Page 47 - Cyber Terrorism and Extremism as Threat to Critical Infrastructure Protection

DENIS ČALETA, SARA PERKOVIĆ: EXTREMISM AND RADICALIZATION IN THE EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT – SECURITY CHALLENGES
OF RETURN FOREIGN FIGHTERS

in conflict as foreign fighters can expect. it is clear that for the EU to be successful in this it is
necessary to fight terrorism together – all the member states.

It is essential to share information between countries about foreign fighters, potentially dan-
gerous returnees, ways of reintegrating returning foreign fighters, successful programmes,
problems, and opportunities, and especially to have cooperation at levels of authority, from
the government, intelligence and security services, ministries and judges, to social workers
and local authorities. They must all work together for success in dealing with foreign fighters,
especially local secular and religious authorities, because they are the ones with the best in-
formation about potential threats, and can be the first to notice individuals who are a potential
threat or who are changing and becoming more radicalized.

Support must also be given to families of foreign fighters. They are crucial in helping some-
one who is being radicalized and in moving them from those surroundings. Family members
must be educated in what to look out for. One of the reasons why people became radicalized
was the feeling not being accepted; knowing this, governments must bear in mind that the
only solution is to develop strategies against discrimination in society.

In the end, properly supported returning foreign fighters can be of great value to the coun-
tries they are returning to, not only because they will then no longer pose a danger, but also
because they can provide critical information that only someone who was a member of a ter-
rorist organization could know. Successfully deradicalized people can also have a vital role
in mentoring others.

5 References

1. Arifi, K. (2018). The role of women in Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization: the
Kosovo perspective. Čaleta, D. (Ed.) and Robinson, A. Corinna (Ed.) Violent Extremism and Radi-
calization Processes as Driving Factors to Terrorism Threats. Ljubljana: Ministry of Defence of the
Republic of Slovenia, Joint Special Operations University and Institute for Corporative Security
Studies, pp.31-44.
2. Azinović, V., Jusić, M. (2016). The new lure of the Syrian war – the foreign fighters Bosnian con-
tingent. Sarajevo. Atlantic initiative. URL: file:///C:/Users/Denis/Downloads/The%20New%20
Lure%20of%20the%20Syrian%20War%20%20The%20Foreign%20Fighters%20Bosnian%20
Contingent.pdf
3. Barrett, R. (2017) Beyond the Caliphate: Foreign Fighters and the Threat of Returnees.The Soufan
Center. URL: http://thesoufancenter.org/research/beyond-caliphate/
4. Bos, et al. (2018). Capacity Building Challenges: identifying progress and remaining Gaps in
Dealing with Foreign (Terrorist) Fighters. ICCT Hague. URL: https://icct.nl/publication/capacity-
building-challenges-identifying-progress-and-remaining-gaps-in-dealing-with-foreign-terrorist-
fighters/
5. Byman D., Shapiro J. (2014) Be Afraid. Be a Little Afraid: The Threat of Terrorism from Western
Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq. URL: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/
Be-Afraid-web.pdf
6. Committee of Experts on Terrorism (Codexter) (2016). Council of Europe. URL:https://rm.coe.
int/1680641010

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