The Dialogue Forum for Development and Human Rights, releases today, on the 5th of April 2021, a report entitled “Europe’s Confrontation of Religious Extremism in six European countries”.
The report draws on measures, initiatives, and counter-laws implemented by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden, as part of governments’ strategies to combat extremism, particularly the Islamic form of extremism. The report reveals that all six countries recognize Islamic extremism as a threat to their national security.
The report notes that the countermeasures taken by Belgium are reflected in the government’s implementation of a comprehensive approach to combating extremism by amending existing legal frameworks and creating new plans developed specifically to combat Islamic extremism and racism at the national level. The report indicates that the countermeasures adopted by the government of Denmark are present in the government’s implementation of legislation, action plans, and a comprehensive multi-level cooperation system between its local and national authorities.The report also reveals that France’s fight against what it calls “Islamic separatism” is reflected in the recent legislation proposed by the government, as well as in the officials’ discourse. The report notes that Germany’s countermeasures lie in the government establishment of a comprehensive program committees, amending existing laws, and intelligence surveillance to extremists’ organizations and persons.The report also reveals the countermeasures taken by Netherlands by reflecting on the policies implemented by the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service and implementing counter-terrorism policies and strategies. Finally, in Sweden, the report highlights the actions that Swedish ministries have taken to combat extremism.
