18-year-old IS sympathizer in Vienna: Match on message planned!

18-year-old IS sympathizer in Vienna: Match on message planned!

Wien, Österreich - In Vienna, an 18-year-old suspected IS sympathizer was arrested after having planned attacks on the Israeli embassy and a Shiite center. The arrest was arrested by the Cobra special unit in a Turkish bookstore. The man, who presented himself under the name "Abu Layeth", had shared radical content on the Internet and acquired knowledge about explosives, such as Exxpress.at reported.

When searching for his home, the officers found an explosive vest and three compromising photos. In these pictures, the suspect can be seen in front of a Mecca wall picture with a tawed finger, a machete and a rifle. He also posed with a self-made IS flag. The Austrian state security was made aware of the suspect by a foreign secret service.

radicalization and extremism

This incident raises important questions about radicalization and the ideologies behind such extremist actions. Islamism, an ideology that strives for a religiously legitimate society, can occur in different groups and forms. Extremist groups interpret religious signs and actions in a way that legitimizes violence, while the majority of Muslims reject these interpretations.

An example of the cultural sensitivity of religious gestures is the "Tahaid" finger, which was recently shown by football player Antonio Rüdiger. This gesture symbolizes the onset of God and is used during prayer. While some referred to them as the "Islamist greeting", Islamic scholar Serdar Kurnaz said that this gesture is used by both Sunnites and Shiites. However, extremists have taken these gesture for their purposes, which can lead to misunderstandings. It is important to lead a deal of society as a whole on such topics in order to reduce prejudices and to do educational work, as Kurnaz emphasizes, as Web.de reports.

prevention and dealing with radicalization

The radicalization of smaller groups is a complex problem that is influenced by various factors. Signs of radicalization are, for example, the withdrawal from social relationships, an absolute claim and the consumption of Islamist media. In order to counter this problem, prevention measures are required that include strengthening democratic attitudes in schools and specific offers for endangered groups. Advice centers can offer technical support, as on the website of the bpb

It is necessary to look at each other individually and to build trust in those affected. The role of religion should be considered differentiated, since most Muslims clearly reject extremist interpretations of Islam.