Doctor in sociology at the University of Strasbourg, Mustafa Ouseghir studied the journeys of young radicalized jihadists taken in by the judicial youth protection services in Alsace. It explains how we enter and exit the spiral of violence.
Anne Frintz
Mustafa Ouseghir defended his thesis in November 2025 at the University of Strasbourg, following two six-month internships carried out in 2017 and 2019 within the judicial youth protection services (PJJ). His work, which will not be public until 2075, focuses in particular on the biographical journeys of young radicalized jihadists followed in Alsace by PJJ professionals.
Discriminated against, sometimes harassed before their radicalization, young people are more or less markedly at odds with their family and are unaware of its history. Specialized educators will try to transmit a series of resources and values and work to reactivate emotional bonds so that young people reject jihadist violence and reintegrate.
Rue89 Strasbourg: What conditions favor violent, jihadist Islamist radicalization?
Mustafa Ouseghir : I have identified several factors that can induce a process of entry into radicalization. The question of passing on family history is essential. I met radicalized children and young people, aged 14 to 23, who had very little information about their family’s intergenerational history when they began to be radicalized. For the children of immigrants, I also noted a rejection of the parents’ culture.
Socio-economically and professionally, the young people came from middle or working class families. Overall, these are families in which the parents work a lot and, sometimes, with staggered hours or during weekends. They work overtime to meet the material needs of their children. This strong professional involvement of parents rarefies their daily presence with young people. There is thus less interaction between family members and therefore less transmission, sharing of experiences, accompaniment, support, listening to the needs of young people, particularly regarding their school or socio-professional projects.
A breeding ground of ancient traumas
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