Rehabilitating Jihadists
The city of Aarhus became known worldwide with an innovative program to prevent extremism
Young people leave their families, friends and school behind to join extremist groups in countries in conflict. For most people, this is seen as a threat. In Denmark, it is a social problem that requires recovery.
The state of Denmark, where inhabitants are crowned as the happiest in the world, usually tops international rankings for social security and welfare. In recent years, however, the Scandinavian nation has come first in a new category: the European states with the most young people joining the wars in Syria and Iraq. Since 2013, over one hundred Danes, predominantly Muslim have packed their things and headed towards conflict zones. Authorities are on alert fearing that when they return, these young people might bring radicalism in their luggage. Despite the fear, the strategy is not to treat them as suspects. Instead of prison, the focus is on rehabilitation.
