RACVIAC-RCC: On-line event on Deradicalization and Resocialization of FTFs

17.11.2020

Photo: On-line event on Deradicalization and Resocialization of FTFs (Photo Credit: RACVIAC)

The on-line activity titled “Deradicalization and Resocialization of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) in the Western Balkans - Case studies” was organized by RACVIAC-Centre for Security Cooperation in partnership with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) on 10 November 2020. The main purpose of the Seminar was to address the issues of deradicalization and resocialization of FTFs and their family members in order to obtain some answers to the phenomenon which directly affects the Western Balkans societies and to further coordinate efforts in this field.

Opening the Seminar MG (ret.) Jeronim Bazo said: “Challenges for Rehabilitation, Resocialization, and Reintegration of FTFs returnees to the Western Balkans are great but not impossible to overcome. And that’s why we are here today: to exchange our experiences and good practices in dealing with these issues, which we believe will help us develop better programs for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Furthermore, the role of community, families and all interested actors is very important in addressing this phenomena. Today we intend to discuss specific approaches to empower and support these actors and to make recommendations in support of the implementation of a whole-of-society approach within the framework of overall Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) strategies”, said Director Bazo

Speaking on behalf of the Regional Cooperation Council, Mr Amer Kapetanović, Head of Political Department, referring to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Vienna said that this topic has unfortunately gained wider attention again and reminded us that we have to be resilient and learn how to prevent these threats. When we are speaking about deradicalization and resocialization we have to think about very complex background and set of ideas that cause radicalization. The driving force behind radicalization, sometimes invisible, is hatred, fake news, and false narratives, and we have to take this into consideration, emphasized Mr Kapetanović.

Addressing the participants on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany, who is financially supporting RACVIAC activities on countering terrorism, LTC Dirk Bocklet, Defence Attaché of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Croatia, said that unfortunately anyone who thought terrorism would disappear during coronavirus pandemic was wrong. On the contrary, radicalization has been accelerated. The topic remains relevant and affects us all. Only together we can develop ideas for coordinated strategy, concluded LTC Bocklet.

While all the countries of the Western Balkans have been affected by the foreign fighter phenomenon, some of them have shown a higher vulnerability to mobilization into jihadi militias. Almost two thirds of known Western Balkans foreign fighters and family members originate from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo*. As of the beginning of 2020, some 485 nationals of Western Balkans countries had returned home or were repatriated. At least 260 others have been reported killed, although the actual number of combat casualties is likely higher due to underreporting. The Western Balkans contingent remaining in Syria and Iraq is composed of about 475 individuals, and it is dominated by children - including many born in Syria and Iraq - and women. According to official sources over half of those remaining - about 260 individuals - are nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina or their children with legitimate citizenship claims. After ISIS has failed to achieve the goal of establishing a caliphate and after losing territories in Syria and Iraq, more research needs to focus on evolving trends and what remains of ISIS’ ideology and online recruitment strategies in the Western Balkans.

The first session started with the case study of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr Mario Janaček, Head of Department for Countering Terrorism, Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented national deradicalization and resocialization programme lessons learned and challenges related to repatriated FTFs and their family members. He underlined that the activities taken at local community level are the most complex, sensitive and challenging and lack resources, capacity and support. Basic roadmap for creating deradicalization and resocialization programme should focus on risks and needs of returnees and should have a clear vision of all the steps that have to be taken and all the actors to be involved. Mutual trust and understanding at all levels and between all actors is crucial, emphasized Mr Janaček.

In the next session the Kosovo* Case Study was presented by Dr Floran Qehaja, Kosovo* Centre for Security Studies (KCSS). Dr Qehaja gave an overview of the deradicalization and resocialization measures taken and said that, based on rough estimates from interviews with Kosovar institutions and published reports an estimated 242, out of 403, Kosovars have been repatriated from Syria, including FTFs, children and non-combatants. Kosovo* made huge progress in countering violent extremism and there was an overall societal cohesion in fighting the phenomenon, he said. Referring to the terrorist attacks that happened all over the Europe recently Dr Qehaja said that the potential of terrorist attacks in the region is much lower due to its strategic irrelevance for terrorists. On the other hand regional countries face an extensive disinformation campaign and growing elements of right-wing extremism and nationalism as well as a very limited security cooperation between the countries in the region. Although a lot has been done so far there is a need to improve some things such as: review existing policies, assess deradicalization efforts in correctional services, improve coordination, increase involvement of municipalities & civil society, underlined Dr Qehaja.

In the last session Mrs Lejdi Dervishi from the Albanian Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism provided information about their national action plan, preventive actions, fields of intervening, measures taken, achievements and lessons learned. Mrs Dervishi underlined that increasing the institutional awareness of reintegration processes, primarily at local level, and engagement of all institutions and other community actors – the whole-of-society and multiagency approach - are crucial. This event, that gathered almost 50 participants, was a continuation of the series of activities that RACVIAC, together with the Regional Cooperation Council and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been organizing since 2015.

* This Designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

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