Deradicalization in Central Asia: A Critical Appraisal

Authors

  • Summar Iqbal Babar Assistant Professor, School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR), Quaid-i-Azam University(QAU), Islamabad.
  • Filza Ahmed Rizvi Graduate of School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR), QAU, Islamabad

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54418/ca-89.159

Keywords:

Deradicalization, Repatriates, CVE, Foreign Fighters

Abstract

The Central Asian region is currently facing a grave challenge of repatriation of IS-fighters which has posed a serious threat to its socio-economic and political structures. The repatriates also include women and children who may need to be assessed to determine whether  they have been radicalized. As a response to these returnees, Central Asian States have structured a CVE which focuses on changing the narrative through religious education, rehabilitation, reintegration, and promoting civil society. This study investigates CVE measures in Central Asia to prevent recruitment to terrorist organizations, reduce the number of fighters from this region and further contain the threat of radicalization caused by the influx of repatriates returning from Syria and Iraq. This study is divided into three parts. The first part outlines the threats posed by the return of foreign fighters; the second part explains the various theoretical models to understand process of radicalization and practices for deradicalization and the last part evaluates different CVE measures in Central Asia to eradicate further radicalization and extremism.

 

 

References

Aitkulova, M. “Hizb Ut-Tahrir: Dreaming of Caliphate.” Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review 8 (1), 2017: 95–106. Accessed 7 December 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.5840/asrr201731330

Alleged Leader of Banned Islamic Group Detained in Kyrgyzstan. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty (November 10, 2021) Accessed December 7, 2021 https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-hizb-tahrir-leader-detained/31555414.html

Baran, Z. “Fighting the War on Ideas” Foreign Affairs 84(6) November-December 2005: 68-78. Accessed September 21, 2020. doi: 10.2307/20031777

Baran, Z. Radical Islamists in Central Asia. Hudson Institute, 2005, September 12th. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.hudson.org/research/9830-radical-islamists-in-central-asia

Borombayeva, M. Kyrgyzstan plans operation to repatriate families of militants from Iraq, Syria. Caravanserai, September 4, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://central.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_ca/features/2019/09/04/feature-01

Borum, R. “Radicalization into Violent Extremism I: A Review of Social Science Theories” Journal of Strategic Security 4(2), winter 2012: 7-36. Accessed September 27, 2020. doi: 10.5038/1944-0472.4.4.1

Clutterbuck, L. Deradicalization Programs and Counterterrorism: A Perspective on the Challenges and Benefits” Middle East Institute, 2015, June. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.mei.edu/sites/default/files/Clutterbuck.pdf

Dearden, L. “Home Office plan to give jihadis council houses and support part of 'overdue' strategy to combat terrorism” Independent , 2017, October 31. Accessed September 27, 2020. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/home-office-jihadis-council-houses-isis-support-fight-terrorism-strategy-operation-constrain-returning-government-a8030321.html

Djuma, M. Tajikistan: How to Prevent the Spread of Extremism in Prisons. Central Asian Bureau for Analytical Reporting, 2020, April 10. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://cabar.asia/en/tajikistan- how-to-prevent-the-spread-of-extremism-in-prisons/

Ferghana Valley - Five Year Humanitarian Trends Assessment. Inter-Agency Regional Analysis Network. 2017. Accessed December 7, 2021 https://www.iris-france.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Ferghana-Valley-Report.pdf

Fisher, M. “Boston bombing suspects: what the Kyrgyzstan connection means”. The Washington Post. 2013, April 2013. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/04/19/boston-bombing-suspects-what-the- kyrgyzstan-connection-means/

Frazer, O. and Christian N. “The Concept of Countering Violent Extremism” CSS Analysis in Security Policy no. 183. 2015 November. Accessed September 27, 2020. https://css.ethz.ch/en/services/digital-library/publications/publication.html/195322

Funk, A. “The Deterioration of Religious Freedom: Tajikistan’s Attempt to Counter Violent Extremism” Human Rights First, 2016, November 3. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/blog/deterioration-religious-freedom-tajikistan-s-attempt-counter-violent-extremism

Gauthier-Villars, D. and Drew Hinshaw, “Stockholm Attack Puts Focus on Terrorists from Central Asia” The Wall Street Journal, April 9, 2017. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.wsj.com/articles/stockholm-attack-puts-focus-on-terrorists-from-central-asia-1491764083

Gussarova, A. “Repatriating Foreign Fighters: The Case of Kazakhstan” European Eye on Radicalization, April 17, 2020. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://eeradicalization.com/repatriating- foreign-fighters-the-case-of-kazakhstan/

Horgan, J. “Deradicalization or Disengagement?”, Perspectives on Terrorism, 2(4), February 2008: 3-8. Accessed September 21, 2020.http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/32/65

Horgan, J. and Kurt Braddock, “Rehabilitating the Terrorists? Challenges in Assessing the Effectiveness of De-radicalization Programs” Terrorism and Political Violence 22(2), March 9, 2010: 267-291. Accessed September 21, 2020. doi: 10.1080/09546551003594748

Isaev, B. “Number of Prisoners Charged with Extremism and Terrorism in Kyrgyzstan Triples in Five Years” Central Asian Bureau for Analytical Reporting, October 21, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://cabar.asia/en/number-of-prisoners-charged-with-extremism-and-terrorism-in-kyrgyzstan-triples-in- five-years/

Jailobaeva, K. and Gulnara Asilbekova, “Social Media for Deradicalization in Kyrgyzstan: A model for Central Asia” Final Project Evaluation, Search for Common Ground. November 2017. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.sfcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KGZ007_Evaluation_Report_Final_Nov_2017.pdf

Jones, S.G; Doxsee, C. and Nicholas Harrington, Report, “The Escalating Terrorism Problem in the United States” CSIS Briefs, Center for Strategic and International Studies. June 17, 2020. Accessed September 27, 2020. https://www.csis.org/analysis/escalating-terrorism-problem-united-states

Karagiannis, E. “Political Islam in Uzbekistan: Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami” Europe-Asia Studies 58(2), August 16, 2006: 261-280. Accessed September 21, 2020. doi: 10.1080/09668130500481444

Kazakhstan: repatriation of 595 citizens from Syria. Bulan Institute for Peace Innovations, April 23, 2020. Accessed September 20, 2020. https://bulaninstitute.org/kazakhstan-repatriation-of-595-citizens- from-syria/

Koehler, D. “Understanding Deradicalization: Methods, Tools and Programs for Countering Violent Extremism”. London: Routledge, 2016.

Lain, S. “Strategies for Countering Terrorism and Extremism in Central Asia” Asian Affairs 47(3), October 24, 2016: 386-405. Accessed September 21, 2020. doi: 10.1080/03068374.2016.1225899

Lang, J. “Exporting Jihad – Islamic terrorism from Central Asia” Centre for Eastern Studies. April 12, 2017. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2017-04-12/exporting-jihad-islamic-terrorism-central-asia

Lynch III, Thomas F, Michael Bouffard, Kelsey King, and Graham Vickowski, “The Return of Foreign Fighters to Central Asia: Implications for U.S. Counterterrorism Policy” Strategic Perspectives 21, Institute for National Strategic Studies, October 2016. Accessed September 21, 2020 https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/stratperspective/inss/Strategic-Perspectives-21.pdf

Mai, H.J. “Why European Countries Are Reluctant to Repatriate Citizens Who Are ISIS Fighters” NPR. December 10, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.npr.org/2019/12/10/783369673/europe-remains-reluctant-to-repatriate-its-isis-fighters-here-s-why

Matthews, A. S. “What happens to Kazakhstan’s dictatorship now that its dictator has quit?” The Washington Post. April 25, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/04/25/kazakhstans-year-leader-resigned-heres-how-transition-is-playing-out/

Mehl, D. “The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Opens a Door to the Islamic State” Combatting Terrorism Center 8(6). June 2015: 11-15. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://ctc.usma.edu/the-islamic-movement-of-uzbekistan- opens-a-door-to-the-islamic-state/

Melibaev, N. “Policy of Countering Terrorism and Extremism in Uzbekistan: How Did It Change Over the Past Few Years?” Central Asian Bureau for Analytical Reporting. April 5, 2020. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://cabar.asia/en/policy-of-countering-terrorism-and-extremism-in-uzbekistan-how-did-it-change-over-the-past-few-years/

Moghaddam, F.M. “The Staircase to Terrorism: A Psychological Exploration.” The American Psychologist 60(2). February-March 2005: 161-169. Accessed September 21, 2020. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.60.2.161

Najibullah, F. and Ahmadi, M. “Why Tajikistan Is Fighting to Bring Its Islamic State Widows Back Home” RadioFreeEurope/Radio Liberty, February 21, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.rferl.org/a/why-tajikistan-is-fighting-to-bring-its-islamic-state-widows-back- home/29782787.html

Omelicheva, M.Y. “Combating Terrorism in Central Asia: Explaining Differences in States' Responses to Terror”. Terrorism and Political Violence 19(3), September 2007: 369-393, Accessed September 21, 2020. doi: 10.1080/09546550701424075

Pokalova, E. “The Failure to Repatriate Foreign Fighters Is A Gift to ISIS” The National Interest, September 19, 2020. Accessed September 27, 2020. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/failure-repatriate-foreign-fighters-gift-isis-169226

Pottenger, J.R. “Civil society, religious freedom, and Islam Karimov: Uzbekistan's struggle for a decent society” Central Asian Survey 23(1), March 2004:55-77 Accessed September 27, 2020. doi: 10.1080/02634930410001711189

Putz, C. “Nations in Transit: Central Asia Remains Locked in Consolidated Authoritarianism – The Diplomat.” The Diplomat. April 28, 2021. Accessed December 7, 2021 https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/nations-in-transit-central-asia-remains-locked-in-consolidated-authoritarian/

Qureshi, A. J. “Understanding Domestic Radicalization and Terrorism” National Institute of Justice. August 14, 2020. Accessed September 27, 2020 https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/understanding-domestic-radicalization-and-terrorism

Rabasa, A; Pettyjohn, S.L.; Ghez, J. and Christopher Boucek, “Deradicalizing Islamist Extremists” Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. 2010. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2010/RAND_MG1053.pdf

Raffie, D.A.“Social Identity Theory for Investigating Islamic Extremism in the Diaspora” Journal of Strategic Security 6(4), Winter 2013: 67-91 Accessed September 27, 2020. doi: 10.5038/1944-0472.6.4.4

Schenkkan, N. “Islam Karimov and the Dictator’s Playbook” Foreign Policy, August 20, 2016. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/08/30/islam-karimov-and-the-dictators-playbook-uzbekistan/

Shaikh, M. “ISIS Repatriation in North America: Importing the Threat or Dissipating the Danger? Counter Terrorism, The Investigative Journal. October 23rd, 2019. Accessed September 14th, 2020. https://investigativejournal.org/isis-repatriation-in-north-america-importing-the-threat-or-dissipating-the-danger/

Staff writer with AFP, “Uzbekistan repatriates 148 women and children linked to ISIS from Syria” The Defense Post, May 30, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.thedefensepost.com/2019/05/30/uzbekistan-repatriate- isis-women-children-syria/

Tokmakov, A. “Kyrgyzstan: Two revolutions, but still no prosperity” Deutsche Welle (DW). March 31, 2015. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://p.dw.com/p/1F0Kp

Umarov, A. “How Serious is Religious Radicalization in Turkmenistan?” European Eye on Radicalization, June 18, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://eeradicalization.com/how-serious- is-religious-radicalization-in-turkmenistan/

United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia. “Towards a comprehensive implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia Mapping of PVE and CT Initiatives in Central Asia”. 2019, March 21, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://unrcca.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/pve_ct_mapping_2019_-_21-03-2019.pdf

US Department of State. Country Reports on Terrorism 2017 – Uzbekistan. 2018, September 19. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bcf1f734.html

US Department of State. Country Reports on Terrorism 2019: Turkmenistan. 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.state.gov/reports/country-reports-on-terrorism-2019/turkmenistan/

Uzbekistan repatriates dozens from war-torn Middle East” Eurasia.net. 2019, May 30. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://eurasianet.org/uzbekistan-repatriates-dozens-from-war-torn-middle-east

Ward, A. “To Ensure Deradicalisation Programmes Are Effective, Better Evaluation Practices Must First Be Implemented” The Rand Blog (March 4, 2019). Accessed September 27, 2020. https://www.rand.org/blog/2019/03/to-ensure-deradicalisation-programmes-are-effective.html

Weine, S. “Rehabilitating the Islamic State’s Women and Children Returnees in Kazakhstan” Just Security, December 12, 2019. Accessed September 21, 2020. https://www.justsecurity.org/67694/rehabilitating-the-islamic-states-women-and- children-returnees-in-kazakhstan/

Yemelianova, G.M. “Political Islam in Central Asia: The Challenge of Hizb ut-Tahrir” Central Asian Survey 32(1), January 17, 2013:109-111. Accessed September 21, 2020. d

Downloads

Published

2022-03-21

How to Cite

Summar Iqbal Babar, & Filza Ahmed Rizvi. (2022). Deradicalization in Central Asia: A Critical Appraisal. Central Asia, 89(Winter), 33–54. https://doi.org/10.54418/ca-89.159

Most read articles by the same author(s)