Can people truly walk away from terrorism?
Indiadailyupdate.com – Can people truly walk away from terrorism? The question remains difficult more than 25 years after the September 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. Terrorism continues to evolve, but so does the understanding of what may help people involved in extremist violence build a different life.
Many people assume that someone convicted of a terrorism offence cannot change. Research into Australia’s longest-running rehabilitation initiative for people involved in Salafi jihadist-motivated offending, however, presents a more complex picture. Some participants were able to move beyond simply avoiding further offending and develop the relationships, skills and stability needed for a different future.
Leaving extremism is more than leaving a group
There is no single reason people become involved in terrorism. Political and religious beliefs can play an important role, especially when violence is presented as morally justified. Yet ideology alone does not explain every pathway into extremist offending.
For some people, extremist networks can offer belonging, purpose, status or a sense of identity. That is why disengagement cannot be reduced to cutting ties with an organisation or rejecting a particular cause. A lasting transition may also require healthier relationships, practical support and a meaningful role in the community.
Former participants can face loneliness, damaged family connections and uncertainty after leaving an extremist group. Online communities may also reinforce a powerful shared identity. Building new sources of purpose and connection can therefore be central to reducing the appeal of a previous life.
Victoria’s tailored rehabilitation programme
Victoria established the Community Integration Support Programme, or CISP, in 2010. It was initially created to support the rehabilitation of people whose offending was motivated by Salafi jihadism.
The programme takes an individualised approach rather than treating ideology as the only issue. Its team includes religious mentors, case managers, clinical psychologists, a prison-to-community transition officer and a family support officer. This recognises that rehabilitation can involve social, emotional, practical and spiritual challenges at once.
Researchers interviewed 24 CISP participants, including 20 people convicted of terrorism-related offences. Some interviews occurred years after rehabilitation began, offering insight into changes that may take time to emerge.
Trust, reflection and gradual change
The research found that reconsidering ideology could support disengagement from terrorist offending. This was not a quick process or simply a matter of providing information. Participants often had to learn to accept uncertainty, context and perspectives that differed from their previous rigid beliefs.
Trusted relationships mattered. Religious mentors could provide knowledge and interpretation, while participants still had to reflect on the beliefs and choices connected to their offences. Respectful encounters, sustained support and time for reflection could create space for difficult reassessment.
Can people truly walk away from terrorism? The evidence suggests that some can, but the process is slow and rarely straightforward. Rehabilitation is more likely to succeed when it addresses the full circumstances of a person’s life, including identity, family, mental wellbeing, resettlement and opportunities for a constructive future.
Frequently asked questions
What does rehabilitation for terrorism-related offending involve?
It may combine psychological support, case management, family assistance, religious mentoring and help with returning to community life. The aim is not only to challenge harmful beliefs, but also to support safer and more stable alternatives.
Does leaving terrorism mean a person’s beliefs change immediately?
No. Research indicates that change can take years. It may involve gradually questioning rigid assumptions, developing trust and learning to handle complexity rather than adopting a new viewpoint overnight.
Can people truly walk away from extremist violence?
Some people can disengage, particularly when they have sustained support and real opportunities to rebuild relationships, identity and purpose outside extremist networks.
