Deradicalisation programmes in other countries
Malaysia:
The rehabilitation programme is conducted by the prisons department and the detainee is exposed to a syllabus with a heavy emphasis on Islamic jurisprudence and discussions about martyrdom operations. Dialogue sessions are also held, with the aim of countering misinterpretations of Islamic teachings. Each session is conducted over four to seven days, for groups of up to 10 detainees. Family members will also be educated on religious values. The programme also addresses financial problems, employment and health needs of the detainees and their families.
Saudi Arabia:
Started in 2004 amid a wave of extremist violence sweeping through the country, Saudi Arabia’s deradicalisation programme begins with counselling inside prisons. Inmates explain their ideological motivations to the Islamic clerics before embarking on a religious course. Upon release, the individuals spend a few months at the Mohammed bin Nayef Centre — a luxurious rehabilitation centre — where they undergo further religious instruction and psychological counselling, and take part in team sports and art therapy.
Yemen:
A now-defunct Yemeni scheme involved ad-hoc outreach through interlocutors such as tribal chiefs and Islamic judges. However, the programme failed to meet the standards of the United States government, which continuously opted not to send any Yemeni Guantanamo Bay detainees to it. The Yemeni government put up a presidential decree in 2014 announcing its decision to build a secure rehabilitation centre for militants. The project was estimated to cost US$20 million (S$27.3 million) and the country was said to have sought the help of the US and its Gulf Arab neighbours to finance the project.
