BAG RelEx

The Federal Working Group on Religiously Motivated Extremism (BAG RelEx) is a non-profit association founded in November 2016 by 25 civil society organizations. Our mission is to create a platform for networking, professional exchange, content development, and advocacy for civil society actors in the field of democracy promotion and prevention of religiously motivated extremism.

• Networking and Professional Exchange: We provide a platform for exchange among civil society actors to develop and optimize quality standards in prevention and deradicalization work.
• Prevention and Deradicalization Work: Our member organizations are engaged in a variety of areas, including democracy promotion, radicalization prevention, anti-bias work, intercultural work, educational counseling, violence prevention, and exit work[3][4].
• Training and Counseling: We offer certified training, particularly on radicalization prevention in schools and youth services, and provide counseling centers for radicalization[4].

The BAG RelEx represents the interests of civil society actors in prevention and deradicalization work towards politics, science, and administration. Our work is based on the following core values:

• Defense of Democracy: We advocate for the defense of democracy and fundamental rights, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany.
• Confessional and Political Independence: We are confessional and politically independent and clearly distinguish between religion and inhumane ideologies[3].
• Strengthening Civil Society: We promote civic engagement and strengthen civil society actors who are committed to the prevention and deradicalization of religiously motivated extremism.