2026-04-05T00:05:35.436984273Zhttps://dspace.library.uu.nl/server/oai/request

oai:dspace.library.uu.nl:1874/4162542026-03-27T13:03:03Zcom_1874_296827col_1874_296828

info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess Countering ‘Islamic’ violent extremism? The implementation of programs to prevent radicalization by Muslim-led civil society organizations in Malindi, Kenya Meinema, Erik Violent extremism political secularism Islam Kenya civil society organizations Muslims in East-Africa religious co-existence SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions This article explores how Muslim-led civil society organizations (CSOs) implement programs to Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) in Malindi, Kenya, while adapting these programs to both their local context and the CVE-policies of Western donors. So far, little research has been done on how East-African Muslims relate themselves to (global) anxieties about Islam and violent extremism. Taking theories within the anthropology of secularism as an analytical frame, I argue that although Western donors try to maintain a public stance of neutrality towards different religions, they perpetuate stigmatizing associations between Islam and terrorism by tacitly mobilizing a distinction between ‘moderate’ and ‘radical’ Muslims. Based on extensive ethnographic research, I subsequently analyze how Muslim-led CSOs strategically navigate and challenge these stigmatizing associations as they implement CVE programs in Malindi. I also show how the desire to present Islam as peaceful limits possibilities to address widespread feelings of marginalization among Kenyan Muslims. LS Religiewetenschap OFR - Religious Studies 2021 Article application/pdf https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/416254 Religion 51(2), 259-279 (2021) en 0048-721X