Deprogramming UK Muslim Prisoners IslamOnline.net & Newspapers
CAIRO - British prison authorities have designed a program on deprogramming Muslim prisoners to "cure" them from extremism with the help of therapists and some imams. "It's about stopping violence," a source told the Daily Mail on Sunday, October 19. "Our focus is on protecting the public and on reducing the risk of offenders hurting others." Crafted by the Ministry of Justice, a special Extremism Unit will use an experimental treatment program to "cure" Muslim prisoners from extremism. The program relies on cognitive behavioral therapy, similar to the de-programming methods used to "unbrainwash" members of religious cults. Under the program, the special unit will train prison staff to recognize the signs of extremism. Then, therapists would work with "high-risk" prisoners to change their perceptions. "It's pretty clear it wouldn't work with everyone," admits another source. "But our view of extremism is that, at the center, the views of the hardcore, high-profile leaders will not be subject to change. But for those further out, it may be quite effective." The deprogramming is part of a wide-ranging strategy to combat extremism in Britain. There is no official estimate about the number of Muslim prisoners in Britain but there are 90 Muslims serving time for terrorist offences. Imams' Help Some 150 Muslims imams are helping in the program, according to the Daily Mail. "We're looking to them to shoot down the religious justification for violence," one source said. "They have to be able to stand up to those who support terrorist killers and say they are wrong." Mahmood, an imam, has already been working with inmates at Whitemoor maximum-security prison in Cambridgeshire to change their extremist attitudes. "Prisoners are like patients, and we are spiritual doctors who must make their best efforts to save patients who might die," he said. "I make no exception for those convicted of terrorist offences: they need their treatment, too. If I see a murderer, I don't withhold my message." Last year, a study about current and former prisoners in England, Scotland and Wales said draconian policies adopted by prison authorities, like restricting prayers, Qur'an reading and access to programs and newspapers, radicalize inmates. "My approach is, I don't judge. The judgment has been made by the court. "If you judge, you cannot reform them. God is mercy." http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1224089111193&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments: What extremism and violence are they talking about? Muslims are not engaged in violence except to counter and stop (zionist, jew, christian, hindu) Kuffar violence and terrorism against Muslims in Muslim lands. The focus of Muslims is also on protecting the public, the Muslim public, who are being attacked and bombed while asleep in the safety of their own homes, and hunted down, kidnapped and tortured around the globe! They call it radicalization when the person attacks them for forbidding his religion (salaat & Qur'an).We can guess what signs of extremism they are looking for: A Muslim who reads al-Quraan and prays regularly, on time and in congregation (Jamaah). Also, a Muslim who rejects kuffar attacks and occupation of Muslim lands and refuses to condemn the Islamic resistance against these kuffar.
