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| The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie makes life a beautiful journey. |
It was a smart move by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy
Jamaluddin to outline the five factors that drive youths to join
extremist groups, as reported in your article “Extremism due to 5 factors” (NST,
April 5).
The factors – absence of a platform to voice
opinions, socio-economic issues, desire to change the world, emotional silence
and misconception of justice – are the reasons why the number of youths trying to
join groups with ridiculous ideologies and teachings, including the Islamic State (IS), keeps increasing. These individuals think that
their decision is heroic, daring and noble, but they forget to weigh the pros
and cons of their actions. Worse, they believe that they fight in the name of
religion, justice and peace.
The absence of proper channels for youngsters to share
their views causes them to resort to quick, easy, risky and inadvisable ways of being heard, no thanks to social media.
In
the world where freedom of speech and expression rules the minds of people from
all walks of life, especially the young and immature, many may be easily convinced
to agree with wrong ideas and interpretations of issues. In the case of
extremism, youngsters are recruited to join militants when their minds are
manipulated by those obsessed with violence and inhumane acts.
Some youths are tricked by IS
recruiters, who target those with less exposure to the outside world, as well
as those having difficulty finding stable jobs, most probably because the applicants are too demanding and selective, or because of low qualification. This socio-economic
factor has consequently given opportunities for "predators" to hunt for
victims.
People who live lonely lives are also prone to joining
extremist groups. These antisocial individuals are pressured by emptiness and
solitariness. Without companions to give them a second opinion, the
situation drives them to make drastic, dangerous and destructive decisions
affecting not only themselves, but other people, too.
The spirit to uphold justice is another factor that inspires youngsters to become "heroes" and "saviours". These volunteers
have the wrong understanding of justice and jihad in their bid to die as martyrs.
With the five factors outlined, it is hoped that we
can work on the next step to eradicate extremism, which has drawn so much innocent blood.
Courtesy of New Straits Times
16 April 2015
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