Germany battles ISIS media with awareness push

The German government estimates that 720 German citizens have joined ISIS in Iraq and Syria since 2010, claiming that most were lured by the extremists' powerful Internet and social media tools. 

In an effort to combat this trend, the federal and regional governments are launching awareness campaigns to warn of the dangers inherent in radical behavior. 

"We have discovered that our young generation has been heavily influenced by Salafi ideology through professional ISIS video propaganda that has been shared on the Internet. There is something special about the pictures they share and the language they use to reach young people very quickly," a German official told Rudaw. 

Germany’s intelligence chief in North Rhine-Westphalia said raising awareness is not just the responsibility of the government - but requires the help of society as well.

Rudaw correspondent Ala Shaly, Rudaw reports Germany.