Why returning Jihadis could soon be teaching your children under new plan to fight ISIS

Australian Jihadis could soon be teaching the country’s youth under new plans unveiled by one of Australia’s leading counter-terrorism strategists.

Former NSW Police deputy commissioner and UN investigator, Nick Kaldas, said the government should consider employing some of the 400 Australians who are in hiding overseas after fleeing to fight for Islamic State.

The radical new thinking, which Mr Kaldas said comes at a time when the terrorist threat is ‘as high as ever’, means they could be ‘deployed’ as mentors to dissuade young people who were considering turning to extremism.

One other Australian, Khaled Sharrouf, is believed to have been stripped of his citizenship after joining Islamic State.

The radical new thinking, which Mr Kaldas said comes at a time when the terrorist threat is 'as high as ever', could help would-be terrorists like Khaled Sharrouf's son

The radical new thinking, which Mr Kaldas said comes at a time when the terrorist threat is ‘as high as ever’, could help would-be terrorists like Khaled Sharrouf’s son

While admitting the concept was controversial, he said it offered a better alternative than prosecuting those who had gone to fight under ISIS’ black flag.

 He said: ‘It may be useful to consider using them as an example and have them talk to those who may follow their path.

‘To say “it’s not that good, it’s not what you think it is, it is a horrible thing to do,”‘ he told The Daily Telegraph.

While admitting the concept was controversial, the former police deputy chief said it offered a better alternative than prosecuting those who had gone to fight under ISIS' black flag (pictured)

While admitting the concept was controversial, the former police deputy chief said it offered a better alternative than prosecuting those who had gone to fight under ISIS’ black flag (pictured)

Former NSW Police deputy commissioner and UN investigator Nick Kaldas (pictured) said the government should consider employing some of the 400 Australians who have left to fight for Islamic State as mentors to dissuade young people thinking of turning to extremism

Former NSW Police deputy commissioner and UN investigator Nick Kaldas (pictured) said the government should consider employing some of the 400 Australians who have left to fight for Islamic State as mentors to dissuade young people thinking of turning to extremism

 ‘I know that would be controversial but I think there could be some uses in having people who have done it come back repentant – and share those mistakes with others.’  

Mr Kaldas’ proposal comes after five Australian jihadists who had travelled to the Middle East to join the Islamic State were stripped of their citizenship last month.

Included in those five was Neil Prakash – a senior ISIS figure behind bars in Turkey on terror charges. 

One other Australian, Khaled Sharrouf, is believed to have been stripped of his citizenship after joining Islamic State. 

The former police deputy chief was in talks with then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2017 about running his own ministry to combat terrorism.

The ministry, which would be similar to the UK’s Home Office or the US’ Homeland Security, would co-ordinate Australia’s authorities in countering the terror threat. 

He said the new policy would help those like Neil Prakash, who was stripped of his Australian citizenship last month after joining the Islamic State, to reintegrate into society upon return

He said the new policy would help those like Neil Prakash, who was stripped of his Australian citizenship last month after joining the Islamic State, to reintegrate into society upon return

Mr Kaldas also said the implementation of intelligence sharing between public and private law enforcement sectors could help Australian authorities fight terrorism better. 

He added it was imperative that high-profile landmarks like the Sydney Opera House were in constant communication with police over possible threats – rather than being kept in the dark. 

Around 230 Australians have joined the Islamic State, of which 90 have been killed in combat. 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk