediately shows the difficulty of finding a suitable solution. We know that fighting poverty is not enough to counter radicalism and extremism. We should also not expect too much from proposals to address youth unemployment. This is not a plea to change the fundamentals of current policies to address poverty, or to stop combating racism in the workplace and in the job market. But we should not cherish the illusion that these measures will curb radicalism and extremism. To really understand the group that we are dealing with here, we need a deep understanding of the young people and the families they come from, in order to gradually distance ourselves from the stereotypes that too often dominate the debate. Everything else is a waste of time and energy.
WestwardHo says
In a similar vein, I found it startling the first I came to understand that literacy empowers radicalization and jihad. And illiteracy often supports an ignorant but genuinely benign path through islam.
Generations of muslims in their village were unaware of the more hateful teachings of Islam. Then they became literate and read about it became aware and changed.
Beagle says
Great counterintuitive point on literacy, like so many aspects of Islam.
An integrated, literate, _pious_, well off, western college graduate with a high speed Internet connection is far more likely to wage jihad than Harf’s ‘poor and uneducated,’ but oh so nuanced, economic deterministic model of a prospective mujahideen.
Don’t underestimate the grooming which goes on in western higher education. Not just MSA, but the curriculum, professors, and administrators as well. O’Keefe’s recent hidden camera story disgusted me, but I was not even a little surprised. Of course college administrators will casually commit treason, aid genocide, slavery, serial rape, torture, and propose ways to circumvent laws against material support for terrorism,
Shane says
Traitorous liberal apologists for Islamic jihad blame poverty for all the world’s problems, including Islamic jihad and terrorism, except for the problem of conservative Christians opposing abortion and gay marriage, which they blame on Christianity. Poverty does not cause criminality or jihadisim; Devotion to Islam causes Muslims to become murderous savages like those people in ISIS.
shabeer_hassan says
WESTERN PEOPLE CONVERT THEIR RELIGION TO ISLAM,NOT /BLINDLY/FABRICATED BELIEVE OF IS,BOKO,TALIBAN,ETC…………..THEY R STUDDING ISLAM FROM ITS SCRIPTURES ,ACTUALLY TRUE EVIDENCE SAYS NON MUSLIM PEOPLE R MOST CRIMINALS………THEY NEED LIBERATION FROM THE SLAVERY ,THEY NEED SALVATION FROM THE SATANISM(HUMANISM,CAPITALISM,PAUL(JEW) CHRISTIANITY,JEWISH WORLD ORDER )
Total crimes (most recent) by country
RANK COUNTRIES AMOUNT
#1 United States: 11,877,218
# 2 United Kingdom: 6,523,706
# 3 Germany: 6,507,394
#4 France: 3,771,850
#5 Russia: 2,952,370
#6 Japan: 2,853,739
#7 South Africa: 2,683,849
#8 Canada: 2,516,918
#9 Italy: 2,231,550
#10 India: 1,764,630
nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri-crime-total-crimes
N Rape Statistics:
RANK
1 United States of America 93883
2 Australia 18237
3 United Kingdom 13272
4 France 10408
5 Germany 8766
6 Russian Federation 8185
wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics
Divorce rate (most recent) by country
Rank Countries Amount
#1 United States: 4.95 per 1,000 people
#2 Puerto Rico: 4.47
#3 Russia: 3.36
#4 United Kingdom: 3.08
#5 Denmark: 2.81
#6 New Zealand: 2.63
#7 Australia: 2.52
# 8 Canada: 2.46
#9 Finland: 1.85
#10 Barbados: 1.21
nationmaster.com/graph/peo_div_rat-people-divorce-rate
Child sex tourism :
Thailand : 40% of prostitutes are child in Thailand
Northern Italy: 40% of prostitution affects minors.
Cambodia: 1/3 of prostitutes are child
India : 1.2 million child prostitutes
Brazil: 1.2 million child prostitutes
United States: Between 244,000 to 325,000 child prostitutes.
China: It is estimated that there are between 200,000 and 500,000 child prostitutes.
Mexico:16,000 children in Mexico were involved in prostitution
Sri Lanka, there are nearly 40,000 child prostitutes
In the Philippines, there are 60,000 to 100,000 prostituted children
In Nepal approximately 30% of them were found to be children.
in Vietnam, and 20,000 of these are children.
in Ukraine, research has shown that between 30 and 40 percent of prostitutes are between 11 and 18 years
in Russia approximately 20 to 25 percent of Moscow’s sex workers are minors.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sex_tourism
wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_of_children
MY DEAR BROTHERS/SISTER WE R HUMAN BEING WE R NOT ANIMALS,SO WE R NOT BELONGS TO THIS CRIMINALS & LAYERS ,WE R PROUD & WE BELONGS TO THE PATH OF OUR CREATOR,WHO CREATE THIS UNIVERSE IN PERFECT MANNERS ,WE BELONGS HIS LAW /RULE ARE EVER SUPERIOR /EVER GREAT/IDEAL/MORAL/TRUSTFUL/ THAT ONLY LEADS US TO COMPLETE LEVEL OF SALVATION HERE & HEREAFTER ,A MASS CONVERSION GOING ON WESTERN WORLD ,WHY R U WAITING FOR ?
Dee says
There’s also the psychology of a ‘wannabe’ … desparately and overzealously trying to fit in to their chosen circle. We all know the type.
Don says
Interesting. So, considering the ’60s of the twentieth century, if you’re Timothy Leary and an alienated Harvard psychologist you tune in, turn on, and drop out to join the Hippie counter culture in a sort of cultural default paradigm of discovering your true self by transcending your banal bourgeois existence through experimenting with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. If it’s the early decades of the twenty-first century and you’re a middle class Western integrated but feeling alienated Muslim professional, your counter culture default is sudden jihad syndrome killing with an AK47 for seventy-two virgins in heaven rather than playing Stairway to Heaven on an amped up guitar. I seem to recall someone saying the (cultural) “medium is the message.” No matter the culture, it is interesting how you can take twenty-year-old literate males and make them killers.
annie says
Well, I think their stance on females has a lot to do w/the problem of their male’s violence problem. Women in Islam aren’t allowed to be the “civilizing” force they are meant to be. The whole culture is sick and from sickness usually follows death.
shabeer_hassan says
@annie
Men and women are equal:
4: 1 O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All Watcher over you.
9: 72. Allah has promised to the believers -men and women, – Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of ‘Adn (Eden Paradise). But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme success.
43: 17. And if one of them is informed of the news of (the birth of) that which he set forth as a parable to the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. of a girl), his face becomes dark, gloomy, and he is filled with grief!
3:195 So their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them), “Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female.You are (members) one of another, so those who emigrated and were driven out from their homes, and suffered harm in My cause, and who fought and were killed (in My cause), verily, I will expiate from them their evil deeds and admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise); a reward from Allah, and with Allah is the best of rewards.”
16: 72,33: 35,33: 58,33,53:21,73,40: 40,42: 49,42: 50 ,47: 19,48:5,6,57:13,18, 48:6,92:3,4:124,75:39,92:3,
ONE EXAMPLE ISLAM VS CHRISTIANITY:
DID CHRISTIAN WOMEN HAS RIGHT CHOOSE THEIR MATE ACCORDING TO CHRISTIANITY(BIBLE),PLZ PROVE WITH EVIDENCE….
ISLAM SAYS
Women permission required for marriage: parents forced marriage prohibited:
Dawud :: Book 11 : Hadith 2091
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
A virgin came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and mentioned that her father had married her against her will, so the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) allowed her to exercise her choice.
Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 86 :: Hadith 99
Narrated Al-Qasim:
A woman from the offspring of Ja’far was afraid lest her guardian marry her (to somebody) against her will. So she sent for two elderly men from the Ansar, ‘AbdurRahman and Mujammi’, the two sons of Jariya, and they said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for Khansa’ bint Khidam was given by her father in marriage against her will, then the Prophet cancelled that marriage.” (See Hadith No. 78)
Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 86 :: Hadith 99,98,100, 101
Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 85 :: Hadith 78,79
Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 51 :: Hadith 25
Muslim :: Book 8 : Hadith 3303 ,3305,3306,3307,3308
Dawud :: Book 11 : Hadith 2076, 2077,2088,2091,2095
Malik :: Book 28 : Hadith 28.11.25
Malik :: Book 28 : Hadith 28.2.4
I WILL GIVE U CHOICE CAN U PROVE ” ANYONE ” LAW THAT PROMOTE CHRISTIANITY ABOUT WOMEN RIGHTS IS BETTER THAN ISLAM,PLZ PROVE IF U CAN,PLZ BRING THE VERSES
wallace says
Shabeer, babble.
Champ says
“shameful_huckster” is pushing his rubbish–again. Hey would someone please take out the garbage?!
Western Canadian says
Every time this fool and moron posts his lies about his hate filled mockery of a religion, all he does is confirm that muslims lie about their vicious religion. Truly pathetic, and truly a devout (lying) muslim.
cs says
Young muzzies are not becoming the new Johnny Rottens or Sid Vicious. or Allen Ginsberg, but followers or Muhammad, Abu Bakr and the Caliphate.
Baucent says
That’s a good quote; “Islam is the only religion where it’s followers become more violent, the more they follow their religion”.
Absolutely true. You see these muslims protesting No,No,No, “Islam is a religion of peace”, but have they read from cover to cover the Koran and the Hadiths or are they merely repeating what their Imam said?
Go to a country like Indonesia and you find most muslims don’t read the Koran,(they don’t speak Arabic for one thing) and rely entirely on the Imam on Friday to teach them. It’s when they get serious about their religion, and start studying the Koran they find all the Jihad bits.
shabeer_hassan says
@Baucent I
PLZ POST AT LEAST ONE VIOLENCE VERSES THAT PROMOTE QURAN & SUNNA TO TERRORISM/MASS BOMBING & KILLING INNOCENT,PLZ BRING THE VERSES
@DEMESC
#hose texts are too OICA; Obsolete, Incomplete, Contradictory, Ambiguous
2 YEARS I AM ASKING THIS MAN (@DEMESC FROM ALISINNA.ORG) ,PLZ THE STOP DIALOGUE PROVE IT HERE IN FRONT OF PUBLIC……..HE EVER RESPOND THERE………..HE WAS NOT ASHAMED OF REPEATING HIS FOOLISHNESS AGAIN AND AGAIN………….
Western Canadian says
This utter MORON just can’t stop posting his pathetic lies about islam, the most vicious crime ever committed against human beings… Look, you pathetic moron, NO ONE on this board is stupid enough or ignorant enough to swallow the sick and dishonest lies you post here!! All you do every time you post, is prove again and again, that muslims lie about their hate filled and vicious mockery of a religion!!!!
And all the lie in wait, smite them at the neck, strike terror into their hearts quotes from your hate filled and viciously unholy Koran, are there for anyone to see….. So we must conclude that your blindness to them and habit of offering garbage as you lie about them, is deliberate on your part. You are a deliberate and habitual liar, which means you are indeed a very, very devout muslim. And unfit to live among human beings.
RonaldB says
I am a huge fan of the academic studies now coming out. They are being done by scholars who go where the facts lead them, as opposed to academic place-holders like Jocelyn Cesari, who very obviously use their conclusions as premises, stuff their leftist principles into the discussion of findings, and never, ever go against the culture of the academic circles they inhabit.
Nevertheless, you take an airtight finding like that of Dr. Marion van San, and what is the effect? Exactly zero. This is because most academics don’t want to get off the reservation of their tenure-granting, cross-reviewing clique.
Also, politicians are more than happy to ignore truths if they can gain power and wealth by ignoring it. And, in fact, this is the model for a representative government structure, where the elected leaders have to stay connected to their constituents. A politician is not an educator, and should not be confused with one.
This emphasizes the importance of grass-roots pressure…like the tea party. Even the most forward-looking politician is not going to run out into the fire by himself, and the most establishment, bland elected leader will take a stand if pressed to do so by his constituents.
So, the way to deal with knowledge like this is to get involved in grass-roots organizations, and see if you can make the margin between a candidate winning or losing. By way way, I still see a place for the Jackson democrat. As Daniel Moynahan said in one of his books, politics is always about the warfare between the rich and the poor. It can be healthy for a republic.
Demsci says
I agree with everything you say, RonaldB. That it is hard, and about grassroots organisations. But my plans include comparing MIG-texts, Most Important Guidelines); those from Democratic Nations and those from Islam.
Democratic citizens could well become more aware of THEIR MIG-texts in response to what Muslims all over the world DO in response to THEIR MIG-texts, the Quran-Sunnah.
Those texts are too OICA; Obsolete, Incomplete, Contradictory, Ambiguous. Ours are far more changeable, therefore much more Contemporary, Complete, Consistent and Clear.
So called Moderate Muslims should be challenged to finally produce:
An interpretation of their MIG-texts that actually IS compatible with our MIG-texts.
And they should be challenged to produce a subgroup of Muslims that vows to adhere to this democracy-compatible interpretation of Quran-Sunnah.
Membership of that group should be conditional (in contrast to deathpenalty for Apostasy) and Muslims of that subgroup should be given a quality mark (which also can be withdrawn).
In this way we finally can distinguish between Quality Mark Muslims and “normal” but very untrustworthy Muslims, due to them having as MIG-texts fatally flawed texts, proven to have influenced other Muslims to behave totalitarian and violent and hostile.
IF we challenge more and more ordinary Western citizens, journalists and politicians that
they MUST study these fatally flawed texts and our democratic MIG-texts and compare them,
with the help of Tina Magaard and Marion van Son and a host of other experts on Islam, THEN
We might convince a nipt majority to give Quality Mark Muslims full equal citizenship,
but reject “ordinary Muslims” in our countries. I especially mean potential immigrants.
And we must also challenge our own people, journalists and politicians what to do with “normal Muslims” refusing to become Quality Mark Muslims.
I know how far-fetched my idea sounds, but if there had been a simple democratic solution to the danger of Islam, it would have been found long ago. And remember, such a Muslim-Quality-Mark-policy need only be started in one country, or in one city even!
Ramon says
Just the plainest of truths….there are no half-hearted or “moderate” Muslim terrorist…and we wonder why…?
The better solution is to flat out encourage Muslims to read, justread their own “holy” texts, and then they can see the filth and violence in it…
particolor says
Well I’ve made up My mind on My choice of Religion ! 🙂 Id rather try to walk on water than Shag a Goat !!
shabeer_hassan says
@Ramon
I AM SEARCH IT ,BUT FIND LIKE
ISLAM DOES NOT LIKE WAR
Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 269, 268
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah:
The Prophet said, “War is deceit.”
DOES NOT SHED UNLAWFUL BLOOD:
Bukhari :: Book 1 :: Volume 3 :: Hadith 104
……….”Allah and not the people has made Mecca a sanctuary. So anybody who has belief in Allah and the Last Day (i.e. a Muslim) should neither shed blood in it nor cut down its trees. If anybody argues that fighting is allowed in Mecca as Allah’s Apostle did fight (in Mecca), tell him that Allah gave permission to His Apostle, but He did not give it to you. The Prophet added: Allah allowed me only for a few hours on that day (of the conquest) and today (now) its sanctity is the same (valid) as it was before.
2:83. And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none but Allah (Alone) and be dutiful and good to parents, and to kindred, and to orphans and Al-Masâkîn (the poor), and speak good to people, and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât. Then you slid back, except a few of you, while you are backsliders. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubî, Vol. 2, Page 392).
2:84. And (remember) when We took your covenant (saying): Shed not the blood of your people, nor turn out your own people from their dwellings. Then, (this) you ratified and (to this) you bear witness.
KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE IS A SYMBOL OF IGNORANCE [WEAKENS OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE]:
Muslim :: Book 34 : Hadith 6458
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: (When) the time would draw close to the Last Hour, knowledge would be snatched away, turmoil would be rampant, miserliness would be put (in the hearts of the people) and therewould be much bloodshed. They said: What is al-harj? Thereupon he said: It is bloodshed.
Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 88 :: Hadith 185
Narrated Abu Musa:
The Prophet said, “Near the establishment of the Hour there will be days during which (religious) knowledge will be taken away (vanish) and general ignorance will spread, and there will be Al-Harj in abundance, and Al-Harj means killing.”
Bukhari :: Book 1 :: Volume 3 :: Hadith 85
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, “(Religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious scholars) ignorance (in religion) and afflictions will appear; and Harj will increase.” It was asked, “What is Harj, O Allah’s Apostle?” He replied by beckoning with his hand indicating “killing.”
Western Canadian says
Look you pathetic lying moron, NO ONE on this board is ignorant about your vicious and hate filled mockery of a religion, so you coming here and lying about does nothing but prove that devout muslims are habitual liars.
In other words, you are working against yourself, and we do appreciate it!!!
Theo Prinse says
Dr. M.R.P.J.R. (Marion) van San states that dangerous men attracts woman to escape their social poverty. It relates to Ann Coulder The Mob and Michel Martin – Dutroux now alegedly living with her frm judge. In Belgium Steve’ Stevaert, former Flemish Socialist party leader, had recently learned he would be facing trial for rape and drowned himself in King Albert canal. He alegedly raped a woman after he attended the television program of Flemish sexuologe en former miss Belgium Goedele Liekens. Robert “Steve” Stevaert, 60, had been leader of the Flemish Socialist party and a protege of Willy Claes, a veteran cabinet minister who was secretary general of Nato for a year before he resigned in a Augusta bribery scandal in 1995.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/02/steve-stevaert-leading-belgian-politician-found-drowned-in-canal
https://wikispooks.com/ISGP/dutroux/Belgian_X_dossiers_of_the_Dutroux_affair.htm
Theo Prinse says
my comment remains in the spamfilter
Theo Prinse says
Dr. M.R.P.J.R. (Marion) van San states that dangerous men attracts woman to escape their social poverty. It relates to Ann Coulder The Mob and Michel Martin – Dutroux now alegedly living with her frm judge. In Belgium Steve’ Stevaert, former Flemish Socialist party leader, had recently learned he would be facing trial for rape and drowned himself in King Albert canal. He alegedly raped a woman after he attended the television program of Flemish sexuologe en former miss Belgium Goedele Liekens. Robert “Steve” Stevaert, 60, had been leader of the Flemish Socialist party and a protege of Willy Claes, a veteran cabinet minister who was secretary general of Nato for a year before he resigned in a Augusta bribery scandal in 1995.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/02/steve-stevaert-leading-belgian-politician-found-drowned-in-canal
https://wikispooks.com/ISGP/dutroux/Belgian_X_dossiers_of_the_Dutroux_affair.htm
Western Canadian says
Your ‘english’ is so pathetic, you sound like a muzlim…..
RICHTHOFEN says
I do not understand why we continue to legitimise islam by referring to it as a ‘religion’. It really is not – at best, it is a cult and a pretty evil one, at that. It is a socially deviant movement sponsoring and promoting everything that a religion condemns. Islam is no kind of faith – it is a medieval cult formed purely for the waging of war against everybody and anybody other than its own deviants – and it fails to even achieve that, being riven with internecine conflict since inception
Gary says
“I am warning you ahead of time, dear brothers, so that you can watch out and not be carried away by the mistakes of these wicked men, lest you yourselves become mixed up too. 18 But grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all glory and splendid honor, both now and forevermore. Good-bye.”