Reformed Jihadi warns Paris attacks response risks radicalising a new generation

“We're playing into the hands of ISIS” — A former member of Al Qaeda, Hanif Qadir is now on the de-radicalisation frontline in East London. But politicians are making his work much harder.

Hanif Qadir knows about radicalisation. In 2002, disgusted by the Americans’ response to 9/11, he went to Afghanistan and worked alongside Al Qaeda. Disillusioned by what he saw there, he escaped back to the UK and set up the Active Change Foundation in Walthamstow, East London, which has become one of Europe’s leading deradicalisation centres. ACF have successfully persuaded many local youth not to join the fight in Syria, but Hanif is increasingly concerned by how the struggle against radical groups is evolving.

“Radicalisation as we used to know it, has completely changed,” Hanif explains. “The change is that Al Qaeda weren’t as openly barbaric as ISIS are. People who joined them, like myself, realised the brutality of their nature and turned their backs on them. But now the difference is ISIS are openly barbaric and brutal, yet people are still joining them – which was dumbfounding for us.”

The ISIS brand is “potent and very powerful,” Hanif explains. Their narrative is that the West is not fighting a war against terror, but a war against Muslims. Hanif is worried that the rhetoric from Western leaders, air strikes and the increasing likelihood of military intervention in Syria after the Paris attacks will draw more angry youth to ISIS’ side.

HUCK_roots_ACF_JCANNON-087

Hanif with Mike Jervis, another adult leader at ACF who specialises in anti-gang programmes.

“I think we’re heading in the wrong direction,” Hanif explains. “I’ve always maintained one thing: the war is being fought on the wrong battlefield. We’ve been lead to a battlefield chosen and defined by ISIS, which is the wrong one. We’re at serious risk in London. If we’re going to respond militarily [to Paris], then expect the unexpected. If Paris happened here, the backlash, the destruction within communities, would be profound – we’re not prepared for that.”

ISIS have demonstrated their skill at manipulating European fears, through tactics such as putting the British-accented ‘Jihadi John’ centre stage in their shocking execution videos. The terror group claimed that the Paris attacks were to deter Western strikes on Syria, but Hanif argues ISIS are skilled manipulators. “These people know exactly how we’re going to respond,” he explains. “We’re playing into the hands of ISIS. They know they’re going to get bombed the hell out of and people are going to get killed. They’re not worried about that. Because they know their idea will remain and it will resurface in a much more brutal and uglier form.”

From the Walthamstow youth club that is ACF’s base, Hanif sees the battle of ideas playing out as ISIS target disaffected young people in the local area. “We have to fight the battle on the battlefield where we’re comfortable and is that is in the hearts and minds of our communities and people around the world,” he explains. “This is not a battle of missiles, but they’re drawing us into that battle.”

HUCK_roots_ACF_JCANNON-044

A key pillar of ISIS propaganda is that Muslims living in the West will never be accepted as full members of society, and this has resonated with many young people in France, Belgium and Walthamstow. The ratcheting up of anti-Islamic rhetoric since the Paris attacks has made even more people feel vulnerable. In London, it’s not just Muslims who are more conscious of what they say, what they wear and how they behave: many others with brown skin – Asians and Africans of other religions – have begun to feel suspicion and distrust too.

Making people, especially young people, feel less accepted by society is dangerous, Hanif cautions. ISIS feed on alienation. “The government needs to extend their hand to Muslims, admit we have a problem and allow Muslims to be part of something positive,” he explains. “We’re not using our brains to recruit people for our cause, which is to prevent extremism. We need to revolutionise our nation, our infrastructure and protect our communities. We’re creating spaces where people are going to be more vulnerable.”

In a speech at the One Young World conference in Bangkok last week, Sir Bob Geldof laid the blame for terrorism firmly on young people, claiming Millenials’ hands are “stained with blood.” He was critical of online activism and argued ISIS’ victims in Beirut, Paris and Egypt, “were killed because of your generation.” He added: “Your age group are the killers of Syria.”

The media has often echoed Geldof’s sentiment – even if they haven’t been as direct – painting young people as a threat. Hanif sees it differently. In the UK, he argues young people have been “failed across the board.” They’ve seen cuts fall hardest on young people, support services like youth clubs close, and grown up with a climate of intolerance and distrust in the media. Failing to support young people, positively engage with them, and understand their problems puts them at far greater risk of radicalisation, Hanif argues.

“Any nation worth its salt, which has the best interests of that nation, has to invest in young people at every single level,” he explains. “We need to give young people the confidence, skills and trust, that they are not the problem, they are part of the solution. We need to shape young people into positive, critical thinkers and problem solvers, to be able to come forward and give back to the community. The only way they’re going to be part of the solution is if they are educated, invested in, engaged with and revolutionised effectively by the powers that be, because we can see that across the world, young people are being revolutionised in a very different, dangerous way.”

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


Ad

Latest on Huck

Red shop frontage with "Open Out" branding and appointment-only signage.
Activism

Meet the trans-led hairdressers providing London with gender-affirming trims

Open Out — Since being founded in 2011, the Hoxton salon has become a crucial space the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Hannah Bentley caught up with co-founder Greygory Vass to hear about its growth, breaking down barbering binaries, and the recent Supreme Court ruling.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Cyclists racing past Palestinian flag, yellow barriers, and spectators.
Sport

Gazan amputees secure Para-Cycling World Championships qualification

Gaza Sunbirds — Alaa al-Dali and Mohamed Asfour earned Palestine’s first-ever top-20 finish at the Para-Cycling World Cup in Belgium over the weekend.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Crowded festival site with tents, stalls and an illuminated red double-decker bus. Groups of people, including children, milling about on the muddy ground.
© Alan Tash Lodge
Music

New documentary revisits the radical history of UK free rave culture

Free Party: A Folk History — Directed by Aaron Trinder, it features first-hand stories from key crews including DiY, Spiral Tribe, Bedlam and Circus Warp, with public streaming available from May 30.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Weathered wooden building with a tall spire, person on horseback in foreground.
Culture

Rahim Fortune’s dreamlike vision of the Black American South

Reflections — In the Texas native’s debut solo show, he weaves familial history and documentary photography to challenge the region’s visual tropes.

Written by: Miss Rosen

A collage depicting a giant flup for mankind, with an image of the Earth surrounded by planets and people in sci-fi costumes.
Culture

Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind

Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.

Written by: Emma Garland

Three orange book covers with the title "Foreign Fruit" against a dark background.
Culture

Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”

Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.

Written by: Katie Goh

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.