A German journalist and terrorist expert of Pakistani origin went undercover in asylum centers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, only to discover dire conditions and Islamic radicalism bubbling under the surface, he told Fokus.de.

Refugee centers in Europe force asylum seekers to live in poor conditions but they are still better than in Turkey, German journalist Shams Ul-Haq told Fokus.de

Ul-Haq is an expert on terrorism, who himself arrived in Europe at the age of 15 as an illegal immigrant from Pakistan. He has posed as an asylum seeker in reception centers in Europe, and at camps in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey in order to report on what life is like there.

Ul-Haq detailed some incidents of maltreatment of refugees in European reception centers. He said that the service in Germany was better than in Switzerland, where he lived in the Kreuzlingen center, which is now closed.

"The standard in both countries is still a lot better than for example in Turkey. Overall the service in Germany is better, in Switzerland there was a lot of boredom. The asylum procedure takes a long time there and in this time the refugees have nothing to do. It's not good for people be bored, because conflicts and rumors quickly start," said Ul-Haq.

"Some of the residents there believed, for example, that the process is deliberately protracted and the state is earning money from refugees. Religious fanatics claimed the Swiss would only help them in order to later convert their children to Christianity."

"In Germany more psychologists and supervisors were employed, who organized entertainment programs, especially for children. In some of the units, the residents can even do traineeships. It is also important that there are enough places of worship, which is very important for Muslims. In Germany that was quite good."

The reporter said that one of the issues for refugees and migrants at the Swiss center was their treatment by staff, who shouted at and even beat those living there.

"I got talking to one of the few nice officials, who had worked there for more than a year. He confirmed that violence at the home is normal and told of one case when a refugee was beaten so badly the person had to be hospitalized. An Afghan girl told me there was an extra room where the security staff would bring in refugees who don't behave and beat them."

"At night we had to sleep in a war bunker and couldn't eat or drink. There was no shower, you could only wash at the sink. That was really bad."

Ul-Haq confirmed fears that former members of terrorist groups such as Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) are among those living at reception centers in Europe.

"It is absolutely clear that we have former IS fighters among the refugees," said the reporter.

"Some of them have turned away from the Islamic State and are seeking protection from the militia, but some are also carrying their Islamic ideology here."

"I spoke with people, you need two or three days to win their trust but then they reveal their extreme views in conversation."

"The third night in Switzerland I got a neighbor in my bunker. He talked in his sleep, words like 'Mujaheddin,' and 'Allahu-Akbar.' I investigated and it turned out that this young man came from Iraq and had fought for an Islamic group. Whether than was IS (Daesh) or some other group I couldn't tell."

© AP Photo / Kerstin Joensson Refugees wait in a crowded migrant registration center in Passau, southern Germany, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015

The Germany-based terrorism expert was asked about the ways in which Germany can recognize dangerous terrorists among those who have arrived in the country, and prevent them from spreading radicalization.

"The refugees need to be monitored much more. There is no other way. The security services need to monitor telephone conversations and work more closely with the intelligence services of other countries."

"These authorities must be contacted within one or two days in order to establish if the newcomer is a fighter or terrorist and to prevent trained fighters from coming to the camps."

"And another thing would help – Syrian and Iraqi refugees should be separated immediately on arrival, to avoid conflicts. In addition there should be more social workers in the residences and a total ban on alcohol."

Ul-Haq also warned about the cultural differences between German society and many of the newcomers, who are used living in a less permissive social system.

"I also think that we in Germany need stricter laws to curb crime," he said.

"Most of the refugees are not afraid of the lax penalties here. I think that those who do not behave should be deported immediately."