“One of the problems associated with accepting refugees is that you will never be certain of the intentions of another human being…”
The latest method utilized by terrorists—driving vehicles into pedestrians—has started popping up across Europe. The frightening trend has put people on alert and is responsible for the escalation and widespread fear of radical Islamic terrorism around the world. It makes it harder for people to trust refugees and asylum seekers. Not many people will verbalize their fears and suspicions, but they are definitely there.
It’s been reported that the 39-year-old Uzbekistan citizen who carried out the attack in Sweden was a rejected asylum seeker. Four people lost their lives and 15 were injured when the suspect drove a delivery truck into a department store in Stockholm. It was also revealed that the suspect was wanted for deportation, and as recently as February, authorities were searching for him. Swedish authorities actually said that they have no clue of the whereabouts of migrants who are wanted for deportation because the government doesn’t keep records of their location. This is truly alarming, because Swedish police were also aware that this suspect had shown interest and sympathy for ISIS online.
This latest incident marks the third in just four months within Europe. The rise in violence perpetrated by those who have been denied asylum has many people in the United States worried about the true intentions of refugees. Advocates for refugees often argue that banning citizens from entering the United States will only encourage them to become radicalized. This reasoning is flawed, as they’re basically threatening countries with acts of terrorism in order to advocate for refugees. Not only that, but it isn’t the responsibility of nations like the United States to prevent radicalization among groups of people who have been displaced by war and other disasters within their home countries. While there needs to be a worldwide effort in assisting those third-world countries and war-torn regions, the brunt of it seems to have fallen on western civilization. Yet European countries and the United States remain prime targets for radical Islamic terrorists.
One of the problems associated with accepting refugees is that you will never be certain of the intentions of another human being. When President Donald Trump signed the first executive order to institute his travel ban, ISIS released statements of approval and were actually rejoicing. For them, this meant that it would be easier to recruit Muslims that were banned from the United States. Those who weren’t already involved with terrorist organizations would be more inclined to join out of pure hatred for the United States. This dangerous ideology can be used to incorporate violence and intimidation into the refugee community. This incident further illustrates the need for a tougher stance on radical Islamic terrorism on a global scale.
Angelina Newsom is an OpsLens Contributor and U.S. Army Veteran. She has ten years experience in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies Criminal Justice and is still active within the military community.
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