Tag: prevention

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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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IN2PREV-en News Projects

Safeguarding individual rights and freedoms in the face of the security challenge

On 28 April, the third Network Panel Thematic Debate, organised by the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies (FUNDEA) and Innovative Prison Systems (IPS), examined the intersections between migration and security, and the risks of unlawful profiling of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe. This online debate brought together key actors and organisations, including law enforcement, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as experts, to discuss how to prevent radicalisation in a way that does not unduly undermine fundamental rights, including the right to non-discrimination and the right to asylum, in line with the objectives of the IN2PREV project.

To this end, the event benefited from contributions from the International Centre for Counterterrorism, as well as from the Euro-Arab Foundation whose researcher, Lucía Alonso Pérez, provided guidance to help prevent profiling based on discriminatory criteria when conducting risk assessments of violent extremism. The conference concluded with a presentation by the Guardia Civil, which presented the protocols and practices currently applied in Spain to prevent unlawful profiling, followed by an exchange of experiences and reflections with participants from NGOs and law enforcement agencies from across Europe.

About IN2PREV

The European IN2PREV project is a European initiative that started in September 2022 and in which the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies participates as a member, together with partners from Poland, Portugal, Romania, Republic of Moldova, Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The aim of the project is to facilitate the integration of refugees and asylum seekers and prevent their radicalisation through early identification of vulnerability risk factors. The successful inclusion of refugees as a way to prevent radicalisation is an issue that, despite its acknowledged importance and growing concern, has not received adequate attention and action, and is often addressed through highly securitarian approaches.

Last March, the project brought a seminar to Bratislava to improve the skills of law enforcement and non-governmental organisations working on the frontline with refugees and asylum seekers in preventing radicalisation. Euro-Arab researcher Lucía Alonso Pérez gave a presentation that explored in depth the practices of preventing violent extremism in order to ensure their compliance with fundamental rights and ethical principles. In her intervention, she addressed issues such as respect for human dignity, the right to non-discrimination and privacy, and the importance of guaranteeing access to international protection. In addition, he stressed the need to implement action protocols that prioritise the protection of the rights of refugees, especially those in vulnerable situations.

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IN2PREV-en News

Human Rights and Refuge: Essential Training for Frontline Professionals

From March 25 to 27, a training seminar took place in Bratislava, Slovakia, framed within the European project IN2PREV, of which the Euro-Arab Foundation is a part. This initiative supports the improvement of the skills of security forces and non-governmental organizations working on the frontlines with refugees and asylum seekers, in the prevention of radicalization. The Euro-Arab Foundation researcher, Lucía Alonso Pérez, participated with a presentation that delved into the practices of preventing violent extremism to ensure their compliance with fundamental rights and ethical principles. In her speech, she addressed issues such as respect for human dignity, the right to non-discrimination and privacy, and the importance of ensuring access to international protection. Furthermore, she highlighted the need to implement action protocols that prioritize the protection of the rights of refugees, especially those in vulnerable situations.

Lucía Alonso Pérez, Euro-Arab Foundation’s researcher, during her intervention in the training

The event served to exchange experiences and improve the capacity to prevent and identify the factors of vulnerability to radicalization in refugees and asylum seekers, to transform these vulnerabilities into protection factors.

About IN2PREV

The European project IN2PREV, with the participation of the Euro-Arab Foundation and partners from various countries, seeks to prevent the radicalization of refugees and asylum seekers by facilitating their integration and early detection of risk factors. Faced with the growing refugee crisis in Europe, aggravated by conflicts and the pandemic, the project focuses on improving cooperation between security forces and NGOs, developing tools to assess vulnerability, implementing mentoring programs, and training frontline professionals.

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News Projects VIRTUOUS en

VIRTUOUS: A New Project to Strengthen the Security of Places of Worship in Europe

José Mª G. Riera (FUNDEA) during the kick-off meeting

The launch of VIRTUOUS, a European project financed by the European Fund for Internal Security in which the Euro-Arab Foundation participates as a partner, took place in Limoges (France) on 19 March. During the event, José Mª González Riera, deputy director of the Euro-Arab Foundation’s Research and International Projects Department, outlined the Foundation’s essential role in the project: analysing past terrorist attacks, identifying threat trends, assessing the security of religious sites, and training religious leaders and security experts. In addition, the Foundation will lead the production of microlearning materials for religious communities.

The central objective is to strengthen cooperation and response to threats to places of worship through collaboration between religious communities, authorities and security forces.

Safer and more resilient environments for religious communities

VIRTUOUS proposes an innovative and multi-faceted approach, establishing an unprecedented collaboration between religious communities, authorities, security forces and security service providers. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), the project aims to accurately identify vulnerabilities and improve understanding of potential threats. This effort represents a crucial step towards creating a safer and more resilient environment for religious communities in Europe, based on innovation, cooperation and a strong commitment to the values of the European Union.

The VIRTUOUS project is strategically aligned with key EU documents, including the EU Counter-Terrorism Agenda and the EU Security Union Strategy. By prioritising the physical protection of places of worship and fostering inter-religious dialogue, VIRTUOUS contributes directly to the EU’s objectives of ensuring security and promoting inclusiveness in European societies. In addition, the project emphasises the fight against hatred in all its forms, in line with the Joint Communication ‘No place for hatred: a Europe united against hate’, reinforcing its role in upholding fundamental rights and values.

Key Objectives:

  • In-depth understanding: analyse trends and recurring patterns of terrorist attacks against places of worship in Europe.
  • Identification of vulnerabilities: Use innovative technologies to assess and mitigate risks in these spaces.
  • Awareness and preparedness: Develop recommendations, training programmes and strengthen cooperation between stakeholders.
  • Broadening the scope: Extend protection to educational institutions and community gathering spaces associated with religious denominations.
  • Interfaith dialogue: Foster cooperation, communication and dialogue to strengthen the resilience of religious communities.
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IN2PREV-en News Projects

FUNDEA emphasizes ethical and human rights considerations to improve refugee integration

Between the 15th and the 17th January, it took place in Poznan – Poland- the first Capacity Building Training Seminars “Facilitating Refugees and Asylum Seekers’ Integration through Mentoring”, organized as a strategic initiative under the IN2PREV “Law enforcement and community cooperation and training approach to prevent radicalisation by ensuring refugees’ successful inclusion” project.

This 1st 3-day in-person training CBTS was coordinated by the Polish Platform for Homeland Security (PPHS) and the Innovative Prison Systems (IPS) – members of the Consortium – and focused on developing the capacity of participants to promote and foster the successful integration of persons in refugee and asylum seeker-like situations into their host communities, particularly considering their vulnerabilities to being targeted and exploited by radicalising and extremist agents. It counted with the participation of around 45 participants, from 9 European countries: Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

One form of integration is through mentoring. The 1st CBTS provided skills to practically utilise the IN2PREV Mentoring Programme to support persons in refugee and asylum seeker-like situations to foster social inclusion. The implementation of this mentoring programme will last 6 months, from February to July 2025, and that will be organized mainly in the 7 countries of the Consortium partners, which are: Spain, Portugal, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

FUNDEA’S participation

In addition to the contribution in the preparation for the training, FUNDEA’s participation was in facilitating three sessions:

  • Ethical and Human Rights compliant Principles for Practitioners, that was facilitated by Rascha Albaba Acosta, Researcher and Project Officer at the foundation, whom provided guidelines for practitioners to implement a human rights-based approach when implementing mentoring programs and in other interventions as well.
  • Refugee and asylum seeker communities’ vulnerabilities to successful integration: The IN2PREV findings, that was facilitated online by Lucia Alonso Pérez, Researcher and Project Officer at the foundation, who presented the key findings of a study that interviewed 32 practitioners and stakeholders to identify common factors, elements and dimensions that may contribute to identifying potential indicators of the procedures and tools developed in Europe to screen radicalisation vulnerabilities among asylum seekers and refugees.
  • Moderation of a panel discussion with practitioners, whom presented their country experiences in the integration of refugees and asylum seekers, and best practices, challenges and lessons learnt to consider when implementing mentoring programmes. The panel discussion was moderated by Rascha Albaba Acosta, Researcher and Project Officer at the foundation.

In addition to FUNDEA participation as a Consortium partner of the IN2PREV project, three Spanish partners participated in the training, as experts in implementing integration approaches with asylum seekers and refugees in Spain, including through mentoring programmes, whom will pilot the IN2PREV mentoring programme with mentees in addition to others.

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The Euro-Arab Foundation trains the ‘Guardia Civil’ to Prevent Radicalisation from a Mental Health Perspective

For two days, on December 3rd and 4th, a course on “Assessment of the Risk of Radicalization and Extreme Violence: Indicators in Vulnerable Populations” was held in Madrid. The course was aimed at the Civil Guard in their role as judicial police. The training, inaugurated by Antonio Sánchez, the Executive Secretary of the Euro-Arab Foundation, was delivered by experts in the prevention of radicalization, including Javier Ruipérez, Director of the Euro-Arab Research and International Projects Department, and Daniel F. Pérez, a Euro-Arab researcher. It also included expert mental health professionals, Eva Jiménez and Susana Sánchez.

The course focused on enhancing the participants’ ability to prepare robust judicial reports in cases of radicalization and extreme violence. To this end, Euro-Arab experts addressed key issues such as models and theories of radicalization, followed by presentations on risk assessment tools and the factors and indicators that can lead to extremist violence. In addition, practical exercises with real-world cases were conducted to reinforce the acquired knowledge.

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The Euro-Arab Foundation participates in the 2nd International Forum on Public and Professional Policies for the prevention of radicalization of the INDEED project

The Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, a benchmark in the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism, has once again been invited to take part in a highly relevant debate: the 2nd International Forum of Public Policies and Professionals for the prevention of radicalization.

On this occasion, it was within the framework of the final event of the European project INDEED, which brought together experts from different countries in Warsaw (Poland) between September 11 and 13. The Euro-Arab researcher, Daniel F. Perez Garcia, has presented the results of the research related to extremism in Europe, which have been carried out by the Research and Projects Department.

Main findings

Among the main findings presented is a panorama of violent extremism that has evolved significantly, presenting new and complex dynamics. Extremist groups have adopted more sophisticated tactics, taking advantage of digital tools and globalization to spread their messages and recruit new followers.

Among the main findings presented is a picture of violent extremism that has evolved significantly, presenting new and complex dynamics. Extremist groups have adopted more sophisticated tactics, taking advantage of digital tools and globalization to spread their messages and recruit new followers.
One of the most worrying developments is the possibility of alliances between extremist groups of different ideologies, as well as with non-democratic international actors. This convergence of interests represents a growing threat to global security. In addition, there is a trend towards the internationalization of common discourses and the exploitation of social grievances and gaps in public policies to increase their social support and foster recruitment to radical networks.

New approach to prevention from a societal perspective

The Euro-Arab Foundation proposes a new approach to combat radicalization that goes beyond traditional reactive measures. This approach focuses on strengthening social ties and addressing the root causes of radicalization, such as inequalities and exclusion.

To achieve this, a set of measures is proposed that include promoting integration among different social groups, integrating prevention into all public policies, fostering emotional well-being in communities, designing effective communication campaigns against extremist propaganda, involving young people in decision-making and ensuring gender equality in all initiatives.

In essence, the aim is to create more resilient and cohesive societies where radicalization finds less fertile ground, understanding that prevention is a shared responsibility involving all sectors of society.

This 2nd International Forum of Public Policy and Practitioners on Radicalization Prevention was held in the framework of the INDEED project, funded by the Horizon Europe program of the European Commission, which aims to strengthen the knowledge, capacities and skills of frontline practitioners and policy makers to design, plan, implement and evaluate initiatives on preventing violent extremism (PVE), countering violent extremism (CVE) and deradicalization, such as policies and strategies, long-term programs, short-term actions and ad hoc interventions, in an effective and proven manner.

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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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EUKH EN RADICALIZACION EN The Euro-Arab Papers

Radicalisation in prisons analysis of the Escribano operation and prospects for prevention

The Euro-Arab Foundation has taken an in-depth look at Operation Escribano, considered a milestone in the fight against terrorism in Spanish prisons, with a publication that offers an exhaustive analysis of this complex police operation, which is the first conviction for terrorism in the Spanish prison context since 2008 and the first after the reform of the crime of terrorism in 2015. The authors of this analysis, published in a new issue in the Cuadernos de la Euroárabe collection, were: Daniel F. Pérez-García, researcher and head of projects in the area of prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism at the Euro-Arab Foundation, expert in the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation of the European Commission, where the Euro-Arab Foundation actively participates; Salvador Berdún Carrión, Director of the Studies Department of the Agrupación de Cuerpos de Ayudantes de Instituciones Penitenciarias and Doctor in Criminology; and Javier Ruipérez Canales, Director of the Research and Projects Department of the Euro-Arab Foundation, Doctor in Social Sciences and Director of Strategic Communication of the EU Knowledge Hub.

Analysis of Operation Escribano and prospects for prevention

On 12 February 2024, the 4th Section of the Criminal Division of the National Court issued Sentence number 4/2024, in which it sentenced two inmates to seven years and six months in prison. The defendants, who were already serving sentences for belonging to a terrorist organisation, were tried within the framework of what is known as Operation Escribano, which succeeded in dismantling an entire radicalising structure in Spanish prisons and stands as the largest investigation carried out in Europe into the radicalisation of the Daesh terrorist organisation in prisons. The review of judicial, legislative, academic and strategic documentation in the Euro-Arab publication has been complemented with interviews with the sources of the Guardia Civil police investigation and presents the analysis of the radical networks dismantled in this operation.

The main objective of the analysis is to extract good practices in order to optimise prevention strategies within the prison environment. The recommendations include respect for the guarantee of human rights in judicial processes, in prison treatment and in the assessment of the risk of radicalisation, and the promotion of programmes for the rehabilitation of violent extremism and social and functional reintegration in democratic societies.

The publication (in Spanish) can be downloaded from the Euro-Arab Foundation’s website: https://fundea.org/cuaderno-euroarabe-radicalizacion-en-prisiones/

Radicalisation in prisons analysis of the Escribano operation and prospects for prevention


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The Euro-Arab Foundation and the Iraqi Al Nahrain Center solidify a partnership to exchange knowledge and conduct joint researches

A. Sánchez, secretario ejecutivo de FUNDEA, y Ali Naser Bunya, director general del centro Al Nahrain tras la firma del convenio en la sede de FUNDEA (Granada).
FUNDEA- Al Nahrain Center

The Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies has signed this Wednesday a collaboration agreement with the Al-Nahrain Center for Strategic Studies – National Security Consulting, based in Baghdad (Iraq), in order to cooperate and establish productive relationships in different fields of the research undertaken by both institutions.

The Al-Nahrain Centre for Strategic Studies is a research centre sponsored by the Iraqi National Security Council that develops strategic studies responding to the interests, challenges and threats of the Arab country, both at the national level and in the Middle East region.

The meeting took place at the Euro-Arab headquarters, in Granada, where the Iraqi delegation was led by the Director General of the Al-Nahrain Centre for Strategic Studies, the lawyer Ali Naser Bunyan al-Lami, accompanied by the Engineer Director General of the Directorate of Administration and Finance of the Office of the Iraqi National Security Advisor, Hayder Abdulameer Abed al-Yasiri, and the Head of the Department of Social and Psychological Studies of the Al-Nahrain Centre for Strategic Studies, Shatha Kadhim , and the official liaison of the European Union Consultative Mission in Iraq, Marwah Dallyousif.

The meetings between both institutions, which lasted two days, were also attended by an official from the Directorate General for Home Affairs (DG Home) of the European Commission.

The executive secretary of the Euro-Arab Foundation, Antonio J. Sánchez Ortega, stated that this agreement “consolidates our presence in the MENA region and in Iraq, where understanding the current security and prevention conditions is crucial.” Sánchez has expressed his satisfaction at the establishment of this link with an Iraqi center – he said – “so prestigious that it houses ten different research departments. Without a doubt, both institutions will benefit from this collaboration.”

The memorandum includes among its objectives the exchange of research and studies, as well as books, statistics and other types of information arising from their respective work. The Euro-Arab Foundation and the Al-Nahrain Centre will work together on projects that are characterised by their strategic and topical dimensions, or those related to public policies. In terms of scientific dissemination and training, the agreement covers joint research or studies, as well as the organisation of workshops, seminars and conferences in areas of common interest or the joint publication of books and publications.

“This agreement is part of the objectives of our centre, which are based on the directives of the advisor to the Iraqi National Security Board and which consist of establishing relations with different centres dedicated to research and cultural dissemination,” explained the director general of the Al Nahrain centre, Ali Naser Bunyan. “The Euro-Arab Foundation not only addresses these aspects -he added- but it also works to strengthen dialogue with the Arab world, of which Iraq is a part.“

The programme of activities included the presentation of the Euro-Arab Foundation’s research, cultural and training activities, such as the new Diploma in Environmental Management and Social Responsibility or the Diploma in Management of Non-Profit Entities or Endowment Management (awqaf) for Saudi students. Likewise, several of the research projects in which Euro-Arab is involved in different areas were presented: prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism, fight against hate speech and hate crimes, protection of places of worship of different faiths, dismantling of human trafficking networks or socio-educational interventions, among others.

As part of the extensive programme of activities, the visiting delegation was able to learn first-hand about the Joint Centre University of Granada – Army Training and Doctrine Command with a visit to the MADOC, where they were able to learn more about its activities at national level. The programme included cultural activities, such as a visit to La Madraza, the cultural centre of the University of Granada (https://lamadraza.ugr.es/).