Counter-Ideological programme
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Singapore
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Name
Counter-Ideological programme |
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Target audience
Thwarted terrorists, not those who had engaged in violence |
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Organisation
Internal Security Department (ISD) of the Ministry of Home Affairs |
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Objectives
Neutralise the threat posed by the detainees |
Description
The Saudi programme is the most well-known and longest standing, having started in 2004. It was developed by the Saudi government in response to its increasing concern over “jihadists” who received military training and were ideologically indoctrinated in Afghanistan and returned to the kingdom disgruntled and advocating for it to be overthrown. In response to this societal challenge, a group of well-known clerics began a prison-based deradicalisation programme.
The Counter-Ideological programme was developed by the ISD of the Ministry of Home Affairs, in Singapore. This programme works only with thwarted terrorists (for example, extremists involved in planning an attack), not those who had engaged in violence. Rehabilitation and release are not its ultimate goal, since not all detainees can be rehabilitated. The goal is to neutralise the threat posed by the detainees, and rehabilitation is one means to achieve that goal.
The Singapore programme is probably the most comprehensive of all disengagement or deradicalisation programmes. It consists of several interlocking components:
It comprises the following components:
It has several stages and the detention of the militants is reviewed every two years. Detainees who are no longer considered to pose a threat may be released.
The Saudi programme is the most well-known and longest standing, having started in 2004. It was developed by the Saudi government in response to its increasing concern over “jihadists” who received military training and were ideologically indoctrinated in Afghanistan and returned to the kingdom disgruntled and advocating for it to be overthrown. In response to this societal challenge, a group of well-known clerics began a prison-based deradicalisation programme.
The Counter-Ideological programme was developed by the ISD of the Ministry of Home Affairs, in Singapore. This programme works only with thwarted terrorists (for example, extremists involved in planning an attack), not those who had engaged in violence. Rehabilitation and release are not its ultimate goal, since not all detainees can be rehabilitated. The goal is to neutralise the threat posed by the detainees, and rehabilitation is one means to achieve that goal.
The Singapore programme is probably the most comprehensive of all disengagement or deradicalisation programmes. It consists of several interlocking components:
- Psychological rehabilitation;
- Religious rehabilitation;
- Social rehabilitation;
- Community involvement and family support.
It comprises the following components:
- Efforts to break a radical’s affective, pragmatic, and ideological commitment to an extremist group:
- Conversations with a psychologist about his situation and feelings;
- Family visits, which are considered therapeutic (i.e., the detainees realise that their families are suffering);
- Development of relationships of trust with case officers;
- Theological discussions with mainstream scholars with the intent to convince them that their radical interpretation of Islam is incorrect and to accept an alternative, mainstream interpretation;
- Improvement of educational and employment opportunities by providing the detainees with training to develop vocational skills so that they can obtain good jobs upon their release;
- Family support (financial provisions for the wives and families of the inmates, offering the wives jobs while the inmate was still in prison, for example).
- Continued support and monitoring after the individual complete the formal programme;
- And the use of credible interlocutors to discredit radical Islamism.
It has several stages and the detention of the militants is reviewed every two years. Detainees who are no longer considered to pose a threat may be released.