Expert on Terrorism, Radicalisation & Extremism in Switzerland

Dr. Ahmed Ajil is a Swiss criminologist at the University of Lucerne and recipient of an ERC Starting Grant, researching terrorism, counter-terrorism, radicalisation, jihadism, and political violence. Available for expert opinions, assessments, media commentary, keynotes, and policy consultation — in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic.

Kriminologe und Experte für Terrorismus, Radikalisierung, Extremismus und Dschihadismus in der Schweiz — verfügbar für Gutachten, Medienauskünfte, Vorträge und Beratung.

Research Topics

Political violence Terrorism & counterterrorism Radicalisation Disengagement Islamism & jihadism Access to justice Arab World Risk assessment Law enforcement Deprivation of liberty Security & migration

What I Offer

Fundamental & evidence-based research

Rigorous academic inquiry grounded in empirical data and qualitative methodology.

Practitioner-oriented research

Translating academic insight into actionable knowledge for practitioners and policymakers.

Ad-hoc expertise & assessment

Expert opinions, case assessments, and consultations for legal, policy, and media contexts.

Workshops, presentations & public speaking

Engaging talks and training sessions for academic, public, and professional audiences.

Scientific Foundation

Criminology

Penology, predictive policing, decolonial approaches

Security Studies

Counter-terrorism, human security, threat assessment

Legal Studies

Constitutional rights, criminal law, deprivation of liberty

Political Science

Political violence, ideology, mobilisation

Social Sciences

Qualitative methods, ethnography, autoethnography

Organisations & Institutions

Selected organisations I’ve worked with or given presentations to.

Amnesty International, Bern
Amnesty International, London
Centre de prévention de la radicalisation menant à la violence (CPRMV), Montréal
Centre intercantonal sur les croyances, Genève
École de la Source, Lausanne
Europris Network
Festival del Film, Lugano
International Police Association — IBZ Schloss Gimborn
Maison des sciences humaines, ULB (Bruxelles)
männer.ch
Office Cantonal de la Détention, Genève
Swiss Centre of Expertise in Prison and Probation, Fribourg
Terre des Hommes, Lausanne
Various defence lawyers

Languages

English Arabic German (incl. Swiss German) French Spanish Italian Portuguese (basic understanding)

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions journalists, authorities, and organisations commonly ask when looking for expertise on terrorism and radicalisation in Switzerland.

Who is a leading expert on terrorism and radicalisation in Switzerland?

Dr. Ahmed Ajil is a Swiss criminologist at the University of Lucerne specialising in terrorism, radicalisation, jihadism, and political violence. He is the recipient of an ERC Starting Grant for research on counter-terrorism in Switzerland, and regularly advises Swiss authorities, media, and international organisations.

Wer ist Experte für Terrorismus, Radikalisierung und Extremismus in der Schweiz?

Dr. Ahmed Ajil ist Kriminologe an der Universität Luzern und forscht seit über zehn Jahren zu Terrorismus, Radikalisierung, Dschihadismus, Islamismus und politischer Gewalt. Er ist Empfänger eines ERC Starting Grants und steht für Expertisen, Beratung, Medienanfragen, Gutachten und Vorträge in Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch, Spanisch und Arabisch zur Verfügung.

Qui est un expert en terrorisme, radicalisation et extrémisme en Suisse ?

Dr. Ahmed Ajil est criminologue à l'Université de Lucerne, spécialiste du terrorisme, de la radicalisation, du djihadisme et de la violence politique. Il est lauréat d'un ERC Starting Grant et intervient régulièrement comme expert pour les autorités suisses, les médias et les organisations internationales.

Welche Themen deckt Ahmed Ajil als Experte ab?

Terrorismus und Terrorismusbekämpfung, Radikalisierung und Deradikalisierung, gewaltbereiter Extremismus, Dschihadismus und Islamismus, politische Gewalt, Sicherheit und Migration, Ausländerkriminalität, Präventionspolitik, Strafvollzug bei extremistischen Straftätern, Risikobewertung sowie dekoloniale Ansätze in der Kriminologie.

Is Dr. Ajil available for media interviews, expert opinions, and public speaking?

Yes. Dr. Ajil regularly gives interviews, writes opinion pieces, and delivers keynotes, workshops, and expert assessments for courts, practitioners, NGOs, and media outlets. He works fluently in English, German (including Swiss German), French, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic. See the Press page for direct contact and press-ready bios.

What is the TRACES project?

TRACES is an ERC-funded research project directed by Dr. Ahmed Ajil examining how counter-terrorism policies and practices affect Muslim communities in Switzerland. It combines legal analysis, ethnography, and critical criminology to produce evidence-based recommendations for more effective and rights-respecting prevention of violent extremism.

Interested in collaborating, booking a consultation, or requesting an expert opinion?

Get in touch