In the mid-2010s, like most Western countries, Luxembourg observed with surprise and then fear the departure of young radicalized Islamists from the Iraqi-Syrian zone. Among them, Steve Duarte, who will in all likelihood be tried “in default” in Luxembourg for his alleged crimes committed in the Levant. Beyond these specific cases – and fortunately sporadic – the question of radicalization has entered the public debate with the need to tackle the problem head on.
At the instigation of the European Union, the government therefore set up the Center against radicalization in 2017. For security reasons, its address is not public. But seven years after its founding, the non-profit organization is still very active. An essential cog in the fight against extremism, it is regularly required to collaborate with the justice system to take charge of people convicted of comments or acts linked to radicalization. She is also contacted by schools, and even by parents overwhelmed by their child’s excesses. Currently, around 90 people are supported, in group workshops and/or individually.
If radical Islamism was the starting point of the project, the association does not focus only on religious extremism, but on all types of radicalism that could lead to discriminatory and sectarian behavior. A recurrence has emerged over the years: “Radicalization phenomena occur out of step with current events. There was right-wing extremism, then conspiracy after Covid and anti-Semitism after October 7,” explains Karin Weyer, director of the center.
With more or less structured thoughts: “Some people do not have a well-formed ideology and combine several types of hatred.” Radicality for radicality’s sake, in short, and a hell of a challenge for educators who are not specialized in a particular field. “We try to establish human contact, without judging the person, but with a clear position against violence. The idea is to find a flaw in the ideology,” summarizes the professional.
Considering the very different profiles, the chances of success vary greatly from one person to another, but the center is pleased to see the majority returning to the right path. “A woman who went through the center saw her religion as permission to hate the system and the unbelievers. But she has evolved. His religiosity remained constant, but it then allowed him to be in touch with human beings.
Not all stories end well, however, and in rare cases, the association has had to warn the authorities of the worrying comments of certain participants. The association has never dealt with people who went to wage jihad abroad, but carefully observes the major trends in today’s world. Right-wing extremism, sexism and homophobia are worrying, as is “the speed of certain radicalization processes, which, with the rise of social networks, have accelerated”.
