Salafist radicalization of neighborhoods in The Hague
The police are extremely worried about the radicalization of the mainly Muslim neighborhoods, Transvaal en Schilderswijk in The Hague. Youth workers publicly say that they are Salafists and tell youngsters to be good Muslims.
The police do not dare anymore to share information about problematic youngsters because they are afraid that this information will fall into the wrong hands.
“The Moroccans take over in this community center”
In The Hague there are major concerns about radicalization in the predominantly Islamic neighborhoods Transvaal and Schilderswijk. Youth workers openly claim to be salafists and call on youth to be a ‘good Muslim’. “The police no longer dare to share information about young people at risk, who end up with the wrong people.”
The students are all very enthusiastic about the three-day course ‘Radicalization and multicultural craftsmanship’ that they are offered through their work. All youth workers at Xtra, the umbrella organization for welfare work in The Hague, are allowed to follow the lessons that are paid for by the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV).
Youth work in neighborhoods such as Schilderswijk and Transvaal is crucial in the fight against violent Muslim extremists, who also recruited dozens of young people in this city for the religious war in Syria. It involves many students; with a turnover of 90 million euros in 2017, Xtra is a giant in the world of welfare, and youth is an important target group. That is not easy, radicalization is not even the biggest problem. But youth work is essential in the fight against jihadi recruiters, an official at the city hall of The Hague explains. ,, Young people who feel excluded by society are more prone to that. This is how you keep them there. “” In addition, youth workers can identify striking religious behavior in a timely manner.
