What to Do With Indonesia's Foreign Terrorist Fighters?

Diana Mariska
January 21, 2020 | 7:45 pm
SHARE
Women sympathizers of the Islamic State held a demonstration in Jakarta in support of the terrorist group in 2014. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)
Women sympathizers of the Islamic State held a demonstration in Jakarta in support of the terrorist group in 2014. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)

Jakarta. The government says it is trying to find a way to bring home 660 Indonesian foreign terrorist fighters now stranded in several overseas countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey. 

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud M.D. said his ministry has discussed the issue with other related ministries to find the safest and most efficient way to repatriate the fighters.

"The Social Affairs Ministry will have to calculate the social impacts when these fighters return home. The Justice and Human Rights Ministry has to decide their citizenship status. [Their return] could also affect tourism and investment since many people still consider them as terrorists," Mahfud said at his office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"Some of these fighters have already asked to be repatriated. But their host countries want them to follow their regulations. Some of them will only let go of the orphans and others say they will let go of the women and children," Mahfud said. 

Advertisement

The former Constitutional Court chief justice also said that according to Indonesia's 1945 Constitution, no one should ever be left "stateless," which means these fighters still retain their rights to return to Indonesia.

However, Mahfud admitted that many in Indonesia fear repatriating these fighters – some of whom have renounced their Indonesian citizenship – will spread a new "terrorist virus" in the country. 

The minister said the government already has deradicalization programs in place to re-educate former terrorists and help them reintegrate with society. 

"Deradicalization can be in the form of programs tailored for terrorist convicts or preventive programs to stop radicalization," Mahfud said on Jan. 10 after meeting the director-general of Japan's counterterrorism unit, Shigenobu Fukumoto.

The current deradicalization programs in Indonesia are provided by the Justice and Human Rights Ministry working together with the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and the National Police's anti-terror unit, Densus 88.

Terrorist Convicts Pledge Loyalty to Republic

The head of the Justice and Human Rights Ministry's correctional department, Sri Puguh Budi Utami, said on Thursday that 48 terrorist convicts would soon pledge their loyalty to the Unitary Republic of Indonesia as part of the department's deradicalization program. 

She said the convicts had been assessed by their specially-appointed guardians after going through the deradicalization program.

"The guardians say they've seen positive changes in the behavior of these terrorist convicts. Last year, a total of 117 terrorist convicts pledged their loyalty to Indonesia," Sri said at East Jakarta's Cipinang Prison, where many of these convicts are held. 

Many terrorist convicts had renounced their citizenship because Indonesia is not a caliphate that implements sharia laws. 

Indonesia's correctional institutions have also been providing skills training to help the terrorist convicts become economically independent once they are out of prison. 

Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said the training and mentoring could be continued even after the terrorist convicts are released. 

Sri said the public should avoid "stigmatizing" these terrorist convicts to help them reintegrate into society.

Tags: Keywords:
SHARE

Related Articles


News Jan 3, 2025 | 2:20 am

Man Who Died In Las Vegas Cybertruck Was Shot In Head Before Explosion, Sheriff Says

The person was a highly decorated US Army Green Beret who deployed twice to Afghanistan.
News Jan 2, 2025 | 9:47 pm

Government Considers Pardoning Jemaah Islamiyah Members

JI members recently declared their departure from radical views and pledged allegiance to the Indonesian state.
News Jan 1, 2025 | 9:04 pm

Driver 'Hell-Bent On Carnage' Kills 10, Injures 30 on New Year's Day in New Orleans

“It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” Kirkpatrick said.
News Dec 26, 2024 | 11:26 pm

Mahfud Warns of Serious Blunder in Pardoning Graft Convicts for Financial Settlement

Indonesia’s anti-corruption laws don’t recognize financial settlement in corruption cases.
News Dec 22, 2024 | 4:15 am

What We Know About Deadly Christmas Market Attack in Germany

The attacker's X account describes him as a former Muslim and is filled with tweets on anti-Islam themes and criticism of the faith.
News Dec 22, 2024 | 3:52 am

Thousands of Ex-Jemaah Islamiyah Militants Abandon Radicalism and Pledge Allegiance to Nation

JI is a regional terror network responsible for a series of deadly attacks in Indonesia during the 2000s, including the twin Bali bombings.

The Latest


News 39 minutes ago

Barcelona Clinches Its 28th La Liga Title as Yamal's Stunning Strike Seals Domestic Treble

It completed a domestic double with the Copa del Rey title -- treble if you add the Spanish Super Cup.
News 55 minutes ago

Rebels Kill Two Police Officers in Papua Motorcycle Ambush

Police blamed the ambush on a separatist group led by Ternus Enumbi, who is believed to be affiliated with the Free Papua Movement (OPM).
Business 1 hours ago

Other than Indorama’s $2 Billion Deal, Indonesia Lacks Appetite in US Investment

Purwakarta-based company Indorama plans to invest $2 billion in a blue ammonia project in Louisiana.
Lifestyle 10 hours ago

Chris Brown Arrested in UK for Alleged Attack at London Club in 2023

Brown was on a UK tour at the time of the incident. He is scheduled to tour the UK in June and July.
Business 12 hours ago

BCA Posts Rp 20 Trillion in Profit as of April, Boosted by Rising Interest Income

During the same period, BCA’s total loan disbursement rose 12.84 percent to Rp 923.09 trillion.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 JAKARTA GLOBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED