"Only Ideas Can Fight Ideas". The Deradicalization of Islamists in Saudi Arabia
The author of the article focuses on the Counseling Program adopted in Saudi Arabia under the socalled Soft Counterterrorism Strategy for the deradicalization of members of Islamic organizations and groups. In the context of counter-terrorism measures adopted in Saudi Arabia since 2001, the author considers the organizational design of the Program, its structure, the specifics of passing through each stage, as well as the conditions of participation for prisoners. The article notes a special personal role of Muhammad ibn Nayef Al-Saud in implementing the Program and organizing the world's first Rehabilitation Center for former Islamists and their families. The article emphasizes that the key focus of the Program is the “ideological detoxification” of former Islamists through religious debates, lectures by ulema and consultations with psychologists. An important place in the implementation of the program is given to its social dimension, namely material, financial and psychological assistance to the families of prisoners, as well as their involvement in the processes of deradicalization. The article contains statistical data on program participants who were released ahead of schedule due to their successful completion of the program and those who returned to terrorist activities. The author emphasizes that, despite the criticism of the program by the leading experts, it actually remains the only instrument of resocialization for a person who has not committed serious crime.