Toespraak minister Ter Horst bij de opening van de 'Cities Conference on Polarisation and Radicalisation' in Amsterdam
Ladies and gentlemen,
There are two reasons why I have high expectations of this conference.
First, we’ve invited delegates from the seven countries that have gone farthest in tackling radicalisation and polarisation. You are Europe’s pioneers.
Second, you are people from the field. Which creates expectations. Like me, you’re probably not interested in an undefined vision of the future. What we need are specific lessons from practical experience: examples of what works and what doesn’t. That’s what this conference is all about!
A national approach to the international problem of radicalisation and polarisation is not enough. The EU recognises this too. Last year, the European Counterterrorism Coordinator – Gilles de Kerchove – asked a number of countries to take the lead in getting European countries to work together. The Netherlands is pleased to do so. And in doing so, we want to put the local approach higher on the agenda.
Why the local approach? Because I believe it is the key to success. The key that’s in the hands of youth workers who notice signs of trouble between different groups of young people. Or teachers who identify conflicts or can no longer connect with their pupils. They can recognise and tackle radicalisation and polarisation at an early stage.
It’s not easy. That is obvious from the event that prompted the Netherlands to develop policy on radicalisation in the first place.
In January 2002, two young Dutch men of Moroccan origin were shot dead by an Indian border patrol in Kashmir. A shockwave ran through Dutch society. The young men had been recruited for the jihad in a radical mosque. For the first time, young Dutch nationals had joined the jihad. Their parents, friends and acquaintances, former schoolmates and teachers were all upset because they hadn’t noticed anything.
But they had no idea where to look. They hadn’t recognised the signs. And if they had noticed anything, who could they tell? This event was the catalyst for the Netherlands’ broad-based approach to radicalisation.
Our approach is broad-based in three respects.
First, we consider prevention and proactivity to be just as important as enforcement. What I find interesting is the role of the parents. What goes so wrong in children’s upbringing that they develop so much hatred and contempt? How can we assist their parents? Your experience in this area is of great value.
Another interesting point is the role of religious scholars in weaning radicalised individuals from their radical ideas. Last year in Singapore, I met members of an organisation called the Religious Rehabilitation Group. This organisation has wide experience of deradicalisation. Knowledge of Islam and the Koran is a great asset in reaching out to radicalised individuals. It presents opportunities to open their eyes to another, peaceful form of faith.
In the Netherlands, too, we have started deploying religious scholars. In Amsterdam, for instance, they have held critical discussions with young people about their view of Islam. I applaud this. Of course, we adhere to the separation of religion and the state, but that doesn’t mean that the government cannot work with religious scholars in pursuing objectives that benefit society.
Second, we don’t only look at Islamic extremism, but also at extremism from the far right, the far left, and the animal rights movement. They all occur in the Netherlands, and our approach to them sometimes overlaps. In tackling Islamic extremism, for instance, we have learned a great deal from programmes developed in Germany for deradicalising rightwing extremists. And we can never learn enough!
Third, we aim not only to counteract radicalisation but also to reduce polarisation. In fact, in the next few years, we aim to step up our efforts to reduce polarisation. Let me talk about this in a little more detail.
Polarisation occurs when differences between ethnic or religious groups lead to tension. Unlike radicalisation, polarisation has no explicit political agenda. It is harder to identify, but we need to do so, because polarisation can fuel radicalisation.
Concern about polarisation is growing in the Netherlands and in other European countries. The public debate has become more barbed, with population groups talking about each other in very negative, disrespectful terms. And the young are adopting the same tone.
There have been incidents. Children with Turkish parents refuse to play with their indigenous classmates. Indigenous youngsters avoid youth clubs frequented by members of ethnic minorities. Young people are increasingly posting hate-filled messages on the internet.
This tension translates into more support for nationalism, while Dutch nationals of immigrant origin, withdraw from mainstream society. Fifty-seven per cent of Muslims in the Netherlands, for instance, say they are feeling less at home here. And fifty-one per cent think more often about emigrating. Three-quarters of Muslims feel they are looked down upon.
This is where we need people at local level. Municipalities with a structured approach. They are there too. They base their strategies on thorough analysis. They combine youth work, integration and security with community work. They keep themselves up to speed and carry on looking till they find what works. Central government supports effective local action – financially, but also with expert advice from the Nuansa Knowledge and Advice Centre.
And we must not underestimate the role of our General Intelligence and Security Service. Unlike in many other countries, the Dutch service works closely with local authorities and policymakers. Mayors, for instance, are regularly informed about local developments in the area of radicalisation with names and dates of those involved.
An interesting question is how local partners handle confidential information. Recent research has shown that Dutch people consider privacy to be an ever more important asset. Yet local partners have to gather and share information about persons in order to assess risks and possibly deal with them. How can they do so with all due care? I am curious to hear your views.
The Netherlands is far from having all the answers. But we believe in the local approach. This is why I am pleased that it is proving popular in other countries and that cooperation is growing.
In February this year, a conference was held in Berlin with delegates from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. One of its findings was that you can’t deal with polarisation and radicalisation effectively without the input of local professionals.
This is why I am so pleased that you are here today. You need to get to know each other and know how to find each other. At this conference, you can lay the foundations for an international network. Tell us what you have noticed, what signs you have seen. Say how you deal with them, what works and what doesn't.
This is the moment for the voice of experience to make itself heard. Together, you can make a concerted effort for an effective European policy: a policy that doesn’t originate in Brussels, but in your town, neighbourhood, or school.
I urge you to seize this opportunity while you can. Thank you.