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Navigating the complex path of deradicalization: Lessons from JI

Programs that encourage critical thinking and religious literacy help individuals differentiate between authentic teachings and extremist distortions.

Noor Huda Ismail (The Jakarta Post)
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Singapore
Fri, September 27, 2024

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Navigating the complex path of deradicalization: Lessons from JI Big catch: National Police spokespersons show on July 1, 2019, photographs of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group leader Para Wijayanto and various seized items at a press conference in Jakarta. The JI leader was arrested with his wife at a hotel in Bekasi, West Java. (AFP/Stringer)

T

he disbandment of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), a once-prominent extremist group in Southeast Asia, offers valuable lessons in deradicalization. Understanding the journey of JI provides insights into the challenges and strategies needed to reintegrate individuals drawn into violent extremism.

Radicalization is a global phenomenon that requires coordinated responses. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 provides a framework urging member states to prevent terrorist financing, strengthen legal systems and enhance intelligence sharing. Such measures highlight the international nature of counterterrorism efforts and the need for global cooperation.

Indonesia's 2018 Terrorism Law marks a pivotal shift, allowing proactive intervention before terrorist acts occur and incorporating rehabilitation for former extremists. Unlike the 2003 version, it addresses both the roots of radicalization and current threats like online extremism. This comprehensive approach empowers authorities to act pre-emptively, demonstrating Indonesia's commitment to tackling evolving terrorism challenges.

The "ATM" method—Amati (Observe), Tiru (Imitate), and Modifikasi (Modify)—provides a practical deradicalization model, advocating for the adaptation of global strategies to local contexts. Indonesia can draw from elements of Denmark’s Aarhus Model, which emphasizes reintegration through counseling, community engagement and tailored support, as well as Singapore’s Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), which focuses on correcting extremist ideologies and religious misinterpretations. Customizing these approaches to Indonesia's unique sociocultural environment can enhance their effectiveness in addressing the root causes of radicalization.

This is crucial because radicalization often stems from misunderstandings and misinterpretations of religious teachings.For example, the book Al-Jami fi Tholabul Ilmi Syarif by Sheikh Abdul Qadir bin Abdul Aziz, who once served as the mufti of Al-Qaeda, has significantly contributed to extremism, especially in promoting takfir (excommunication) and labelling government officials, soldiers, or police officers as ansor thogut (helpers of tyrants). Addressing these misconceptions requires comprehensive education and alternative narratives that challenge such extremist interpretations.

Education plays a vital role in countering radical ideologies. Programs that encourage critical thinking and religious literacy help individuals to differentiate between authentic teachings and extremist distortions. By empowering communities with knowledge, we can diminish the appeal of extremist narratives and promote a more inclusive, peaceful understanding of religion.

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A key factor in radicalization is identity fusion, where individuals feel an intense connection with a group, often blurring personal and group identities. For JI members, this deep sense of belonging created a strong loyalty that made leaving the group difficult.

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