The strong cities network representing the first global linkage was founded in September 2015. It aims to strengthen municipal bodies as well as the cooperation with civil society against the violence of radicalization and extremism. Its main target is providing a connection between municipalities and cities as well as the leaders. Moreover, frontline practitioners are also taken into consideration by this initiative. Thus, more than 100 global cities, including Antalya in Turkey, intend to share their own experiences with the other members. To encourage this connection between the global cities, they regularly deliver meetings, trainings and partnerships.
Cities around the world has experience rise of polarization, hate crime and speech as well as activities conducted by a group of people. In this environment, the Strong Cities Network directly engages not only mayors and local policymakers, but also frontline practitioners on preventing and fighting various forms of violent extremism and aims to deliver strong connectivity, expert training, effective peer learning, as well as proactive, targeted prevention strategies at the both municipal and local level on a global scale.[1]
[1] Strong Cities Network, https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/03/SCN_Western-Balkans_Regional-Assessment-Report_13032018.pdf
Antalya in Turkey is the member of this initiative since its inception. In terms of strengthening regional cooperation against extremism and radicalization, it has a significant role through its memberships to different international organizations. For instance, Turkey, as a member of the UN, NATO, the Committee of Experts on Terrorism of the Council of Europe, and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, has strongly contributed to fight against extremism. Under these circumstances, Turkey regularly participates in the meetings and initiatives aiming to provide a support to assist training for judges and prosecutors handling terrorism cases.[1] Thus, the first meeting of the “Strong Cities Initiative” was held in Antalya and hosted by Turkey. In the meeting, “In today’s world, radicalism and terrorism fuel each other. In the fight against these extremist movements, local governments play a crucial role. If any city’s locals categorize each other and exclude others due to their differences, the world cannot fight against terrorism and radicalism. We need to adopt the ‘we are all equal discourse’ mainly from the grassroots of our local communities,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said in his opening speech on May 11 for the summit, which was launched under the auspices of the United Nations in September 2015.[2]
[1] Country Report on Terrorism 2018 – Chapter 1 – Turkey, https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2019168.html
[2] World cities meet in Turkey for joint efforts to tackle extremism, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/world-cities-meet-in-turkey-for-joint-efforts-to-tackle-extremism-99188
TURKEY'S FIGHT AGAINST DAESH/ISIL 