Extremism is the festering sore that needs to be healed through the employability of kinetic and non-kinetic means. At present, the world is facing ethno-national, socio-political and faith- based terrorism. In order to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, it is imperative to comprehend the contours of militancy. De-radicalization is a social and psychological process of changing an individual belief system, rejection of extremist ideology and embracing mainstream values. Notwithstanding, disengagement and cognitive reorientation is a pre-requisite to accomplish the process of deradicalization. Disengagement is all about alteration in behavioural process as De-radicalization relates to cognitive process. Disengagement signifies behavioural transformation. It is a resolve to affect change without violence. It corroborates the theory of relinquishing violence for the attainment of desired objectives that is peace and cessation of conflict in society.

Prison and correctional centers play a pivotal role in the rehabilitation of detained militants

The disengagement process can be individual and collective as well.  Prison and correctional centers play a pivotal role in the rehabilitation of detained militants. The prisons are the abode of hard- core and low -profile terrorists after their arrest by the security forces. The fact remains that internment centers can be a breeding ground for radicalization. For this purpose, the ecology of correctional facilities matters a lot. In the same breath, deradicalization efforts are necessary to address the issue of rising militancy and preventing the spread of extremism. For the rehabilitation of arrested militants, Pakistan has done massive efforts through initiating “De-radicalization and Emancipation Programme (DREP)” in 2009 after the successful conclusion of counter terrorism kinetic measures against the militants in SWAT.

However, in order to harness the yields of military operations, the non-kinetic measures were also put in place through establishing rehabilitation centers, Sabaoon (for the ages of militants from 12 to 18 Yrs old), Mishal (for adults), and Sparlay (for  engaging families of militants), and Rastoon (for Juvenile 19 to 25).  Undoubtedly, the 9/11 terrorist attack ensued Global war on terrorism (GWOT) spearheaded by United States. This disastrous event plunged Pakistan in the morass of endless terrorism. In this horrible fight against militancy, a multitude of terrorists were killed, captured and imprisoned. But, unfortunately, the prisons itself became the hotbed of radicalization, indoctrination and recruitment. Detained terrorist leaders and activists indoctrinated other inmates and got them into the fold of their terrorist groups through entrenched ideological underpinnings.

There is a dire need to eliminate hatred, intolerance and a bigoted interpretation of religion

Disengagement and rehabilitation of detained terrorists is the hallmark of deradicalization endeavours. Different countries exploited diverse prison models to reform and deradicalize terrorists. Saudi-Arabia, Indonesia, Yemen and Singapore involved reformed and repentant militants to deradicalize their prison inmates. It was then realized that there is a dire need to eliminate hatred, intolerance and bigoted interpretation of religion. The focus was on changing the ideology and thinking process of detainees. The religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) of Singapore focused on the religious counseling of detained elements. The extreme views of detained terrorists were rebutted by religious clerics with sound and cogent reasoning emphasizing the de-programming of violent radicalism. Saudi-Arabia initiated “social support” programme for prisoners. Religious scholars re-educated the detainees in the light of Quran and other religious teachings.

As many as 102,026 inmates are housed in 128 functional Jails in Pakistan including Azad & Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit –Baltistan (GB)

However, the prison facilities play a crucial role in the reformation process of inmates and obviate the possibility of their indulging in the cobweb of radicalization and become a ploy of terrorists. Prisoners have the equally fundamental rights to proper living, hygiene regimen, education and learning. According to UN sources, the prisoners shall have the irrevocable right to enjoy the cultural activities and educational milieu for the development and growth of personality as the penitentiaries are meant for reformation and not for destruction of personality. According to the latest statistics, as many as 102,026 inmates are housed in 128 functional Jails in Pakistan including Azad & Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit –Baltistan (GB). This reflects that the prison facilities are over-crowded and operating at the capacity of 152.2%, housing inmates more than its holding limitations. Given the bleak situation, it is really dangerous to place the terrorists in the available prisons. Therefore, it is essential to build correctional centers having high intensity security for the high profile inmates. For the purpose of invincible prison access, target hardening is essential to reduce the vulnerability of Jails, housing hard core militants.

The detention facilities play an important and unavoidable role in the rehabilitation and reformation of prisoners as the interment centers impart vocational trainings and introduce other skill development programmes to engage the militants

The detention facilities play an important and unavoidable role in the rehabilitation and reformation of prisoners as the interment centers impart vocational trainings and introduce other skill development programmes to engage the militants and help them combat the identity crisis, enlightening them through modern and wholesome education, by removing their worries about subsistence and job security, obliterating the push factors and demystifying the pull factors.

The radicalization in the prisons causes by presence of hard-core militants, results from the conditions inherent in the unwholesome prison environment, the identity crisis syndrome and the desire to defy a system which is dubbed as exploitative and unjust. The prison authorities and policy makers can diminish the radicalization challenges in the interment centers by taking measures curtailing the danger of self-radicalization, identity crisis, bad company, and redressal of grievance, provision of facilities and abdication of militant views. It follows that prison policies should be geared towards taking cognizance of radicalization process through effective monitoring of the ways and the activities of terrorist clique, controlling the bad influences coming from outside of the jails, bolstering the prisoners to cuddle the inmate’s identities rather than put effrontery to authorities. Moreover, the Ethnic, religious and cultural divide should be discouraged and conflict line should be erased to mitigate the ethnic, religious and racial issue to mitigate the chances of radicalization malady.

The prison environment counts both in terms of physical as well as cultural norms. Therefore, it is essential to take into account of Modus Vivendi, habitation facilities, values, atmosphere and interpersonal relationships among detainees inside the prisons. Further, it should be ensured that hard core terrorists should be segregated from low profile militants and normal offenders in order to avoid radicalization of detainees. As the radicalization process is faith- based, so, it is essential to hit the belief system of prisoners through voicing the counter narratives emphasizing the message of peace and unity in Islam. It would be rewarding if the reformed militants and religious Ulemas of same faith engage in the deradicalization pursuit of detained terrorists. Putting more efforts through delegitimizing the misplaced ideology will definitely demystify the militants from their aberrant behaviour.

That said, prisons are hotbeds of terrorism, but when the prisons are utilized as correctional and reformation centers, they render unconditional benefits to the society. The alleged militants who were caught and placed in incarceration, if not properly checked and rehabilitated, they can become victim of aggravated radicalization as the prisons are “places of vulnerability” in which radicalization takes place. Yet they are utilized as incubators for peaceful change and transformation.

In Switzerland and many other places this holistic and meaningful training in the prison houses has proved to be really fruitful and productive

The inmates of prisons are very much perceptive to the radical ideologies in the very unsettling and vulnerable environment. The prisoners have no social network, being in this estranged situation. Prisons, therefore, in other words, have served as incubators for wholesome change whose affect has been felt far beyond the prison boundaries.  The inculcation of best practices, learning processes help in sensitization and normalization of life in prison houses. This is really possible, as in Switzerland and many other places this holistic and meaningful training in the prison houses has proved to be really fruitful and productive for better result.

The enlightened religious Ulemas should be engaged to delegitimize the militant’s obscurantist viewpoints

The prison facilities are required to be supervised effectively.  There is a dire need to impart training comprising civic education, critical thinking, dispute resolution and infusion of empathetic group feelings for the members of society. The enlightened religious Ulemas should be engaged to delegitimize the militant’s obscurantist viewpoints.  However, the welfare of detainees is utmost necessity. The detainees should be given opportunity to discuss the religious issues and they should be imparted occupational training to get the opportunity to have alternative sources of earning and social support. The families of extremists should be engaged in the deradicalization pursuits. Moreover, post release support and surveillance of reformed terrorists is essential to prevent recidivism and relapse into militant activites.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.