Can a Daesh (ISIS) terrorist be re-educated?

In recent years there have been a series of terrorist attacks linked to the terrorist group Islamic State or Daesh, as the acronym is known in Arabic to refer to them or, ISIS from the acronym in English (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). These attacks, mostly perpetrated in the same Muslim countries, are having a special incidence in Europe.

And it is that Daesh has militants at a transnational level, especially Western converts to Islam, or from second or third generation European citizens with Muslim roots. Let's remember that Arab is not synonymous with Muslim. So any ethnic group can belong to Daesh.

What is Daesh?

Daesh or Islamic State is a terrorist group that was formed in 2014. as a result of the Syrian crisis and the endless war in Iraq, where the supreme leader of the formation Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi declared the establishment of the "Islamic Caliphate" in Mosul, Iraq.

For other academics, the concept of a terrorist group is misused, since they are an organization with a social, religious, administrative and territorial identity. Although these extremists are currently being eliminated, they managed to create a corridor between Syria and Iraq to expand throughout the world, controlling important areas of both countries.

Going back to how Daesh is formed, its members share the same profile: inhabitants of Western and Eastern Europe radicalized through a false interpretation of Islam and retaking the precepts of "Holy War" that were used in the Crusades. Thus, Can the radicalization process be interrupted? Are individuals who have been terrorists reformable? In this article we analyze it.

• Recommended article: "Why do some western people join terrorist groups like Daesh (ISIS)?"

How to detect this type of cases?

Taking into account the complexity of the matter, the main problem is how to detect the aforementioned process of radicalization, as the authorities and security forces call it.

The Muslim community is integrated into Western societies, and outside their homes the majority appear to be culturally assimilated. The complexity resides in the moments of "doors inside". That is to say, in their most intimate surroundings and away from any type of surveillance.

The recent terrorist attacks signed by Daesh link this integration with radicalization, based in some cases on dissimulation and false appearance. Thus, according to expert sociologists, it is much easier to tackle the problem through education and prevention.

Is it possible to re-educate a Daesh member?

A difficult question to resolve. How to know if a Daesh individual can be re-educated? Luckily, there are some possibilities of extensive experience but with effective results. We are referring to cultural associations and many other integration organizations, whose mission is to get lost people back on track.

Currently there are several Muslim associations dedicated especially to reinserting these individuals into society. To mention a few examples, the Banr Islamic Foundation and the Ibn Battuta Foundation, where the first was established by two brothers who wanted to join Daesh to fight in Syria.

The second is of a cultural nature, forming part of the process of socialization of young people and Muslim families, although the objective of the same is to attend to any community outside the European Community and thus guarantee their adaptation to avoid discriminatory, racist or vexations.

The Ibn Battuta Foundation works closely with local security forces, administrations and national level has great recognition, thus working hand in hand with justice and services social.

Can a Daesh terrorist be re-educated? The tools have recently been put into practice by countries such as Australia or England, where they have arrested several fundamentalists who fought on the side of Daesh, but who for legal purposes are still considered nationals with rights civilians.

The latest case with the most media attention was that of a 16-year-old German teenager who was arrested in Iraq by special anti-terrorist units in a raid against Daesh. He had recently converted to Islam and his name has been withheld for security reasons. The German authorities do not want to give up the victim and psychological processes have already begun to return to normal life.