Time for serious deradicalisation actions

Deradicalisation is a top issue on the agenda of stakeholders, donors and government in Jordan.

Projects, speeches, conferences and workshops are trying to address the issue and find a workable solution.

While theories and proposals are to be encouraged, it is important that we start implementing some of these and move from theory to practice.

Deradicalisation is a process of change, and any such process should start with a comprehensive understanding of the underlying issues, objectives and outcomes.

We must understand why deradicalisation is required. The level of radicalism that we are facing today is the result of a process that has been progressing for a long time, one that, on the whole, we have been blind to.

In order to learn from the past and move forward, we have to be honest about all aspects of the issue.

We must understand and acknowledge that this is a complex problem, and we need innovative thinking and people with a broad range of expertise. 

The issue is not just religious, there are cultural and economic aspects to it as well, and we need to bring people together, make them feel connected to each other and society to appreciate their existence and their neighbours.

We must promote dignity and respect while enabling people to participate in building their own future and become productive for the society.

We cannot continue to theorise, we need to intervene with practical measures. 

Concrete projects are more important than debates and conference. 

When we identify places with high levels of radicalisation through polls, surveys and studies, we must intervene.

Playgrounds, parks, cultural plans and programmes that promote and enable artistic endeavours, such as drawing, music, theatre and movies are great ways to engage otherwise marginalised populations.

We need microeconomic projects to intervene and break the cycle of radicalisation. 

Improving quality of life, giving people hope for the future can be achieved by engaging them in art and culture. This is why we need to involve people in creating this change.

We need to stop relying so much on the narrative that moderate doctrines can address radical Islam. 

Real change will come from cultural change, enhancing the concepts of pluralism, diversity and respect for others with real and practical programmes that are implemented. 

We can only face radicalism by adopting a comprehensive multilateral strategy.

The role of the state is essential. The absence of an active role in providing services and social justice is part of what has fostered the evolution of radical thought. 

We have also failed to accept the signs of increasing radicalism, but we must act. 

When a cinema in Zarqa was targeted by terrorists back in 1993, we responded with security measures, but ignored the underlying cause of the problem. 

That we did not protect cinemas and other cultural institutions means the terrorists have already won. 

The more cultural institutions are targeted, the less people will attend them, which is exactly what we witnessed.

The more we prevaricate and pontificate, the more difficult and the more embedded the issue becomes. 

The more radicalism expands and recruits from our society, the more we face the risk that it will infiltrate all aspects of society, civilian and military.

We must act before that happens. The time for talking and theorising is over. We must face this scourge with action, and we must do it now.

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