The issue of countering violent extremism in the United States has not been as robust or dynamic as in Europe.
According to Mokhtar Awad, a research fellow in the programme on extremism at George Washington University’s Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, the United Sates is about five years behind the curve as it relates to programmes implemented by Europe.
Awad said: “Whatever programmes that we do talk about here in the United States or we have implemented are never going to be as ambitious or broad as the European programmes, simply because the problem is not so acute.”
He said the centre has recognised that violent extremism was not only about Islamist extremism but also white supremists and racists. However, Islamic terrorists have killed exponentially more Americans.
“The threat is understood to be generally more acute because it is connected to organised groups overseas, active conflict zones, and has its unique special characteristics.”
Awad was addressing a group of journalists from 14 countries on Monday at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, DC, as part of a reporting tour hosted by the US State Department, Bureau of Public Affairs.
The topic is Youth and Countering Violent Extremism. Awad is specialised in Islamist and Salafists groups in the Middle East region and regional politics with a special focus on emerging violent extremist organisations.
He said those who have extremist ideas may act on them but it was not always the case. Therefore, a better way was needed to intervene and not wait until they fell into the hands of gangs.
“This a problem that law enforcement cannot fix 100 per cent and we cannot wait for people who espouse these beliefs to go and commit a crime for the Government to intervene and then for us to recognise there is a problem,” Awad said.
In the United States, he said, there was no one overarching strategy.
He said the US was in the learning process and was no different from any other country grappling with the issue. He said there needed to be engagement with law enforcement and communities to raise awareness.
Data from the university showed that as of March 2016, 85 people had been charged in the United States with Isis-related offenses since their first arrests in March 2014.
The average age is 26 and 87 per cent are males. The vast majority are Americans or permanent residents. Approximately 38 per cent of those who have been charged converted to Islam.
Awad asked: “How is it that someone who is born and raised as an American and who has no connection to Islam from any one direction, not only ends up converting but basically converts to Isis and converts to the violent interpretation of Islam?”
He said these were people who were outside of the American Muslim community.
In all 50 states, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has stated there are active Isis-related investigations and 24 states have had at least one charge within their borders.