Zawaya

Reporting suspicious behaviour: A national duty

By: Jemal Mohamed Oumar

The current top priority of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is to set up dormant cells in Morocco and the rest of the Maghreb, especially given the suitable circumstances of these societies at the moment, according to observers of and experts on these groups that use various methods to penetrate the communities.

The insurgency and rebellion of these communities against their regimes, due to the absence of economic policies capable of absorbing the immense rate of unemployment, the continuous repression policies, economic deprivation, and the exacerbation of social problems – such as the youth’s intellectual delinquency and hopelessness -, are all factors that fuel the youth’s hostility towards the State. Consequently, young people become willing to cooperate with any party to take revenge on the country they consider their primary enemy. Al-Qaeda’s recruitment experts are aware of that and act accordingly by exploiting the financial and psychological conditions of young people, especially those who spend their days in the streets, leaning against the walls and waiting for the unknown.

To specifically answer the raised question, I believe that Maghreb governments should convince their citizens that reporting suspicious activities is a national duty that’s not confined to security services; it is the responsibility of every citizen who cares about the security and integrity of his country.

This also requires these countries to take care of their citizens by ensuring their economic interests, and getting closer to them in order to change the prevailing mentality stating that people who deal with security officials are traitors, agents or spies. In other words, the governmental authorities should change the image of espionage in these communities from a reprehensible practice to a virtue aiming to protect oneself and other citizens.

In this case, public and private media will find listening, believing and sympathetic ears for their ads warning against not reporting suspicious cases; and citizens will consequently rush to tell on any suspicious activities in a timely manner.

The governments should promote security awareness among ordinary citizens about the dangers of terrorism and extremism.

They should also conduct awareness campaigns in mosques, universities, and youth centers, on the dangers of terrorism on individuals and society, and the need to report all suspicious activities to the authorities.

There should be an annual ceremony encouraging and honoring the most interactive individuals with the security forces.