Are these men truly “deradicalized”? Maybe. But deradicalization programs have been spectacular failures everywhere.
Qur’an 3:28 warns believers not to take unbelievers as “friends or helpers,” “unless that you but guard yourselves against them.” This is a foundation of the idea that believers may legitimately deceive unbelievers when under pressure. The word used for “guard” in the Arabic is tuqatan, the verbal noun from taqiyyatan — hence the increasingly familiar term taqiyya.
Ibn Kathir says that the phrase “unless that you but guard yourselves against them” means that “believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers” may “show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly. For instance, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Ad-Darda’ said, ‘We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them.’ Al-Bukhari said that Al-Hasan said, ‘The Tuqyah [taqiyya] is allowed until the Day of Resurrection.” Abu Ad-Darda’ was a companion of Muhammad.
While many Muslim spokesmen today maintain that taqiyya is solely a Shi’ite doctrine, shunned by Sunnis, the great Islamic scholar Ignaz Goldziher points out that while it was formulated by Shi’ites, “it is accepted as legitimate by other Muslims as well, on the authority of Qur’an 3:28.” The Sunnis of Al-Qaeda practice it today.
Also, there is Muhammad’s statement, “war is deceit.” He also allowed for lying in battle and between a husband and wife. And when he gave permission to one of his followers, Muhammad bin Maslama, to murder one of his critics, Ka’b bin al-Ashraf, he also gave Muhammad bin Maslama permission to lie to Ka’b in order to lure him close enough to be killed.
“Deradicalization Courses for Ex-Jihadists in Niger,” International Christian Concern, June 7, 2022:
06/07/2022 Niger (International Christian Concern) – Last Monday, authorities reported that over 40 former Boko Haram members had taken and completed a deradicalization and professional training course in southeast Niger.
After the completion of the course, the participants were given equipment to help them start their own businesses such as plumbing, carpentry, sewing, or welding businesses. For their “practicing moderate Islam” course, they were required to swear on a Koran that they would not do any more violence.
The Nigerien authorities have promised amnesty to jihadists who agree to rejoin society by surrendering. This was the third deradicalization class to be completed in Niger. General Mahamadou Abou Tarka reported the success of the program and stated that the program would be set up in the western region of Tillaberi. Tillaberi has been a hotbed for jihadist attacks since 2017 with its strategic location at the borders between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso….
