Dammam - Arab Today
Security experts and psychologists agree that specialized community organizations should pay close attention to individuals who grow up in dysfunctional or needy families, knowing that a strong family unit is key to the stability of the community.
Extremists target such families where they find the right environment for recruiting their children. By playing with the minds and emotions of young people raised in such families, they often succeed in convincing them (some of them drug abusers) to carry out suicide bombings.
Experts agree that eight main factors encourage some individuals to join extremist groups. They list them as: growing up in broken families; psychological or behavioral disorders; academic failure; lack of money; searching for prestige and excellence; propensity for revenge or murder; peer pressure; control through social media and other channels of communication.
Vice chair of the security committee at the Shura Council Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Tamimi says: “No view that encourages bombing sacred places, including the resting place of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his mosque, or shedding the blood of innocent people and security officers should be tolerated. Such minds likely suffer from naïveté or mental disorders, or have been brainwashed."
"Immunization of society against extremist ideas starts in the family,” said Mohammed Shawoosh, a psychologist.
“Terrorist groups take advantage of children who grow up in dysfunctional families, pretending to come to their rescue, and thus social actors must be active in addressing these problems and giving them psychological and social stability.”
Other experts agree that the illusion of greatness that results from belonging to terrorist groups lures young people to join, especially those who do not want good for Muslims and nourish feelings of hatred and vengeance toward others, using religion as justification.
Source: Arab News