Moderates Attempt to Counter Extremism Online

            Extremist Islamist groups like ISIS – also known as ISIL, Daesh, or the Islamic State – challenge moderate Islamist narratives by spreading their ideology online. Rashad Hussain, Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), addressed this issue in a forum entitled “Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorist Recruiting in the Digital Age” at the Hedayah Center in Abu Dhabi on December 9. “The challenge we are facing online is that terrorists are drawing on ideas and grievances that resonate with various audiences to recruit and exploit disaffected youth,” he said. Hussain proposed five strategies to challenge extremist groups’ messaging online and seven ways that governments and NGOs can combat extremist ideologies. The following are excerpts from Hussain’s remarks.

Filling the Void: Creating Credible Online Messaging

            As we have discussed at this conference and as we have heard suggested during our engagement around the world – including with OIC countries, Muslim communities, youth, civil society, and religious leaders – Muslim-hosted and run messaging initiatives and entities should be established to take a leading role in utilizing the following approaches to counter terrorist messaging.

1. Amplifying the Islamic response to extremists to stem recruiting- Messaging initiatives and entities should create and disseminate content, including videos, that grapples with the same grievances as extremist materials and conclude with powerful messages of “the proper Islamic/Prophetic response” and descriptions of the theologically proscribed punishments for those who kill innocent people. Direct-to-camera videos of qualified Islamic scholars making religious arguments are important but insufficient; to be successful, these materials must also provide a credible hook and a sense of purpose and obligation.

2. “De-glamorizing” Daesh- In addition to making clear that ISIL is not the Caliphate, content should highlight instances in which Daesh fighters have retreated and lost ground. Content should also deglamorize the foreign fighter lifestyle by showing the miserable living conditions that fighters are forced to endure. I am sure you are aware, for example, of the reports of recruited fighters being used as janitors and servants.

3. Highlighting former radicals and Muslim victims of terrorism- Messaging centers should also produce content that erodes the terrorists’ credibility by using images and credible Muslim voices to graphically illustrate how ISIL, al Qaeda and their affiliates are killing mostly Muslims, including women and children, rather than defending the Muslim communities. Family members of victims and terrorists, former foreign fighters, and former radicals could also provide testimonials describing how their lives have been destroyed by misguided participation in extremist causes. These materials can be titled and compiled in ways to ensure that they appear as top hits when searches are conducted.

4. Maintaining a more constant and creative online presence- The messaging initiatives and centers would maintain a constant presence on extremist message boards in multiple languages to combat terrorist narratives and religious arguments and justifications.

5. Highlighting positive narratives- Content would also include materials combating the narrative that devout Muslim youth cannot succeed in the modern world. It would highlight similarly situated Muslims who are overcoming odds to succeed and Muslims who are expressing their grievances and channeling their energy in positive, impactful ways. Such materials would also highlight Muslims engaged in humanitarian work that directly benefits those suffering from poverty, disease, and conflict. Those who gain experience in creating and publishing such content will form an invaluable cadre of experts who can be used in other settings, including de-radicalization programming.

Building International Cooperation: Working with Partner Countries and Organizations

            There are a number of ways in which governments and NGOS might support the creation and dissemination of credible content and positive alternatives to extremist narratives:

1. Support for Messaging Centers and Initiatives- Governments, NGOs, and private companies can fund counter-messaging initiatives and centers and collaborate in sharing training, exchanges, and technical expertise.

2. Content Creation Grants- Every country can offer grants that sponsor the creation of CVE social media and other content. Governments could offer attractive grants to individuals and groups – particularly in this region – to create campaigns, companies and organizations to disseminate CVE content. Such an initiative could be also designed as an initiative to further spur regional social entrepreneurship.

3. Regional Conferences- Arab and OIC countries could convene events similar to this Hedayah Expo by bringing together media, social media leaders, foundations, interested private sector leaders, and religious leaders to establish mechanisms for creating content targeting youth audiences. These types of events could be replicated in Southeast Asia, North Africa, and elsewhere.

4. Online Competitions- Like this week’s hackathon, Governments and NGOs could also hold national, pan-Arab, and OIC-wide online contests to incentivize the creation of CVE, anti-Daesh, and positive content. Competition would spur the creation of ideas that are tailored to particular localities and that could then be distributed to target specific audiences.

5. Amplification of Messages within Muslim-Majority Countries- Multiple sectors of societies, including governments, NGOs, private industry, media, and influential figures should highlight inspiring stories, strong role models, and other positive narratives around the Muslim world. Similarly, they should also underscore the destructive impact of terrorism on Muslim communities by broadcasting the stories of former radicals and foreign fighters who condemn terrorists’ actions and approaches.

6. Amplifying and Mobilizing Religious Leaders - In addition to amplifying their statements, edicts, and sermons, religious leaders can be mobilized as parts of rapid-response teams of influential figures to travel together to regions where extremism is gaining a foothold. Individual statements are important, but delegations of the most influential international imams coming together with a common message would be much more visible and powerful.

7. Supporting Effective De-radicalization Programs- Some de-radicalization programs have been effective in working with former radicals. Identifying and expanding upon effective programs can also create a talent pool of voices that become expert at combating terrorist narratives, including in the online space. Such experts and former radicals can also be used in other intervention programs.

Click here for Rashad Hussain’s full remarks