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Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwanda Muslim Community (RMC) have started a campaign against radicalisation as part of the efforts to cement the community policing ideology against the transnational organised crime.
The campaign that started on Friday in the Southern districts of Huye, Gisagara, Ruhango and Nyanza seeks to educate students particularly the Muslim faithful currently in holidays, against extremism.
More than 1100 Muslim students were sensitized in the four districts.
The campaign is aimed at educating the Muslim community, especially young students in holidays, against radicalization and extremism.
The young people are mainly targeted by jihadist groups for radicalization.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Faustin Karimba from the department of counter-terrorism in RNP, while speaking to the youthful Muslims in Nyanza on Saturday, said that human and drug trafficking are signs of radicalism and some of the ways through which the young people are recruited into violent extremism.
He emphasized the role of the Muslim youth in fighting radicalism by reporting those who attempt to lure them into such violent criminal activities.
"You are part of the national development and that starts with individual development which is education, taking advantage of the government youth development programmes and be community policing agents against extremism and radical ideology," SSP Karimba told the youth.
He urged them not to fall for jihadist groups' criminal propaganda instead stick to the true meaning of their faith.
"Desist and condemn jihadism, which is brought about by evil-minded people that use the Islamic name for their criminal ends."
He, however, noted that cases of radicalism are rare and urged members of the Muslim faith never to drift from the cause of further making Rwanda free from extremists.
Police also held a separate meeting with Muslim leaders and anti-radicalism clubs and discussed on "active partnership" in raising awareness and educating the young people against radicalism and extremism.
The Muslim leaders expressed appreciation and pledged stronger partnership to educate the young Muslim faithful towards the right direction and being part of their country's security and development agenda.
The awareness campaign will also be extended to the Muslim youth in Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe districts this Sunday before continuing to other parts of the country.
