ABSTRACT
Being the country that has been most impacted by terrorism, Iraq is faced with the challenge of having a large proportion of its population being violent extremist detainees. The case of Iraq is a classic manifestation of radicalisation occurring in prison settings. The radicalisation process and extremist activities in prisons are rampant and beyond control. The tumultuous state of Iraq’s overcrowded prisons and internment facilities have paved the way for the detainees; making them more vulnerable to be indoctrinated and recruited by terrorist organisations. Recognising and swiftly addressing these issues are key to containing the spread of radical ideas. Segregating the affected detainees is critical. This chapter outlines the successes and failures of rehabilitation initiatives in Iraq, including the role of Task Force 134 in assisting the country to rebuild its judicial, correctional, and law enforcement system. In its quest to rehabilitate its detainees, Iraq was faced with a multitude of obstacles, along with the challenge of dealing with the battle of hearts and minds. The chapter also explores the future outlook of Iraq’s evolving deradicalisation programmes.
