12. Radicalization and Jihadism in Ceuta

Abstract

In Ceuta, with a population divided into two ethnic-religious groups, Christians and Muslims, in a situation of virtual numerical parity, the dynamics of both everyday life and social conflict has a strong religious and identitarian component. For decades, the Muslim population in Ceuta has, by and large, been prone to coexistence, making this value the axis of interethnic and interfaith relations. The setting in of Islamic fundamentalist currents has introduced an element of tension within the Muslim population itself as well as in the relationship of this with other groups of population, a fact that has been aggravated by external factors such as the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria. In recent years, there has been a significant growth of the jihadist recruitment networks in the city, and the number of Muslims, men and women from Ceuta, who have come to that call to travel to the war zones, especially Syria, has increased. This is presented as a potential threat to peaceful coexistence of the citizens of Ceuta, as it has broken mutual trust and enhanced the existing social segregation.