Educating the Refugees in Europe is More Important Than Feeding Them
09 January 2016
By Abdulrahman Al-Rashed
There are more than a million people who represent a free gift to extremist
groups, residing in Europe and far away from the refugee camps they left
behind. Extremist groups reached Europe before them and enjoy more freedom of
expression and community activity. Some of the refuges who came in search of
refuge and a new life have become a target for extremists who want to expand
their presence and activities which include terrorist acts or at least the
dissemination of extremist ideology which later makes refugees oppose the
society in which they live. However, since people started fleeing the war in
Syria and crossing Turkey into Europe in large unprecedented numbers, we
approach a new phase of the crisis which will most likely remain for a long
time even if the Syrian conflict is completely resolved. A million refugees,
most of whom are Syrians, is not a large number in a continent inhabited by
300,000,000 people. Neither is their number a problem in the largest host
country, Germany, which is able to accommodate them in its large economy.
Their problem, however, is big- culturally, socially and with regards to
security.
The real dangers threaten a million people who are victims of the heinous war
which unjustly displaced more than ten million other Syrians and a few million
Iraqis. The refugees in Europe are vulnerable to exploitation and being used
as a ball in this game which is increasingly complex and dangerous. There are
forces fighting them in Europe – from those who oppose refugees and protesters
against unemployment to groups that are loyal to the Syrian and Iranian
regimes, and of course the most dangerous of them all, extremists and
collaborators with terrorist organisations such as ISIS and Al-Nusra Front.
It is in the interests of the German and European authorities to anticipate
potential problems and not to leave the refugees prey to extremists who may
develop from amongst them and also those who communicate with them claiming to
offer humanitarian aid. We suggest that these groups are educated
intellectually in order to live with dignity in the new society that is
hosting them and that respects their beliefs and rights and expects the same
from them towards other people.
Al Rashed is the general manager of Al -Arabiya television. He is also the
former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al- Awsat, and the leading Arabic weekly
magazine, Al Majalla. He is also a senior Columnist in the daily newspapers
of Al Madina and Al Bilad. He is a US post-graduate degree in mass
communications. He has been a guest on many TV current affairs programs. He
is currently based in Dubai.
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