Update on Rehabilitation Efforts for Self-Radicalised Individuals
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the update requested by MP Christopher de Souza regarding rehabilitation efforts for self-radicalised individuals under the Internal Security Act. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam reported that 60 individuals have been managed since 2007 through a comprehensive strategy involving religious counseling, psychological engagement, and social support. He highlighted a high success rate, noting that 23 of 30 Singaporean detainees have been released and 14 of 18 Restriction Orders have lapsed. These efforts utilize the Religious Rehabilitation Group and Inter-Agency Aftercare Group to counter radical ideologies and facilitate community reintegration for individuals and their families. To address the rise in self-radicalised youths, the Internal Security Department has introduced mentoring and focused on enhancing critical thinking skills and mental resilience.
Transcript
3 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he can provide an update on rehabilitation efforts for those who are self-radicalised.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Internal Security Department (ISD) dealt with the first case of self-radicalisation under the Internal Security Act in 2007. To date, 60 self-radicalised individuals – including 48 Singaporeans – have been detained or issued with Restriction Orders (ROs).
ISD adopts a comprehensive approach in the rehabilitation of these detainees and RO supervisees.
a. Volunteers from the Religious Rehabilitation Group provide them with proper religious teachings and interpretations, to counter the radical ideology to which they had been exposed.
b. ISD psychologists engage them to address other factors that contributed to their radicalisation, such as their propensity for hatred and violence.
c. They are also given social support to aid their eventual reintegration into society. For example, their families are provided support through the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group's network of community welfare organisations.
These efforts have led to a high rehabilitation success rate. Of the 30 self-radicalised Singaporean detainees, 23 have been released to-date. Of the 18 self-radicalised Singaporeans who were issued with ROs, the ROs of 14 of them had been allowed to lapse.
ISD has been refining its rehabilitation approach in view of the increase in number of self-radicalised youths in recent years. Apart from correcting the radical ideology they had imbibed, ISD also looks into other factors, such as their lack of critical thinking skills and mental resilience to cope with life stressors. A mentoring programme has also been introduced for them.