The unified text[1] approved by the Commission is aimed at introducing a series of measures, interventions, and programs for the prevention of violent radicalization as a subversive phenomenon, including the spread of violent jihadist extremism. The text takes up part of the contents of a previous document approved during the 17th legislature by the Chamber of Deputies (S. 2883)[2], which did not complete its process in the Senate before the end of the legislature.
The measures envisaged are rooted in European and international context. For years EU Anti-terrorism policy has settled among its priorities the prevention and the fight to radicalization in all its forms, both online and across communities and territories. EU policy addresses processes of radicalization connected to different reasons, including ideologies, religious or political beliefs, and prejudices towards particular groups of people, that may arise from the social context, from a direct contact with extremist groups or from the internet.
The unified text as defined by the First Commission marks the following objectives:
- To prevent the subversive phenomena of violent radicalization as it is defined from EU (including jihadist radicalization). In particular:
- “violent radicalization” defined as the phenomenon that sees people embracing opinions, views and ideas that could lead to terrorist acts as defined by the European regulatory framework;
- “radicalization of a jihadist matrix” affecting people who, even without entertaining stable relationships with terrorist groups, embrace jihadist ideologies inspired by the use of violence and acclaiming terrorism, also throughout the web and of social networks.
- To promote de-radicalization, in the context of the fundamental guarantees of religious freedom and in compliance with the principles and values of the Italian constitutional order;
- To promote the recovery in terms of integration – social, cultural, professional – of the individuals involved (Italians or foreigners residing in Italy) in radicalization.
The text specifies that the purposes pursued do not hinder other measures and actions that are to be realized in order to repress all forms of violent crime, including the expulsion or removal from the national territory, as set out by the current legislation.
With this aim, the text provides for the establishment of a new institutional body, the National Center on Radicalization (CRAD) at the Ministry of the Interior, which annually draws up a national strategic plan for the prevention of radicalization and of access to violent extremism, and for the recovery of individuals involved in radicalization issues.
[1]https://www.camera.it/leg18/824?tipo=A&anno=2021&mese=11&giorno=18&view=&commissione=01#data.20211118.com01.allegati.all00010
[2] https://www.senato.it/leg/17/BGT/Schede/Ddliter/48213.htm
