To start with the radicalisation of young Moroccan People: Young people departing to Syria and other radical Islamic countries have different motives for their radicalisation.
For some of them, like in Delft belonging to criminal youth groups, opportunism, financial motives are leading but others are driven by ideological motives. In Gouda most of the young travellers have this ideological background. Also the educational level differs, from only primary school up to an university degree.
Up until now (August 2015) around ten young people have left Gouda to join the Jihad, among them 5 young women.
The recruiting of these young people seems to have a link with one particular family although there where links with groups form Mosques in Delft and The Hague.
There where plans in Gouda to rebuild former military barracks into a large Mosque. Since these buildings are in the middle of a residential area there was a lot of opposition towards these plans. It was also a hot item in the press and questions where asked in de national parliament. This situation also contributed to a further polarization between Immigrants and inhabitants with local roots.
The municipality of Gouda has appointed a special director who’s task it is to coordinate the interventions of all parties who are involved in the prevention and repression of Islamic radicalisation.
It is difficult to get in contact with young people who are in the process of radicalisation because their motivation is based on Religion. Especially the hard core group avoids contacts with “non-believers” and is strongly influenced by a criminal organisation (I.S.).
