The Malaysian Insight

FEBRI Ramdani was only 22 when he left Indonesia in 2016 to join his family in Syria, where they were promised a better life in the so-called caliphate of the Islamic State. 

His family had gone ahead the year before after selling their house, car, and other possessions. They did not plan to become militant fighters but were looking forward a peaceful, orderly life in a welfare state under Islamic rule.

Almost as soon as they arrived, this dream was shattered, Febri told The Malaysian Insight. He had joined joined them the following year.

“What was clear was that they do not treat people who disagree with them fairly. They feel they are the most righteous. Anyone who does not have the same understanding as them will be ostracised, harassed, or even killed,” he said in a phone interview.

There were sounds of gunshots and bombs almost every minute of the day. He was told to join IS’ military training but made up excuses to avoid it.

“I did not go to Syria to join them as a fighter. I went to be with my family,” he said. Eventually, Febri’s family fled Syria in mid-2017 with the help of a Syrian acquaintance. 

While Febri went to Syria under the illusion of getting a better life, other youngsters joined IS for different reasons.

In many cases, young people join terrorist groups because they are duped, trafficked, kidnapped, or forcibly recruited.

Others join terrorist groups for the appeal of a group-based identity; perceptions of exclusion, grievances, or cultural threats; the promise of economic stability; prospects of fame, glory, or respect; and personal connections, including family and a friendship network.

In Malaysia, one notable case is that of Syamimi Faiqah, a former student of the Selangor International Islamic University College.

After failing to make the grade for a course, Syamimi spent more and more time on the internet. 

In 2014, aged 20, she made her way to Syria to marry Akel Zainal, a militant fighter.

There have been reported cases of young Malaysian girls attempting to run away to join IS for love, such as a 14-year-old who in 2015 was arrested as she tried to travel to Cairo, where her 22-year-old Malaysian fiancé was waiting for her.

The girl, who studied at a tahfiz institute in Shah Alam, did not have her family’s consent. She had threatened to kill herself if her parents did not let her go. 

In 2017, a 17-year-old schoolboy was arrested in Petaling Jaya for pledging allegiance to IS. He had prepared six Molotov cocktails for use on non-Muslim houses of worship..

Police discovered this after a video was circulated of him swearing fealty to the terror group and threatening to launch attacks on temples and churches.

Targeting youths

Why are youths an easy target for militant groups? It is a global problem, and Malaysia is no exception, said Akil Yunus, a Digital Strategic Communications Division analyst at Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT). 

“The youth population represents a key target demographic and population that is vulnerable to the threat of violent extremism and this issue has been recognised internationally as per UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) on Youth, Peace, and Security,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Youths under the age of 25 are more impressionable and among the most susceptible to extremist ideology, he added. In Malaysia, this group forms around 40% of the population.

Akil, quoting the 2018 book Undergraduate Radicalisation in Southeast Asia by Thomas Samuel, said Malaysian youth are usually targeted through social media and online chat forums.

Traditional ways of radicalisation include religious gatherings, and usrah (small group discussions). 

“This age group is more likely to view the world from an idealistic perspective and thus may find it harder to accept certain realities and perceived injustices that could then prompt them to seek out world views or propaganda that reinforces violence as a solution,” Akil said.

Violence as a solution is presented along with promises of a false sense of agency, power, and influence when they join the organisation and take up arms against its enemies. 

“According to SEARCCT’s engagements with former detainees and rehabilitation experts such as Dr Ahmad El-Muhammady, some people long for the violent brand of jihad peddled by IS and similar groups as a form of redemption,” he said. 

“By committing their lives to a ‘higher calling; these people believe that they can achieve afterlife redemption and forgiveness for their worldly sins and transgressions,” he said. 

In some cases, the willingness to join violent extremist groups starts with a deep-seated desire to right the injustices committed against fellow Muslims in the Middle East. 

“Violent extremist recruiters then exploit this humanitarian sympathy and convince target individuals that peaceful means have been exhausted and the only viable way to defend their ‘Muslim brethren’ is through violence,” he said. 

There are other common push factors that attract people, especially youth, to violent extremism.

One of them is the appealing and romanticised narrative of life under the “caliphate”. 

Akil categorises the reasons why people are attracted to violent extremist groups into primary and secondary push factors.

Primary push factors are socio-economic, such as unemployment and poverty; ideological such as religious or ethno-nationalistic beliefs; and personal emotions and perceived injustices such as relationship issues or domestic unrest.  

Youth can be drawn to the promise of financial support, or that their wellbeing as followers will be taken care of, such as in the case of Febri and his family. 

Secondary push factors include a desire for adventure, peer pressure, disenfranchisement, lack of familial connection or friendship, and lack of critical perspective of world affairs, he said. 

Signs of radicalisation

Based on existing research and SEARCCT’s own observations from interactions with former violent extremists, some of the more obvious signs of radicalisation and recruitment include becoming withdrawn and detached from family and friends.

Akil said the individual would then spend more time online and becomes more prone to consuming violent-spurring content. He may cultivate a new clique of friends comprising those sharing a similar ideology, who are likely extremist followers.

Consequently, he exhibits a sudden surge in interest in global conflicts and espouses violent methods to resolve them. In the case of religion-motivated extremism, one indicator is a sudden increase in religiosity especially if the individual was not known to be religious before that. 

However, sudden religiosity does not necessarily equate to violent tendencies and may be motivated by spiritual factors. Hence, one must be mindful in making such assumptions, said Akil.

A greater cause for worry is when the above scenarios are preceded by a recent life-changing event or personal tragedy, such as the death of a loved one, or a relationship crisis, as individuals are most vulnerable during this period.

Febri, who managed to escape life under IS three years ago, feels youths need to broaden their views, listen to other perspectives, and learn how to debate arguments respectfully.

This is the best prevention for radicalisation - when youths learn to see issues through more than a single, narrow lens, he said.

“It is important for us to widen our horizons and protect our own thoughts. This is so that we are better equipped to avoid falling into the trap of violent ideologies, which leads to anarchist or terrorist tendencies.

“Do not be blinded by only a single source as it makes us more susceptible to a certain propaganda.”

“As captured in verse 6 of Surat Al-Hujurat, we have to apply tabayyun (verification) and examine every news or information that we receive with utmost care and caution.”

Febri also feels governments should play a bigger role in preventing de-radicalisation, monitoring radical tendencies, as well as increasing society’s awareness and understanding of terrorism and its harms. 

Now 26, Febri is an undergraduate majoring in literature in university in Jakarta. 

He has publishe his account of his journey to the Middle East and life under IS, entitled “300 Hari di Bumi Syam”.

“Anyone who wishes to join any Islamic terrorist group should undo their intentions as the promises given by these groups are false, what they say is completely far from Islam, they do not implement the Al-Quran in daily teachings properly and are even arbitrary in their ways.

“Islam itself suffers from a stigma which paints its believers as harbouring intolerant and extreme thoughts, which is the total opposite of what Allah commands that is for Islam to be a peaceful religion, a rahmatan lil alamin (a blessing to the whole universe),” Febri said.

“Islam is meant to promote tolerance in accordance with verse 13 of Surat Al-Hujurat, in which Allah commands us to be acquainted with one another peacefully regardless of ethnic, religious, racial and cultural background.” – May 19, 2021.

* This article was written in collaboration with Fat Bidin Media under the Fat Bidin National Campaign to Counter and Prevent Violent Extremism. Find out more about the campaign at fatbidin.com.