Who is Mohamed Elsanousi?
• Worked for 12 years as the director of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
• ISNA is a United States Muslim umbrella organization whose goals are to support Muslim organizations and develop cooperation with other religious organizations.
• Mr. Elsanousi has advised many different government agencies of various countries on faith and peacebuilding related issues.
• He has worked in the Hillary Clinton’s Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group of the United States State Department and continues to work in the same capacity under Secretary of State John Kerry
• Currently works as coordinator for the Network of Religious and Traditional Peacemakers for which Finn Church Aid is currently operating as Secretariat.
• Mr. Elsanousi is also a doctor of law.
After the World Trade Center terrorist attack, a terrorist hunt of hysterical proportion began. In searching for the suspects many mistakes were made which encouraged radicalization more than prevented future attacks. Many innocent Muslims were surveilled, arrested and interrogated in the name of homeland security.
However, lessons about preventing terrorism were also learned through these years. For example, cooperation between government authorities and mosques as well as grassroots efforts play key roles in terrorism prevention rather than massive security efforts.
Mohamed Elsanousi, who has extensive experience in building cooperation between religious organizations and government, speaks about these lessons learned in the following text. His words are worthy of attention considering that he has advised the United States government.
1. Stop Using the Term, “Radical Islam.”
In the United States the government has long ago stopped using the terms “jihad” or “radical Islam.” There is good reasoning behind this decision.
-If you call terrorists “radical Islamists”, you combine the entire Islamic faith and Muslim population in the same category as terrorists. For example, labeling ISIS as Islamist is exactly what ISIS wants and is equivalent to recognizing that they are correct in referring to themselves as representing Islam.
Labels are very important since the choice of words greatly affect the trust between Muslims and the rest of society. According to Elsanousi, trust is everything.
-The problem of terrorism cannot be solved alone, but only in cooperation with the Muslim community. By avoiding these terms you are improving the potential for cooperation. You are sending the message: “We know that terrorism does not recognize religion. We are not accusing your faith and all Muslims of committing terrorist acts.”
2. Understand Islam
Or more to the point, where Islam is not at issue.
For example, the majority of Muslims condemns the Paris and Copenhagen terrorist attacks and considers the actions of ISIS contrary to Islam. However, uneducated people may see the issue differently.
-Some youth who lack meaning in life may see how the “Islamic caliphate” is growing and may feel drawn to it. Especially uneducated Muslims may think “OK, this is what Islam is.” This is a matter of a lack of understanding and that they did not have someone with whom to discuss Islam and fill their void of understanding.
According to Elsanousi, this void could be filled by family, mosques or youth organizations.
-Create opportunities for dialogue where youth can speak of these issues safely. If someone has a flawed understanding of Islam or political issues, it should be corrected. For this reason, education and dialogue about Islam should be increased in Western countries.
3. Remember that Most Terrorist Attacks are Prevented by Muslims Themselves
While speaking about terrorism it is sometimes forgotten that the majority of victims of terrorism are Muslims. It is even more rarely known that the majority of terror attacks are often prevented by Muslims themselves.
-Statistics show that two of every five planned terror attacks are exposed by information gleaned from cooperative efforts with Muslims. For example, often when a mother notices her son making preparations to leave for Syria, she has informed an imam. In some cases imams convince young people to stay, in other cases the imam informs the authorities, says Elsanousi.
Tips from Muslim communities have prevented attacks more often than information from United States security services.
4. Authorities Must Create Trust in Religious Communities
The instructions are simple. A community’s best watchdog is the community itself- for better or for worse. However, if police and other officials want information from Muslim communities regarding, for example, community members interested in violent extremism, they must gain the trust of the community. According to Elsanousi, you gain the trust through dialogue.
-In the United States, imams and authorities participate in round table discussions regularly. They don’t only discuss about radicalization but also immigration, education and homelessness.
Elsanousi himself participates every other month in a Ministry of Justice meeting where security services and religious community representatives discuss their concerns.
-Questions are posed at these meetings and at the following meeting individuals bring answers. This is how we have created space for dialogue.
Elsanousi’s instructions are supported by statistics, according to which the amount of individuals leaving the United States to fight for ISIS is many times smaller than the amount leaving from France or England.
However, trust is easily broken. The United States has made many such mistakes. Elsanousi urges at least avoiding the following pitfall:
5. If You Conduct Intelligence Activities, Inform Imams
In the United States security service agents obtained information about a suspected terrorist by posing as Muslim and infiltrating mosques. The mistake was that the staff of the mosque was not informed about the surveillance activities
-If you conduct such activities without discussing with the community, it causes mistrust between religious communities and authorities. It is better that such actions are taken in mutual understanding. Otherwise you give a message that the entire community is under suspicion. If you lose the trust of the community you make the work of discovering who is a terrorist more difficult.
6. Don’t Focus on the Conflict- Also Acknowledge Positive Trends
Elsanousi’s following advice is directed especially at news reporters that are quick to report on terrorist attacks, clashes between groups and other unfortunate events. By this, Elsanousi also means news that exaggerates acts of discrimination towards Muslims.
-In the United States, the national media repeated news of how a group in Tennessee tried to prevent the construction of a mosque. This sent the message to all Muslims that the USA is against Muslims. However, this was not the whole picture.
Elsanousi calls for the media to also acknowledge and report positive trends. For example, the number of planned terror attacks has decreased.
-The media directs its attention at terror attacks happening in the world but does not highlight individuals that work daily to prevent terror attacks. In the USA- and probably also in Finland- people often say that Muslims do not condemn terrorism. However, the truth is that influential Muslims have issued many fatwas condemning terrorism. Muslims have spoken out about the issue but media has not published their words.
7. Priests, Rabbis and Imams: Work Together
In the United States, religious leaders have been extremely helpful in repeating the peaceful message of Muslims.
-For example, churches have helped Muslims in getting their voices heard. Christian communities have organized press events where Muslims have condemned terrorism publicly. However, the assistance of the media is also required so that the message reaches the largest possible audience.
As a good example, Elsanousi raises attention to “friendship walks” arranged in Finland where local religious leaders toured Helsinki’s three religious shrines together.
-Muslims need support from Jewish and Christian communities. They should collectively repeat the message that says: “We understand what Islam is, and that this or that action does not represent it.”
Eero Mäntymaa
YLE News
Original text in Finnish on YLE website: http://yle.fi/uutiset/usan_terroriasiantuntija_seitseman_keinoa_estaa_iskut_suomessa/7879086
Translated by Kirk Johnson, Finn Church Aid