The Austrian government announced Monday the creation of a hotline and advice centre for people to contact if they suspect a family member, classmate or colleague to be involved with Islamic extremists.

Austria, like other European countries, has seen a stream of young people, some in their teens, leave to join Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria and Iraq, sparking concerns that on returning they may launch attacks.

On Friday, some 900 Austrian police arrested 14 suspected jihad recruiters in nationwide raids on homes, prayer rooms and mosques. Eight were remanded in custody Monday and six were released but remain under investigation.

The anonymous and multi-lingual new hotline, first announced before last week's raids, represents a "new and very decisive element in the fight against extremism," Family and Youth Minister Sophie Karmasin said.

The government also plans controversial changes to Austria's 100-year-old Islamic Law to crack down on foreign financing of Muslim groups, the banning of IS symbols as well as a standardised German-language Koran.

Dutch court jails Syria jihadist, frees wife
The Hague (AFP) Dec 01, 2014 –

A Dutch court sentenced a jihadist to three years in prison on Monday for fighting in Syria, reportedly the first penalty of its kind in the Netherlands.

The Hague district court convicted the 20-year-old man, identified only as "Maher H." under Dutch privacy laws, for having fought in the Syrian conflict.

His wife, aged 20, was acquitted of recruiting two women to go to Syria to marry jihadists. The court found that wives of jihadists are not necessarily taking part in armed combat.

Dutch media said the jailing of a former fighter in Syria was the first of its kind in the country, but the public prosecutor's office could not immediately confirm this.

Maher H., who was in Syria from July 2013 to February 2014, was also convicted of spreading propaganda calling for terrorist attacks.

He admitted going to Syria, but said he only engaged in humanitarian work such as distributing food packets.

The prosecutor showed the court photos from social media in which the suspect could be seen with an assault rifle.

The Dutch cabinet in August announced stricter measures to combat jihadism and radicalisation of Muslims in the Netherlands.

"Jihadism is a substantial threat to Dutch national security and international law and order," Security and Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten and Social Affairs Minister Lodewijk Asscher said in a letter to parliament.

"That's why the cabinet is taking additional measures to strengthen the current measures already in existence to tackle jihadism."

Apart from jail sentences for returning jihadists, additional measures included taking legal action against would-be fighters planning to travel to Syria and confiscating their passports.

They also involve cracking down on pro-jihadist literature, and targeting those who support jihad on social media and websites.