A new project in Finland aims to help people caught up in radical political or religious ideologies. The Radinet scheme is targeting those radicalised by extremist dogma, including far-right and Islamist extremist literature.
Those involved in extremist activities may soon be helped to renounce violence by a new so-called 'exit' organisation. The Radinet project is funded by the RAY slot machine association, and is the result of collaboration between the Interior Ministry and several organisations opposed to violence.
The goal of the Radinet programme is to help radicalised individuals renounce violence and extremism. Esa Holappa, a neo-Nazi leader who recently left far right politics, is an advisor on the project. The scheme will also aim to help Finns who've left to fight in Syria to leave extremist ideologies behind them.
The project has been running since January, and already has dozens of clients among at-risk groups. The organisation has two full-time workers, one based in Oulu and one in Helsinki, along with Holappa who offers his expert advice.