Identify warning signs of an extremist drift to prevent it: this question stirred professionals in daily contact with young people, particularly in schools. In response, researchers from the Swiss Institute of estimating the violence (Schweizer Institut für Gewalt einschätzung, SifG) in Zurich have developed software called radicalization profiling (Ra-Prof.)
with the help of 42 questions, this tool should help confirm or refute an initial suspicion of radicalization. For now, the Ra-Prof software is used by the city of Zurich, since last November. But it has been translated into 14 languages and generates interest in several other cantons, and Austria. “Professionals are often plunged into uncertainty facing the phenomenon of radicalization” said Daniele Lenzo, head of prevention at the city of Zurich and software developer
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Three possible answers: green, red, orange
A student suddenly refusing to participate in sport because it is mixed ? He publishes videos of the Islamic State? He breaks with friends, family? Is it academic failure? These are some of the behaviors scrutinized by the Ra-Prof software.
“He who answers the questionnaire must be familiar with the person assessed to be able to recognize a change, without having to search” emphasizes Daniele Lenzo. For assures its designer, this program should not serve professionals in contact with young people to “play detective”, but rather give them the means to sort out a doubt groundless and a real reason for concern. “Islam is sometimes used by teenagers in crisis just to provoke, because it has become a subversive theme,” says Daniele Lenzo.
It is to him that cater teachers, workers social or police in Zurich, when they think the signs of radicalization. If doubt appears to be based, Daniele Lenzo gives them access to the questionnaire. But they will not know the result of the evaluation. The officer in the prevention of violence, he is presented with three possible answers. Green, when there no urgency to act. Orange, if additional information is required. Red finally means an urgent need to intervene facing a “clear tendency to radicalization.” If the judge pretty serious case, the city prevention service informs the individual to the police, who can then transfer to intelligence services.
“The radicalization follows identifiable patterns”
the researcher trained in the prevention of jihad in Europe, is convinced: “the radicalization follows certain identifiable patterns.” A student refuses to shake hands with a teacher citing religious reasons, he started diligently practice a rigorous Islam overnight does not make him a potential jihadist. But it happens that sudden conversion is a sign of radicalization among others. Hence the difficulty for professionals: how to take seriously a risk, without casting doubt on an entire religious community
“It is not to stigmatize Muslims: 98 % of them live their faith in the respect of others. Radicalization concerns 2% of individuals who tend to want to impose their beliefs, to break with their families or to lead a parallel life online. It is they who are a danger, “says Daniele Lenzo. Sometimes a discussion with parents is enough to end a gear. “What interests us is if the person is in contact with a criminal organization,” says the attendant violence prevention.
Love has its limits. Without further analysis, it can be misleading. Daniele Lenzo cites a case met in a Zurich school. A young student is isolated, missing classes and regularly attends an Islamic association. Several signs, screened the questionnaire, put it in the red. However, after further discussed with the teacher and the young Daniele Lenzo notes that this boy had found in his religious conversion a response to the mobbing of which he was a victim. Mediation is conducted with success: the harassment to stop. The schoolboy gradually resume peaceful relations with its surroundings.
So far, the software has been used forty times in Zurich. It will mainly served to calm the spirits: no cases of radicalization was detected
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