Testing the Feasibility of a Human Security Approach to Combat Violent Extremism in Palestine, Egypt, and Iraq Testing the Feasibility of a Human Security Approach to Combat Violent Extremism in Palestine, Egypt, and Iraq Authored by: ACPSS Omar Sheira Rabha Allam Ziad Akl CPSS Krmanj Othman Kamaran Mohammad Sabah Hayder Human Security Collective Sangeeta Goswami Fulco van Deventer Co-authored by: Bibi van Ginkel, The Glocal Connection – Platform for Shared Security Dina Zbeidy, Leiden University of Applied Sciences Review, support and assistance by: ACPSS Ahmed Kamel ElBeheiry Ahmed Askar Amal Hamada Amr Elshobaki Mohab Adel Noura Fakhry Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ Apolline Rolland Louise van Schaik Tobias von Lossow This project has been funded by NWO-WOTRO. 2 CONTENTS List of abbreviations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Preface ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 II. Human Security: A Conceptual Framework .................................................................................. 11 A. Case Study: Egypt ...................................................................................................................... 13 1. The Egyptian Context ................................................................................................................ 13 2. Security Trends in Egypt ............................................................................................................ 15 3. An Era of New Terrorism ........................................................................................................... 18 4.Soft Security Policies: Youth Conferences and the Renewal of Religious Discourse ................. 21 5. Push and Pull Factors ................................................................................................................. 25 6. Challenges to the Human Security Approach ............................................................................ 27 B. Case study Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan) ............................................................................................... 29 1. The Iraqi context ........................................................................................................................ 29 2. Defining VE in Iraq ..................................................................................................................... 31 3. Countering VE through a Human Security approach in Iraq ..................................................... 38 4. Push and Pull factors ................................................................................................................. 43 5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 44 C. Perceptions on Violent Extremism in Palestine ........................................................................ 46 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 46 2. Context: Palestinian security ................................................................................................. 46 3. Violent Extremism in Palestine .............................................................................................. 47 4. Drivers of VE .......................................................................................................................... 51 5. Is a HS-approach possible? .................................................................................................... 52 6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 54 III. Impact and Progress .................................................................................................................. 55 1. Measurable Impact and Progress in Perceptions in Egypt ........................................................ 55 2. Measurable Impact and Progress in Perceptions in Iraq ........................................................... 57 IV. Conclusion: Does a HS approach work? .................................................................................... 59 3 List of Abbreviations ABM – Ansar Beyt al-Maqdis ACPSS – Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies CDCD – Center for Democracy and Community Development Clingendael – Netherlands Institute of International Relations, ‘Clingendael’ CPSS – Centre of Political and Strategic Studies of the Salahadeen University CT – Counter Terrorism CVE – Countering Violent Extremism FGD – Focus Group Discussion GPoT – Global Political Trends Center HS – Human Security HSC – Human Security Collective INGO – International Non-Governmental Organization IS – Islamic State ISIS/ISIL – Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant KII – Key Informant Interview KRG – Kurdistan Regional Government MB – Muslim Brotherhood MENA – Middle East and North Africa NGO – Non-Governmental Organization NWO – Dutch Research Council PVE – Preventing Violent Extremism SDG – Sustainable Development Goals UN – United Nations UNDP – United Nations Prevention Programme VE – Violent Extremism WANA – West Asia North Africa Institute WOTRO – Science for Global Development Programme 4 Preface The Dutch national research council, NWO, put out a call in 2015 on ‘Comprehensive Approaches to Human Security’ within the ‘Security and Rule of Law in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings’ research program – an activity of WOTRO in close collaboration with the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law. The aim of the call was to contribute to new evidence-based knowledge and provide insights to policymakers on inclusive and comprehensive approaches to human security in fragile settings and in view of transnational security threats. A full proposal was submitted by a consortium consisting of research and practitioner partner organizations: Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’, The Hague, The Netherlands, (project lead) Global Political Trends Center (GPoT Center), Istanbul Kültür University, Istanbul, Turkey Human Security Collective (HSC), The Hague, The Netherlands Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS), Cairo, Egypt Center for Democracy and Community Development (CDCD), Jerusalem Centre of Political and Strategic Studies of the Salahadeen University (CPSS), Erbil, Iraq One of six awarded projects for a duration of 36 months in March 2016, the focus of this project was to demonstrate the impact of a human security (HS) approach in Palestine, Egypt and Iraq in addressing the root causes of violent extremism (VE) as a regional threat. The objectives of the research included: Validating the push and pull factors of radicalization; Gaining context-specific insights into how HS is defined; Providing insight into conditions for engagement (communities and security stakeholders); Producing evidence on how this engagement leads to joint implementation of an HS approach on countering violent extremism (CVE); Producing context-specific evidence on how a HS-approach can prevent VE; Demonstrating impact of the HS approach to policymakers; Providing insight into the context-specific roles of women in CVE; and Developing effective CVE policies, based on a HS approach, that diminish the support base for VE in communities (multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder). It was recognized that there are remarkable differences in the political settings of the three countries. In the context of Iraq, ISIS1 counts on a community of disenfranchised and marginalized groups and youth who see an alternative to the current state order. In Palestine, VE should be seen in the context of a lack of national unity, inefficient government and Israeli occupation. Egypt is recently facing increasing challenges to democratization and an increasing focus on hard security in CVE, thus weakening the conditions necessary to apply a HS approach to CVE. The three countries present a complementary picture as there are significant differences in the push and pull factors leading to VE, in civic space, in trust levels between government and citizens, and also in the positions of women. The role that context plays in a HS approach is thus amplified in this 1Also known as IS, ISIL, Daesh. 5 study. The research sought to validate the push and pull factors and demonstrate the efficacy of a HS approach in preventing VE through engaging local communities. These varying contexts were to be taken into account when deciding on the pathways used to strengthen the HS approach. One of the aims was to involve learning exchange and development at the local level, and connect the community with (inter)national security stakeholders relevant to CVE. It was important for all the consortium members that through the process of the research, the capacity of local actors would be built. So, the aim was always for this to be more than a straightforward research project producing knowledge and insights. It was also about the process to be practice-oriented – with the ambition being a project of facilitating a broad-based, bottom-up, locally owned, and HS-grounded security agenda. The overall goals of this research