In order to know that your child has been exposed to the extremist ideologies, parent and carers need to look out for these things:
· Graffiti symbols, writing or art
work promoting extremist messages or images.
· Accessing extremist material
online, including through social networking sites.
· Distributing extremist
literature and documentation.
· Significant changes in language,
behavior, actions. For example, have they become aggressive, argumentative and
domineering?
· Changes in friendship groups and
suddenly no longer friends with previous friendship groups.
· Taking an unusual interest in current
affairs, particularly the conflict caused by terrorists like Al shabab
· Isolating themselves for long
periods of time and being secretive about what they have been looking at online
or reading.
· Displaying a loss of interest in
activities they used to previously enjoy doing.
· Use of extremist or ‘hate’ terms
to exclude others or incite violence against others based on race, religion,
culture, gender and sexual orientation.
· Attempts to impose extremist
views or practices on siblings, other family members and friends. For example,
are they quick to condemn or dismiss viewpoints that contradict their own?
· Referring to ‘them and us’ when
making references to religion.
· Expressing sympathy for
extremist groups like Al-shabab and condoning their actions and ideology.
· Expressing sympathy and
understanding for those who have previously moved to Somalia to join Al- shabab
· Asking questions about traveling
distances and times to countries Somalia, Syria and others that are associated with
terrorist groups
· Requesting to keep their own
passport and birth certificate in their bedroom.
