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Australian anti-terrorism app picked as finalist in international competition

Xinhua, May 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

An Australian-designed app which aims to engage Muslims in a positive way has been chosen as a finalist in a U.S. State Department initiative to combat terrorism- related propaganda on Monday.

The app, developed by a team from Western Australia's Curtin University, is designed to encourage a network of Muslim youth to confidently express their faith and ignore the lure from extremist groups such as Islamic State (IS).

Named 52JUMAA, in homage to the Arabic translation of "Friday", the free app lets users create a profile and set spiritual goals for personal growth. The app presents users with a weekly challenge every Friday.

The app is compatible with other social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook, and according to Curtin University's Associate Professor Anne Aly, it would serve to help the user develop a positive identity at a time when Islamic youths are being seduced by outside influences.

"In forming social identity it has been found people go through a few stages, starting at searching, which can then lead to persuasion before seduction, right through to operation," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday.

She said young people were most vulnerable to influences from organizations such as IS during the "searching phase", as young people were still trying to work out who they are.

Aly said the team developed the app in direct response to the strong social media presence that IS has.

The extremist group attracts young radicals to Iraq and Syria, but also encourages potential terrorists to take action on home soil.

Australia has experienced a rise in the number of home-grown terror threats in recent months, and the authorities have also learned of dozens of Australians who have flown to the Middle East to fight.

Aly said she hoped the app would discourage other young Muslims from going down a similar path.

The app's developers have been invited to Washington, D.C., to formally introduce their submission in the international competition to representatives from U.S. Department of State and the White House later this month. Endi