Posted on 03/09/2006 2:10:08 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia is considering a plan to "de-programme" Islamic militants held in jail despite criticism by a rights group saying it amounted to brainwashing.
Police Commissioner Mick Keelty proposed the idea, saying the technique involved using respected imams or people previously connected with militant organisations to convert extremists to more moderate views.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that while "re-programming isn't the phrase I would use", the idea would be considered as it had been implemented successfully in Europe, the Middle East and Indonesia.
"Those governments have made an attempt to persuade extremists and terrorists who have been held in prison to change their point of view and to understand that it's not the Islamic way to kill, it's not the Islamic way to murder," he told reporters.
"And in some cases that process has been successful. It's something that we will give thought to."
Police chief Keelty told ABC Television's Lateline programme Wednesday the process, which he likened to treatment for drug addicts, had been successful in countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Britain.
Indonesia's anti-terrorist squad now had former Jemaah Islamiah (JI) commander Nasir bin Abbas working for them and re-educating arrested JI recruits, he said.
"It's somebody they would have otherwise looked up to as a natural leader, in terms of a terrorist, and they've turned him around and used him to convert the others," Keelty said.
Indonesia had convicted around 200 people of terrorist-related offences since the 2002 Bali bombings and something had to be done with those offenders before they could be released back into the community, he said.
"Two hundred people incarcerated presents a problem if they haven't been reformed by the time they come back out into the community."
Australian police have worked closely with their Indonesian counterparts in the investigation of JI bomb attacks against tourists on the resort island of Bali and against the Australian embassy in Jakarta.
Keelty said he had raised the idea with the government in Australia, where 24 Muslim men are facing terrorism charges, but it would require a major policy shift and had gone no further.
"Essentially, it would be a threshold question in terms of policy as to whether we would engage in something that forces people into some sort of de-programming or de-radicalisation," he said.
Australian Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Terry O'Gorman opposed the plan.
"These countries the police commissioner mentions are involved in torture," O'Gorman said. "This de-programming is part of the same basket of procedures."
O'Gorman said there was no evidence to suggest that the practice, which he said was better described as "brainwashing", was effective in deterring terrorism.
Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network spokesman Waleed Kadous, however, said a voluntary scheme had merit.
"It's important to highlight that already many respected scholars in the Muslim community are informally deconstructing terrorism and condemning terrorism to their congregations already," Kadous said.
"If it's voluntary we have no objection to it, but the problem once you make it compulsory is it just won't work, because religious leaders who do so will be seen as instruments of the government and will lose credibility to those people."
Ping
Lobotomy is needed there, not reprogramming of dubious sincerity and effectiveness.
L
Seems like they're already brainwashed by the imams. We're just starting the rinse cycle.
if they would just leave this aholes laying in the field full of holes, they wouldn't have these arguments
Whatever happened to just killing the snake instead of trying to convince the snake it's a rabbit ?
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Yeah, and the lobotomy you have in mind need not be restricted to the terrorists in custody, but also might be considered for the bleeding hearts who worry so much about the well-being of these losers.
That's a great idea, we should be 'deprogramming' them as well.
I cant see how anyone can oppose this plan. Its tantamount to saying, "no, we support these guys right to be terrorists and kill innocent people".
If anything, this plan is too kindly towards these islamocriminals.
Maybe, a little chemical therapy? LSD?
Brainwashing and deprogramming can sound like they are the same thing.
Actually they are not. A brainwashed person is manipulated into a false sense of reality for the purposes of controlling them. Cults, abusive relationships, and yes Islamic Jihad are examples of this.
IN BRAINWASHING THE PURPOSE IS FOR CONTROL TO BE TAKEN FROM THE PERSON AND TRANSFERED TO SOMEONE ELSE.
Deprogramming amounts to helping the person to have an alternative perspective that helps them to be in control over their own life.
IN DEPROGRAMMING THE PURPOSE IS FOR CONTROL TO BE GIVEN TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
Big difference.
"Doubts complete faith and keep it from becoming fanaticism"
-Some really smart Rabbi
But being fanatical is fun.
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