Radicalisation Affects Families
A new report conducted by the Soufan Group has highlighted the number of people travelling from various countries to Syria and Iraq. The report estimates that between 27,000 and 31,000 people have left their homes to join violent groups in the region – with approximately 760 people leaving from the UK. The number of foreign fighters from Europe has “more than doubled” since June 2014, in contrast to North America which has remained relatively inactive.
This is having a detrimental effect on families. Parents are left in the dark as to their child’s or sibling’s intentions. When these young people leave to join Daesh, their families are torn apart and often cannot comprehend why their own loved ones would join in the atrocities of this organisation. FAST is here to alleviate this trauma, by raising awareness about radicalisation and encouraging families to reach out if they are concerned.
Very often, negative experiences and difficult environments make young people vulnerable to such major decisions. This has been demonstrated in the case of Brighton boys, Amer, Ibrahim, Jaffar and Abdullah who left their city to join militia groups fighting Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Racism, bullying, domestic violence, isolation and lost hope all contributed to them taking this step.
Khadija Kamara, mother of Ibrahim who died in Syria, told us she would “never forget that moment” when she heard of her son’s death. She could not comprehend her son’s actions which left her in shock. The inherent pain she expressed was overwhelming.
We believe families can make a difference because they have the power to reach out and stop this. FAST is here to help so if you’re concerned about a family member who may be showing signs of becoming radicalised, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Please see our ‘where to turn’ page for more information.
