REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) revealed that convicted terrorist Abu Bakar Ba'asyir refused to join deradicalization program. Ba'asyir had his own views, Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Commissioner General Suhardi Alius said.

"He didn't want to join deradicalization because it was contradictory (with his belief). But other terrorism prisoners were still involved in getting the enlightenment," Suhardi said at the Parliament Complex, in Jakarta, on Thursday (Jan 24).

He said there were terrorism prisoners who had similar hardline views like Ba'asyir. They also didn't want to join the deradicalization program. The BNPT still strived to reduce the mindset of the terrorism prisoners.

Convicted terrorist, ustaz Abu Bakar Baasyir

When it comes to the discourse of granting a parole, Suhardi said BNPT involved in an assessment team consisting of Correctional Institution, prosecutors, and 88th anti-terror detachment. "We monitor the mindset of the person and sometimes we provide the BNPT psychologist team to conduct an assessment to identify whether the person is lying or not," he said.

He said BNPT also invited ulemas to conduct discussion with prisoners to give them awareness that their belief's contradictory to Islam. Suhardi said that the BNPT usually sent scholars with advance knowledge to guide prisoners.

"In terms of humanity, BNPT provides the best service. For example, there is an assistance because the concerned person is old," he said.

Suhardi was reluctant to explain the potential for the rise of terrorist mind if Ba'asyir was released. He fully surrendered the policy to the government.

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