Category: RADICALIZACION EN

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New Yearbook on Jihadist Terrorism: A Key Analysis of the Global Threat’s Evolution

On February 27, the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies participated in the presentation of the Jihadist Terrorism Yearbook 2025, a benchmark publication edited by the International Observatory for Studies on Terrorism (OIET). This edition once again features the contribution of Daniel F. Pérez, researcher and project coordinator at the Euro-Arab Foundation.

The report, which consolidates monitoring data from the past year, reveals a significant transformation in radicalization dynamics and a shift in violence hotspots—with a particular impact on the African continent and the persistent threat within digital environments.

In this edition, Daniel F. Pérez-García provides a fundamental academic and strategic perspective, examining the complex relationship between Jihadism and the Far Right. The core of Pérez-García’s contribution focuses on the phenomenon of “reciprocal radicalisation,” where both extremisms operate as “rhetorical allies” that feed into each other in a vicious cycle of hatred. According to the researcher, although their ultimate goals are antagonistic, these movements converge through a shared architecture of nostalgia, existential threats, and utopias of purity.

The study highlights a concerning “mirror effect”:

  • Supremacist racism is instrumentalised by Jihadism to denounce an alleged crusade against Islam.
  • Radical Islamist rhetoric is used by the Far Right to justify a threat to national identity.

Ultimately, both ideologies target democratic institutions and social pluralism.

From Reaction to Resilience

As a response to this challenge, Pérez-García advocates for a transition from the current “culture of reaction” toward a “culture of resilience” based on strategic communication. He proposes an operational roadmap utilizing advanced tools, such as Artificial Intelligence for early detection and the creation of hyper-personalized counter-narratives.

“The goal is to connect emotionally with younger audiences in the digital environment before a cognitive fixation on extremist discourses occurs, thereby strengthening social cohesion against the polarization that defines the current geopolitical landscape,” states the Euro-Arab researcher.

Yearbook Links:

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The Euro-Arab Foundation participates in a study visit on youth resilience and radicalisation prevention in Egypt

Within the framework of its participation in the EU Knowledge Hub, the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies took part in the MENA region study visit titled: “Preventing Radicalisation and Building Youth Resilience: Insights from Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism.”

The meeting, organized by the EUKH and the European Commission on 21 and 22 January, brought together policymakers and practitioners from EU Member States and MENA countries in the Egyptian capital to analyze successful models in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE).

The Egyptian model and the role of narratives

During the visit, the delegation gained in-depth insights into the Egyptian prevention model, with a particular focus on the work of the Al-Azhar Observatory. Experts, including Euro-Arab Foundation researcher Jusaima Moaid-azm, analysed how this center integrates constant monitoring, deep analysis, and the production of effective alternative narratives.

The visit provided first-hand knowledge of the Observatory’s communication strategies to dismantle extremist discourse—an area where the Euro-Arab Foundation has an extensive track record through its various research projects. This analysis was linked to a comparative study on youth vulnerability and resilience in the face of social, economic, and digital pressures in both Europe and the MENA region, based on the premise that prevention is not an isolated task, but rather a systemic challenge.

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The Euro-Arab Foundation participates in Brussels in the strategic boost of the EU Knowledge Hub for 2026

Three researchers from the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies actively participated in the first Joint Thematic Panel Meeting of the EU Knowledge Hub (on the Prevention of Radicalisation), held on 21 January at the headquarters of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs.

This gathering marked the start of a pivotal year for security and PCVE (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism) in Europe, where the primary focus will evolve from theoretical learning to practical implementation.

Towards a more practical and connected prevention

The hybrid meeting brought together co-leaders, Research Secretariats from the seven Thematic Panels, and Special Advisors of the EUKH. The core objective of the day was to define the strategic guidelines that will provide EU Member States with concrete tools and high-impact orientations to tackle current PCVE challenges.

Key points highlighted during the working sessions included:

  • Cross-panel synergies: The assembly identified the need to tackle complex issues through a multidisciplinary lens, bridging areas of expertise such as the intersection of online radicalisation and youth.
  • Knowledge translation: The 2026 strategy will focus on ensuring that conclusions and recommendations do not remain mere reports but are “translated” into effective public policies and practices for practitioners across Europe.
  • Strategic impact: Thanks to insights from experts and Special Advisors, new communication initiatives have been established to ensure that knowledge directly reaches decision-makers.

Commitment of the Euro-Arab Foundation

The presence of the Euro-Arab Foundation’s researchers—Paula Cano and José Luis Salido (Research Secretariat for Thematic Panel 5: ‘Lone Actors and Mental Health’) and Isabel Pérez (Research Secretariat for Thematic Panel 1: ‘Ideologies and Conspiracy Narratives’)—reinforces the Euro-Arab’srole as an essential bridge between academic research and the social application of prevention policies. Through this participation, the Foundation continues to contribute actively to community resilience and democratic security within the European framework.

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The Euro-Arab Foundation Participates in the 4th Training Session of the European Observatory of Online Hate

The fourth training session of the European Observatory of Online Hate (EOOH) took place in Madrid on October 21, organized by Violence Prevention Network International and led by the VPN Academy training team.

The session was attended by more than 40 representatives from politics, civil society, and law enforcement agencies, hailing from 28 different organizations across 10 EU Member States. The event also featured researchers from the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, whose work is specifically focused on the analysis and fight against hate speech within the framework of various European projects in which the Foundation participates.

The final session will take place in Belgium, from November 26 to 27, 2025.

About the EOOH

The European Observatory of Online Hate (EOOH) is a project supported by the European Commission dedicated to combating illegal hate speech and disinformation in the digital environment, aiming to promote a safer online space aligned with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Its strategy is based on a triple approach: Identification (using advanced AI technology to detect harmful content in multiple languages), Analysis (investigating the nature and trends of online hate), and Action (collaborating with law enforcement and civil society to report and address this content, strengthening cooperation and training key actors in the fight against hate narratives such as antisemitism, Islamophobia, and LGTBphobia)

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The Euro-Arab Foundation Contributes to the European Research on Global and Geopolitics of Radicalisation

As part of its work at the European Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation, the Euro-Arab Foundation is a member of the Research Secretariat for Thematic Panel 7, ‘Global and geopolitical factors and unwanted foreign influences’. Daniel F. Pérez García, a researcher and European projects manager, as well as a trainer on the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism, is responsible for this secretariat task for a panel that examines how geopolitical factors and global dynamics drive radicalisation and extremism within the EU, particularly when unwanted foreign influences are involved.

The work of this panel, comprised of a group of experts from the academic, security, and political fields, focuses on offering evidence-based recommendations to member states to strengthen their proactive and reactive capacity against the external promotion of radicalisation. Thus, the panel analyses the influence of international and geopolitical events on extremist multi-ideological mobilisation in Europe, as well as influence and undesirable interference campaigns to strengthen radical groups in the EU.

The panel promotes dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and professionals to design strategies adapted to these emerging challenges, improve resilience, identify key players and their tactics, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing prevention instruments. It also facilitates cooperation with allied countries, such as those in the Mediterranean or the Western Balkans, and contributes to the EU’s Agenda for the Prevention of Terrorism and Violent Extremism.

“Preparing the Ground: Global Impact and Foreign Interference in the Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism (P/CVE)” is the title of the first meeting that brought together members of this panel, and the final results can be consulted on this website.

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Conference on Youth and Violent Extremism Addresses Trends from the Local Level

The Centre d’Estudis Jurídics i Formació Especialitzada (CEJFE) has organised the XV Jornada de la Comunitat de pràctica de Prevenció i Mediació Comunitària, focused on the topic of “Youth and Violent Extremism. Approaches from the local level”. The event, which took place on 28 May in Comarruga (Spain), was attended by experts in the field, including the researcher from the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, Daniel F. Pérez, who addressed the multi-ideological trends of radicalisation from a perspective that connects the global with the local, analysing the preventive role of youth. The mediator Lourdes Soler, from L’Ajuntament de L’Hospitalet, was in charge of presenting the lecture given by the researcher from the Euro-Arab Foundation.

The day also included a dialogue of practical experiences with Hicham Ibn Abdelouahab from the Ali Zaoua Foundation (Casablanca) and Manuel Comeron, head of the Prevention Plan of the city of Liège (Belgium), moderated by Xavier Xarbau from Salt City Council.

In addition, the final product of the Community of Practice (CoP) was presented with the screening of ‘El camí està traçat: Actuem a temps!’, by Fatima Ghailan (Cunit City Council), Laia González (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council), Dani Utge (Vendrell City Council) and the audiovisual team formed by Olivia Paré and Marc Morell. This round table was moderated by Luis Herraiz of Arbúcies Town Council.

The conference was opened by Marc Cerón, Director of CEJFE, Jesús María del Cacho, Director General of Criminal Execution in the Community and Juvenile Justice, and Mariona Figueras, Councillor for Youth of the Vendrell Town Council. Lídia Ayora, Head of the Servei de Mediació i Assessorament Tècnic (SMAT), was in charge of the conclusion.

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The Yearbook of Jihadist Terrorism and the Struggle for the Dignity of Victims

On March 25th, the presentation of the 2024 Yearbook of Jihadist Terrorism of the International Observatory for Terrorism Studies (OIET) took place at the Ateneo de Madrid, a report that serves to understand the evolution that jihadism is having, as well as its most prominent trends and dynamics. This year, this yearbook is nourished by seven chapters that shed light on global jihadist terrorism, jihadist activity in the Maghreb and West Africa and Southeast Asia, the fight against jihadism in Spain and Europe, or justice focused on the victims and survivors of the Yazidi genocide and experiences of restorative justice in countries such as the Philippines, Spain, Colombia, or Nigeria, potentially applicable to societies impacted by jihadist terrorism.

A Decade of Yazidi Genocide

The researcher from the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, Daniel F. Pérez García, is the author of chapter 6 dedicated to the analysis of the Yazidi genocide a decade after it occurred to explore how to implement victim-centered justice, addressing its lasting effects with a future vision of protecting the fundamental rights and needs of the Yazidi people.

In this chapter, the Foundation researcher exposes the crimes perpetrated by the self-proclaimed Islamic State against the Yazidi people in Iraq and Syria, examining the psychosocial impact on the victims and the community and their demands for holistic reparation. The approach to the traumatic impact of these events on the Yazidi community is particularly unique, especially aggravated in women survivors of sexual violence during the conflict. Furthermore, Pérez García explores the fundamental principles for a transitional justice response focused on Yazidi victims and survivors, which involves the comprehensive management of displaced persons and the disappeared, socio-health care, the construction of memory, and the participation of victims and survivors in accountability. To do this, he enriches his analysis with interviews with specialists in International Law, mental health, and armed conflicts, such as Amnesty International, the Institute of Forensic Psychology, Human Rights Watch in Iraq, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights. These multidisciplinary perspectives – the author defends – allow reinforcing justice mechanisms and preventing the repetition of these crimes.

Likewise, this chapter seeks to raise awareness in the international community about the seriousness of these crimes, reflecting on a decalogue of priority areas to achieve effective justice focused on Yazidi victims and survivors.

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The Euro-Arab Foundation hosted the first in-situ Strategic Communications Seminar of the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation

The seminar, held on November 28th and 29th at the Euro-Arab Foundation headquarters in Granada, convened leaders and experts to discuss and shape the future of strategic communication. Key discussions centered on empowering local communities with tailored tools and successful strategies from EU Member States. A diverse group of experts shared valuable insights throughout the event.

The Euro-Arab Foundation, a key member of the EU Knowledge Hub consortium, oversees the Strategic Communication (StratComms) line for the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism.

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The Euro-Arab Foundation participates in the EUROCRIM Annual Congress with an interdisciplinary panel on policies for the prevention of violent extremism

From September 11 to 14, the Annual Congress of the European Society of Criminology, EUROCRIM, in its twenty-fourth edition, is taking place at the University of Bucharest. The Executive Secretary of the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, Antonio Sanchez, and the Director of Research and Projects of the same, Javier Ruipérez, have participated with the panel Interdisciplinary approaches to radicalization, political violence, and the relationship between terrorism and crime to advance P/CVE (Program for the Prevention and Combating of Violent Extremism).

The panel, moderated by Sánchez, is part of the INTERRAD project whose aim is to contribute to the challenge of Security, Safety and Defense by addressing cooperation in the prevention of violent radicalization of a jihadist nature in the framework of the European Union (EU) through an interdisciplinary perspective. Ruipérez presented an update on P/CVE strategic communications. Other speakers were:

  • Carlos Echeverría Jesús, Professor of Terrorism and International Relations at UNED, who spoke about the role of Daesh and Al-Qaeda as central actors in the expansion of jihadist ideology;
  • Roberto Muelas Lobato, Assistant Professor and Doctor of the University of Burgos in the Area of Social Psychology, and member of the research group Social Inclusion and Quality of Life, who spoke about the side effects of the program for the prevention of violent extremism ‘Fenix Andalucía’; and
  • Salvador Berdún Carrión, PhD in Criminology from the University of Granada and Director of the Department of Studies of ACAIP, who addressed the influence of National Security and terrorism in European Prison Regimes.
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The Euro-Arab Research Director reflects on the causes and prevention of radicalization

“Radicalization and violent extremism: opportunities for prevention.”

Javier Ruipérez Canales, Director of Research and Projects at the Euro-Arab Foundation, invites us to unravel the roots of violent extremism in his book, Radicalization and violent extremism: opportunities for prevention, published by Tirant Lo Blanch. The author offers an innovative analysis of the phenomenon of radicalization, moving away from predominantly securitarian perspectives. Through exhaustive research, Ruipérez concludes that preventing radicalization requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying social causes. His work, inspired by the events of 11-M and subsequent European policies, becomes an essential reference for understanding this complex problem.

Ruipérez shows how social fractures, polarization and hate speeches push vulnerable individuals towards radicalization. In his work, the author defends the need to address radicalization as a social problem rooted in inequalities and exclusions, beyond a mere security issue.

About the author

Javier Ruipérez Canales is Director of Research and International Projects at the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies (Granada), where he is also the main researcher in the Area of Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism, a field in which he has more than ten years of experience in which he has developed numerous researches, innovation and development projects.

PhD. in Social Sciences from the University of Granada, Ruipérez is director of Strategic Communication of the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation of the European Commission, in which the Euro-Arab Foundation participates, trainer in the field of radicalization and prevention for professionals in social and security fields and advisor for national and international institutions. He is the author of several academic publications and is a member of the Network of Experts on Hate Crimes and Underreporting (REDOI), of the European Community of Researchers on Radicalization of the European Commission (ERCOR), among others.