Why we need to be proactive when it comes to young Irish Muslims
The timely intervention of the police interrupted an attack that appeared to be imminent, thus saving an innocent citizen from sharing the horrific fate of the murdered off-duty British soldier Lee Rigby, who was attacked and murdered by home-grown Islamic extremists in May 2013.
However, the successful intervention of Australian police was a reactive, rather than proactive response to Islamic radicalisation.
It follows the unfortunate template of France and Britain, where contact between second and third generation Muslims is oftentimes defined by suspicion and confrontation.
This is reinforced when many of these individuals feel a disconnect from mainstream society, for a variety of political, social and cultural forces, real or imagined.
This state of hostility is the perfect breeding ground for a disaffection, which is ruthlessly exploited by IS internet activists, through an astute use of social media sites.This strategy by IS, whether we accept it or not, is successfully recruiting a global cohort of disaffected and alienated individuals for its barbaric so-called Holy War.
This makes the proactive initiative of outreach and dialogue with Irish Muslim leaders by the Garda Racial, Intercultural and Diversity Office, all the more important.
This policy is predicated on an early intervention, which identifies potentially vulnerable young Muslims, and incorporates education and social interaction in order to forestall radicalisation.
This proactive approach is a national imperative if we are going to prevent the so-called Islamic State from preying on young Irish muslims, and has become a vital tool in the Garda Siochána’s long-term strategy to combat potential disaffection and radicalisation.
This enlightened interaction is essential if we are not going to repeat the mistakes of our European neighbours, and deserves the support of all reasonable Irish people.
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