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Countering Terrorist and Closing Security Gaps - Germany

Countering terrorism and violent extremism requires a comprehensive approach that also takes measures to address the political, social and economic causes. Another goal is to strengthen the rule of law. It is good to mention that, respect for human rights is a fundamental issue.
The German government plays an active role in international counter-terrorism coalition. The dismantling of the "ISIS caliphate" in 2017 and the intensified efforts of intelligence and law enforcement agencies to combat terrorists, mean that serious attacks, which occurred in Europe between 2014 and 2017, are becoming less likely now.
Neither the 2015 migration crisis nor the return of foreign fighters from ISIS has resulted in a threat to Europe's security thus far, although rejected migrants and asylum seekers have repeatedly carried out or attempted attacks.
Unfortunately an intelligence failure led to the Vienna attack in November 2020, when a "jihadist" attacked a number of innocent civilians with a machine gun. In recent years, EU countries have filled these security gaps that terrorists can exploit, for example in the field of finance, however, the European still faces dangers.
Security cooperation Danish and German authorities arrested fourteen suspects in an anti-terror operation on 12th-Feb, 2021 on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack, according to the Danish Security and Intelligence Service.
The agency, known as PET, said in a statement that it had arrested thirteen suspects in separate incidents, and that German authorities had arrested another person in a case related to the investigation. The agency said, it arrested seven people between February 6 and 8 2021on charges of planning to carry out terrorist operations.
The suspects were charged with possession of "explosive-making materials", and incitement to commit the crime. The agency said court - 40 miles west of Copenhagen - had earlier ordered the detention of six other people, adding that those individuals were "all involved in the case". The agency reported:"We believe that there are individuals who have the intent and capacity to commit terrorist attacks in Denmark and in Germany, Here, the importance of regional and international security cooperation to confront terrorism that knows no borders appears. It also shows the importance of preventive operations in combating extremism and terrorism.
Germany and Europe have witnessed many terrorist operations, over the past years by terrorist groups who were only recently released from prison and were in contact with de-radicalization programs. These incidents raise the question of how to prevent or at least significantly reduce the risk of terrorists returning to extremist organizations again. Therefore, actors involved in prevention work need to take a look at the effectiveness of de-radicalization efforts.
The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in cooperation with the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) organized an international virtual workshop in May 2020 on how to prevent the recidivism of violent Islamic extremists. This workshop was held as part of the International Forum for Expert Exchange on Countering Islamic Extremism (InFoEx), providing BAMF's government network partners and civil society partners a platform to discuss challenges and good practices with several external experts.
Recommendations
- Program officials should establish coherent support networks to address needs and challenges after release.
- Those responsible for extremism and terrorism prevention programs should be aware of current trends online and offline and should have an open discussion about the re-recruitment efforts that ex-prisoners are likely to encounter.
- Researchers should study closely why some individuals re-engage in extremism and terrorism, with the goal being to avoid unnecessary measures.
-All actors, including also the prison administration and security services, must make clear what can realistically be achieved through the prevention of the third degree of violent extremism inside and outside the prison context.
- Enhancing security cooperation and information exchange at the national, regional and international levels.
by: Bonn- Jassim Mohamad
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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