Salafist bait: Network radicalization of young women in Munich exploded!

Salafist bait: Network radicalization of young women in Munich exploded!

Is the Internet a dangerous bazaar for extremists? In Germany, Islamist influencers cleverly use the new media to captivate young girls in particular. Youth are lured by colorful, glittery messages presented on platforms like TikTok and Instagram as part of a modern lifestyle. The goal? Seamless transition to radical Islam with conservative role models for women. An explosive report by Bayerischer Rundfunk reveals that this creeping radicalization begins at the tender age of 14 to 15. Investigators say there is an increase in such cases, which is simply frightening. “Junge Freiheit” reports on a secret study according to which even Catholic girls are influenced to convert and quickly marry Muslims [Junge Freiheit].

Dangerous messages on social networks

The product of the strategy shows how digitization blurred the limits of radicals: influencers appear as religious authorities, supposedly address simple everyday topics and gradually manipulate their perception. A scene dropout gives shattering insights: As soon as the conversion has been completed, the girls are dropped. A Salafist on Tiktok, for example, demands that women could work - but under male control. A really dark game that alerts the authorities. 11,500 Salafists are now known in Germany. What makes this number so terrifying? Each of them could be a hidden danger.

Responsibility of the platform operators and the fight against HATE Speech

But the network is not only dangerous due to its relentless Troll factories. According to a current management report from Jugendschutz.net, Islamists use current events, such as the war in Ukraine, to spread their dangerous propaganda among young people on the Internet. The group of experts also observes a massive increase in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- and queer+anti-content, and the agitation knows no more limits. The study shows that social media services in particular act as catalysts of these dangerous developments. Federal Minister of Family Affairs Lisa Paus warns: supposedly harmless content can also wear subtexts that are democratic and inhumane. It is the responsibility of the platform providers to delete this hatred quickly and effectively [Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth].