BRUSSELS — The European Union’s anti-terror chief called Tuesday for countries to rehabilitate rather than punish returning jihadis with no blood on their hands, saying that some prisons have become “incubators of radicalization.”
EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove told The Associated Press that “if we can avoid prison, let’s avoid prison.”
At a time when EU nations are still shocked by the attacks in France early this month, many are pushing for swift, repressive measures for anyone who has gone off to fight holy war in Syria or Iraq.
And even if true criminals among the returnees need to be punished with jail time, “I don’t advise to bring them all to court because it would be a mistake,” de Kerchove said.
Since the Jan. 7-9 Paris attacks, which killed 20 people, including the three gunmen, dozens of people have been charged in France with defending terrorism. Several were convicted almost immediately under special measures for immediate sentencing.
“We know how much jails are major incubators of radicalization. Much better, provided they accept to do that, they undertake major rehabilitation,” de Kerchove said.
