Lecture 'From Neo-Nazis to Jihadist'

Yesterday evening we visited a lecture held by Dr. Erin Saltman named 'from Neo-Nazis to Jihadist'. Saltman works at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and is a senior researcher and programme manager. She talked about preventing violent extremism and countering it.

Nowadays extremist group use the internet and social media and they use it in very many and decentralized Websites so they can use the security and anonymity the internet provides. However, Saltman stressed that the internet is not the cause of extremism but a catalyst. She points out that while previously radicalization took six to twelve month it can now be done within two weeks. This assertion really shocked me. Another thing that I was surprised about was Saltman saying that IS-advertisement looks more like the advertisement the Nazis did then like the ‘normal’ Jihadist-advertisement.

However, the thing I was like most shocked about was that one reason of young women in Europe to join the IS is because they do not objectify women like the western people do. I think it is contradicting to what the IS is standing for. I know that even in this world you still have a huge problem about objectifying not only female but also male people but I really do not think that the IS and joining them is an alternative that you should even think of.