the <small>Today 13:30</small>
Caricature VITALY.
If there is no evidence that returning to Europe citizens, who fought on the side of the terrorists, was actively involved in hostilities, then their detention is the worst decision, says a senior European official.
Comprehensive prosecutions of foreign fighters returning from Iraq and Syria to Europe, is counter-productive. Some of the mercenaries should be rehabilitated and even used for propaganda purposes against the recruitment of new members into the ranks of radical groups, said the coordinator of the EU to combat terrorism Gilles de Carshop. This writes the British newspaper The Guardian.
The high European official criticized the Belgian authorities for the lack of a plan of work with those citizens who joined radical groups such as the “Islamic state” (IG, is prohibited in Russia), participated in military actions in the middle East, but then returned to Europe.
“If there is no evidence that (returning to their homeland fighters) actively participated in the Jihad, putting them in jail is the worst decision. For example, if they only crossed the border and spent a week within the organization, but in fact they simply washed the bowl there, or were soldiers of the fourth level, and then saw a beheaded (men) and ran with the words that it was a mistake,” said de Carshop.
From his point of view, disappointed the is militants may be in jail even greater radicalization, while there is a more viable alternative in the form of rehabilitation programs.
“Prison is the main incubator of radicalism. Therefore, if there is a possibility not to expose the imprisonment of those whose hands are not stained with blood and who genuinely is ready to participate in a rehabilitation program, then why don’t we try”, he said.
In addition, according to officials, former fighters can be useful in dealing with efforts of terrorists to recruit new recruits.
According to the International centre for counter-terrorism, located in the Hague, about 4 thousand citizens of member countries of the EU went to Iraq and Syria to join radical groups fighting in the middle East. Most of them came from Belgium, Britain, France and Germany. About one-third of them subsequently returned home.
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