The re-education of Islamic extremism runs into a snag

By Aussiegirl

"Will give ammunition to those who doubt the possibility of re-educating extremists." Gee -- ya think? You mean these murderous savages lied to get out of jail? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!

Telegraph | News | Islamic 'converts to peace' found fighting in Iraq

A pioneering scheme to fight Islamist terror by encouraging jailed extremists to rethink their grasp of the Koran is under fire after claims that some of its "converts" have taken up arms again.

The project, launched in Yemen three years ago by an Islamic scholar, Judge Hamoud al-Hitar, has been followed closely by the British Government, which has twice invited him to lecture senior anti-terrorism officials at Scotland Yard.

The effectiveness of his technique - a theological "duel" in which he and the prisoners quote Koranic texts at each other - is in doubt, however, after reports that some al-Qaeda militants freed under the scheme have been caught fighting coalition forces in Iraq.

Among those released is the former chief bodyguard of Osama bin Laden, Nasser Al-Bahri, who has admitted that his sessions with Judge al-Hitar did nothing to diminish his belief in the leader of al-Qaeda. Instead, he suggested that many militants simply pretended to repent to gain quick release from jail.

His claims, made in a BBC documentary to be broadcast on Thursday, will give ammunition to those who doubt the possibility of re-educating extremists.

In Britain, the Metropolitan Police plans to give Muslim prisoners in London jails religious "mentors" to remind them of the values of mainstream Islam.