The comic book was produced by the regional Interior Ministry a year ago and is done in the popular Japanese-origin manga style. It is the first official European product of its type seeking to dissuade youth not to become Islamist terrorists.
The comic book contains a clearly displayed sponsorship by the government and has a page of introductory text by the German state's own interior minister.
It emphasizes an anti-terrorist message through a story of fictional German teenagers, both Muslim and non-Muslim, and through explanatory notes and links that provide additional information on issues tied to Islamic radicalization.
In the story a Muslim teenage in Germany believes he is a victim of discrimination and is attracted to the message of Islamist terrorists. At the end of the story, a confrontation convinces him that Islamist ideology is dangerous but the message is coushed in a pro-Muslim but anti-extremist theme.
The comic book seeks to link Islamist terror to “anti-German” atitudes and laws by noting that Islamist are uncompromising, undermine human rights and violate Germany’s constitutional structure. It also seeks to emphasize that Islamists dod not reflect the views of the vast majority of Muslims.
The comic book states that the Muslim youth's inability to find a job is the result of his lack of initiative and educational achievement. Germany’s government reports that 19 percent of Germany's ethnic Turks, the largest non-German population group and one that is overwhelmingly Muslim, are unemployed. By contrast, only 8 percent of the general population are unemployed.
