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Grassroots Approach to Tackling Violent Extremism

By Charlotte Taylor

Independent research consultant Alejandro J. Beutel discussed his publication God Loves
the Just, in a talk hosted by the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and the National
Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START).

Beutel spent nearly a year analyzing case studies of violent extremism in the United States,
meeting with members of the American Muslim community and interviewing former
members of extremist movements. The product: a detailed guide that focuses on grassroots
efforts to counter extremist ideologies and pull individuals back from the precipice of
violent behavior.

Todays potential extremists develop warped ideologies over time, not instantly, and at
some point decide to step over the line that divides extreme ideas from criminal behavior,
Beutel said. The factors are complex, and people dont fall into these issues overnight. That
provides the community an opportunity to intervene.

Beutel designed the guide in two parts: the first part provides a background on extremist
beliefs and behaviors to educate communities on the threat; the second, how to approach
individuals who may be flirting with extremist beliefs following the Prevention,
Intervention, Ejection (PIE) framework. Empowering the community to rehabilitate and
educate at-risk individuals provides an alternative to incarceration and can succeed in
minimizing violence, according to Beutel.

A persons path toward violence can be slowed, halted, reversed or even prevented in
many cases. The goal is to create a climate of trust within communities, Beutel said. But
once an individual crosses the line into extremist behaviors and criminal activity, the
community has to notify law enforcement.

After fostering that trust, community support and assistance are an integral part of helping
rehabilitate extremists back into the American Muslim community. Extremists are
frequently incarcerated, and while jail time is necessary for some individuals, Beutel insists
that there are more productive ways to handle extremists.


The community needs to take ownership of countering violent extremism, said Harris
Tarin, director of the Washington, D.C. office of MPAC. We hope that Beutels guide will
help shed light on the internal dynamics of the movement to counter violent extremism."

View A Grassroots Approach to Tackling Violent Extremism on the START website.