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Govt seeks to deradicalize 33 alleged IS supporters who failed to reach Syria
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A woman peeks through a window at the Bambu Apus social shelter in East Jakarta on Feb. 6. The shelter houses Indonesians deported from Turkey for allegedly attempting to enter Syria and join the so-called Islamic State group, a terrorist organization. The government keeps them in custody at the shelter to undergo a deradicalization program before they are returned to their respective hometowns. (Antara/Yulius Staria Wijaya)
T
he Social Affairs Ministry says it has received another 33 Indonesians deported from Turkey and Thailand after allegedly attempting to reach Syria to join the terrorist group Islamic State (IS).
The new arrivals said they were gathered at the ministry's Bambu Apus shelter in East Jakarta for joining a deradicalization program.
The 33 arrived just days after a previous batch of 75 deportees had been returned to their home regions across the country.
“All of the 75 people have returned home after completing the deradicalization program, while the new group will follow the same agenda," Bambu Apus head Sulistya told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
(Read also: Deradicalization must involve women)
Sulistya said the 33 hailed from areas across Java and had arrived in several phases in March.
They had been questioned by the National Police’s counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, before being cleared of violating the country’s Terrorism Law for their attempt to go to Syria, he said. Hence they are eligible to join the de-radicalization program, which lasts 30 days. (dan)
