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Since October 2016, the Office for Extremism and Violence Prevention (FSEG) operates in the city of Winterthur. The operation of the point of contact is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, now city council has decided to continue, as he announced on Tuesday. The specialist office was founded because several people from Winterthur joined the so-called Islamic State (IS). Past experience has shown that it is still necessary to provide guidance on the early detection and prevention of radicalization.
At today 's press conference, City Councilor Nicolas Galladé (SP), head of the Department of Social Affairs, has shown himself to be positive. The specialized department, which has a workload of 80 percent, has had a positive effect in less than two years, he says. It led to a "significant appeasement of the population" and contributed to the Federal Action Plan for the Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism.
At the federal level, it is even recommended to establish contact points like those in Winterthur in other communities. For these reasons, the city of Winterthur wants to continue the initially limited period of 18 months. However, the post should pave the way and, in the future, be a specialist in all forms of extremism.
Cooperation with the police in five cases
In the first 18 months since the start of operations, the department processed 76 consultation requests. The majority were issues of Islamism. In 68 cases, these were people potentially at risk, said department head Urs Allemann. It dealt with violations of social norms, provocations and questions relating to the religious activities of "people at risk".
These are people who have not been prosecuted but who have ideologies or radical thoughts and who violate unwritten norms and laws. They are still beyond the red line, resulting in criminal penalties. The counseling sessions generally reassured the situation. In five cases, the department had to co-operate with the Winterthur Municipal Police's Violence Protection Center, as there were signs of violence, alienation or self-harm.
The schoolgirl prophesied hell
Allemann also gave an example of his department, where he had to intervene. Thus, a professional school teacher worried when a student started practicing Islam and hiding. She prophesied to a Muslim classmate that they would go to hell if they did not keep the Islamic commandments. In talking with the student and his parents, a certain calm could be established. The young woman was unable to identify trends of radicalization, she was looking for her Islamic roots. But the teacher clarified that such statements against classmates are not tolerated.
In addition to individual counseling, knowledge transfer is a central task of the ministry. Among other things, the FSEG organized parenting events and a specialized seminar on the early detection of Islamic radicalization. The elementary school textbook – Radicalism, Treatment of Radicals and Groups – is also one of the areas in which the FSEG communicated the norm of non-violence between October 2016 and March 2018. (tif / hoh)
Created: 10.07.2018, 10:23
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