DUBAI // Parents must take the lead role in saving young people from extremism, experts say.
On Wednesday The National reported that police believe UAE youths are being targeted for recruitment by ISIL.
In response, preacher Ahmed Al Kubaisi stressed the importance of a balanced upbringing to protect young people from extreme ideologies.
“The child must be raised in a balanced environment in his home, where the parents must teach him that God is the only one to determine when one’s life should be taken and for what reason,” Mr Al Kubaisi said, adding that the UAE was a strong, safe and alert country.
He said too many people were being lured into believing ISIL was the face of Islam, when in reality “they are the devil who is distorting the peaceful truth of Islam and scaring people away from Islam”.
Parents, legal professionals, academics and social workers agreed that talking openly with young people and taking preventive measures was crucial to stopping them being seduced by terrorist organisations.
Mr Al Kubaisi said an intelligence-gathering body should be set up to monitor youths’ interactions online.
“I urge that a specialised body be set up, something like an intelligence department, that would only follow changes in behaviour and ideology with our children and that this body must work closely with families and educational institutions to find solutions before it’s too late,” he said.
Hiba Mohammed, head of the social workers’ section at Sharjah Educational Zone, said that those who lost their way do not speak with their parents.
“They are the victims of broken marriages and families,” said Ms Mohammed.
She said these troubled children felt they had no one to talk to and could be easily swayed by a group that tapped into their vulnerability.
“Dialogue is being placed at the bottom of parental responsibilities,” Ms Mohammed said. “Parents think that their main responsibility is providing material items to their children.
“I called a father telling him about his daughter and he simply answered that he provides her with the latest technology.”
Ms Mohammed said parents needed to be alert to subtle changes in their children.
“The clothes and general appearance of the student, the body language, the eyes during a dialogue – these should help find out a student’s interests and, with a healthy conversation, it should be obvious whether they are facing a problem or not,” she said.
Parents should also let their children teach them about social media, Ms Mohammed said.
Emirati Judge Ahmad Saif has three sons – Rashid, 20, Saif, 18, and Humaid, 13 – and he said each were his friends.
“Don’t limit your relation with your children to only being their provider,” Judge Saif said. “Don’t leave them to those who would lure them or beautify the sin in their eyes.
“Talk to them, be their friend, explain to them and keep them always involved so you can raise them well.”
Mohammed Rustom, general advocate and chief of juveniles and family prosecution at Dubai Courts, said parents had to adjust to modern times and their child’s way of thinking.
“We always hide information from our children believing this will keep them on the safe side, forgetting that the internet can give them all the info they need, some of which is even new to us,” Mr Rustom said.
“We have to talk to them because we are the first line of keeping them safe.”
The head of the journalism division at Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, Yaser Al Mahri, is the father of five girls.
Mr Al Mahri, 45, said UAE youths were not being affected by ISIL’s destructive ideas, but he said it was still important to talk openly with them.
“If one of my children or brothers were ever affected by ISIL’s ideas, I would take him to listen to moderate, clear-minded specialists,” he said.
“If he refused all methods of reform and guidance to the right path, I would report him to the authorities.”
Dr Pamela Chrabieh, assistant professor of Middle East studies at the American University of Dubai, said teaching children about peace was crucial to preventing youths from being recruited by extremists.
“Prevention is key – prevention on a national level,” Dr Chrabieh said. “What I mean by prevention is education.
“The Government could promote more peace and the relationship between religion and peace with media and social-media campaigns, but also maybe some seminars and training sessions with professors in schools and universities.
“We need peace education to limit the damage long term.”
salamir@thenational.ae
* Additional reporting by Haneen Dajani and Melanie Swan
