Was macht ein Imam gegen Radikalisierung? | betrifft: uns 30.05.2026

What does an imam do to combat radicalization? Islamist extremism is an ideology that, in the worst-case scenario, culminates in terrorist attacks. Young people are increasingly targeted by hate preachers on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, where they are deliberately radicalized. This was also the case for the young person who allegedly planned an attack on a Taylor Swift concert. Extremists don't just operate online, however: they also try to influence and recruit young people with their ideology in local mosques. At the same time, there are those who oppose this development. One of them is Ramazan Demir – an imam, Islamic studies teacher, and university lecturer. He talks to young people, contradicts hate preachers – in schools as well as online – and clarifies misconceptions about Islam. Mosque communities call on him when individuals with extremist views attract attention. Families whose children are becoming radicalized also seek his help. Furthermore, Ramazan Demir engages in interfaith dialogue with a rabbi who is one of his closest friends. But his commitment has not been without consequences: threats, police protection, and hostility from extremist circles. The imam himself has become a target. What drives someone to expose themselves to this danger—and to continue anyway? In this episode of "betrifft: uns" (concerning: us), Melanie Dzambazov accompanies Imam Ramazan Demir and explores the question: What does an imam do to combat radicalization? You can find more from "betrifft: uns" at https://on.orf.at