Ex-Terrorist Deradicalization in Indonesia through Economic Empowerment

Abstract

This article entitled Ex-Terrorist Deradicalization in Indonesia Through Economic Empowerment aimed to investigate and to study the rehabilitation of ex-terrorism perpetrators through economic empowerment. This article is a non-doctrinal (empirical) law research, collecting data through interviewing ex-terrorist and FGD involving Ulamas (Islam Scholars), intellectuals, activists and ex terrorists. Radicalism leading to terrorism action in Indonesia is due predominantly to religion radicalism. The terrorism on behalf of religion is more dominant, despite economic gap as another fundamental cause. Some of perpetrators are terrorism recidivists.The connecting line of terrorism rehabilitation and economy is the minimization of religion radicalism through economic activity that raises the economic wellbeing stratum of former terrorism perpetrators, so that they can fulfill their physiological (clothing, food, and shelter) and psychological needs (safety, composure, loyalty and reward). The economic program can be conducted through micro- and small-scale entrepreneurship, facilitated by cooperatives or foundation as the fund distributing institution and business assistance. The recovery of good religious consciousness will run more effectively through economic activity than through the battle of view, proposition and madzab. The preoccupation in economic activities will make the bombers having something to do for themselves and their family. Thus, the thought of justifying religion radicalism will vanish gradually.