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https://theconversation.com/extremists-are-targeting-young-australians-who-crave-belonging-what-can-we-do-263420>
"Vulnerable young Australians are being targeted and recruited into extremist
organisations. Sometimes, adult recruiters use grooming and coercion. Young
people are seen as easy targets because they are looking for a place to belong,
rather than holding deep-seated ideological beliefs.
Last week, Australia’s Independent National Security Legislation Monitor
launched a review of Australia’s legal definition of a terrorist act. The high
number of young Australians becoming involved in violent extremism and
terrorism was a key factor.
Last year, director general of ASIO, Mike Burgess, said the median age when
minors are first subject to ASIO investigation is now 15. Case examples he
cited included alleged sharing of beheading videos in the schoolyard, a
12-year-old allegedly wanting to blow up a place of worship and another
12-year-old allegedly planning a school shooting.
We worked with the Engagement and Support Program (Department of Communities
and Justice, New South Wales) to look at this exact problem. We interviewed six
case managers and learned in depth about 17 of their clients, whose beliefs
ranged from violent Salafi Jihadism to the violent extreme right. The median
age these clients were referred to services was 19.
We wanted to know three things. Why are young Australians radicalising? Who, or
what, is driving this problem? And how can we help?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
