“The U.S. has been trying for years to ‘counter violent extremism’ by fighting the message of terrorists instead of just the terrorists themselves.” The U.S. has been trying to counter the message of the terrorists, mind you, while ignoring the content of that message and/or pretending that it is other than what it is. This program compounds that absurdity and, incidentally, puts innocent people in danger.
“Group With No Jihadi Experience Rehabs ISIS Recruit,” by Katie Zavadski, Daily Beast, August 24, 2015:
The first attempt to de-radicalize an Islamic extremist is happening in Minnesota right now, and it resembles a high school civics class.
An American citizen who pleaded guilty to supporting ISIS was ordered by a federal judge to leave jail—and go to a halfway home instead. That rehab program is run by a group that had no prior experience with would-be Islamic terrorists, The Daily Beast has learned.
Abdullahi Yusuf of Minnesota was allowed to depart from jail and stay at a halfway home after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to the so-called Islamic State widely known as ISIS in January. (Yusuf was stopped at the airport trying to fly to Turkey in May 2014, at age 18.) Once inside the halfway home, Yusuf was to be “de-radicalized” through regular meetings with a counselor whose curriculum looked more like a high school civics course than religious deprogramming.
His attorney proposed the de-radicalization program and Judge Michael Davis approved it over prosecutors’ objections. In a memorandum, the assistant U.S. attorneys trying Yusuf’s case reiterated their concerns about this program for Yusuf, because they said he had evaded his parents’ supervision and lied to authorities. Nevertheless, Judge Davis released him with an electronic monitoring device around his ankle.
Yusuf was assigned a bed at a halfway house in St. Paul where he could only leave for approved activities—like meetings with his mentors from a civics group called Heartland Democracy.
Heartland director Mary McKinley said she was not exactly sure why Yusuf’s proposal was granted, other than maybe it “just made sense.”
“On the other hand, it was also a surprise that any kind of access was given,” she said. “But I think it says a lot about what the U.S. attorney and the community were trying to do.”
Heartland had no experience with de-radicalizing jihadis, and it was carrying out the government’s first foray into deradicalizing ISIS sympathizers. While government-sanctioned de-radicalization programs for jihadis have existed for years in Canada, Europe, and even Saudi Arabia, the U.S. never faced large numbers of homegrown jihadists until the rise of ISIS. (More than 60 people have been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of ISIS-related crimes so far.)
The U.S. has been trying for years to “counter violent extremism” by fighting the message of terrorists instead of just the terrorists themselves. The State Department launched a Twitter account to push back against ISIS propaganda; the White House proposed better community policing and workshops with the “creative arts community.”…

David, Thailand says
The West has in common with every extinct civilisation, that we think we are too big to fail.
oldwhiteguy says
I think we could let them all out, but the condition should be that all undergo frontal lobotomy prior to release.
Dr. Divinity says
I doubt this judge will flinch at all after this guy kills someone..Sure hope it’s not some of his family.
FredvanH says
I, me, myself sure hop it IS one of his family.
sidney penny says
The Federal court should send him to Australia where the convicts were sent before.
Dr Anne Aly is waiting for him.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/08/australia-muslim-university-research-explains-that-theres-nothing-islamic-about-beheading-women-have-equal-rights-in-islam
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/09/australia-muslim-prof-claims-she-got-hate-mail-after-her-deceptions-exposed
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/there-is-nothing-islamic-about-a-beheading-muslims-v-extremists-20140821-106d1c.html
http://sheikyermami.com/2014/10/forget-rehab-for-jihadists/
notaluvvie says
I’m sure you’re comment was meant to be “funny” but ended up being fatuous. Australia is one of the few countries which has never been to war with the USA and has supported the US as a loyal ally in many of its overseas battles. Why would Australia, already full of mus-slimes either want any more or appreciate your “sense of humour”?
Cecilia Ellis says
“Heartland director Mary McKinley said she was not exactly sure why Yusuf’s proposal was granted, other than maybe it ‘just made sense.’”
Like giving Iran an unimpeded path to nuclear capability . . . like importing thousands of non-vetted Muslim “refugees” but not allowing entry to known Christian refugees . . .
Soon we will hear of carnage at an unidentified house in St. Paul, MN and an effort will be made to determine the motive behind that attack.
EYESOPEN says
I would laugh at the absolute absurdity of this “idea” were it not for the fact that it is so dangerous to unsuspecting people, in the “halfway house” and his “counselors”.
Lynn says
You are right. They sure do have a steep learning curve ahead of them on this one. He is coming to them a professional liar as required by islam as in taqiyya. He’II charm the heads right off ’em…
john spielman says
i wonder how many he will behead in this” half way house “, you know to earn enough merit points for the big brothel in the sky!
mortimer says
Deprogramming curriculums must be created to eradicate belief that Allah wants his followers to MURDER disbelievers. Period.
Governments must create these programs. Jihad is unacceptable in the Global Village. Jihad is proof that Islam is false.
duh_swami says
How about going all the way and eradicate belief that Allah is God?
Easier said than done…No western therapy group knows how to deprogram that…
Jerry says
De-programming and de-radicalising Jihadis can work well if given enough time in closed and sheltered high security confinement, were one should take as long as necessary to achieve the results, even if takes up to ninety years, but the best results could be achieved in quickest time by physically separating Jihadi bodies from acting upon radicalised thoughts by separating the heads that contain the radicalised brains from the torsos that support them.
gravenimage says
Mortimer, I know you have urged our creating such programs many times–but the fact is that when Islam has been beaten back historically it has never included “deprogramming”. I don’t believe there is any reason to think that such programs work. After all, why would pious Muslims listen to anything the “filthy Kuffar” have to say?
pongidae rex says
The West has the most abysmal leadership since August 1914.
lacey says
a good waste of tax payers money. the next time some thing serious happens ,call dr phil not the fbi,
Michael Copeland says
Please can someone send the federal judge Koran 9:5 (part of Islamic law):
“Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them”.
The judge may not already know that denying any verse in the Koran is a capital offence.
It is not US law, after all.
See “Islam’s Vision of Destruction: Muslims Speak”
http://libertygb.org.uk/v1/index.php/news-libertygb/5981-islam-s-vision-of-destruction-muslims-speak
Charli Main says
Wow !!!!! what a fab idea.
Why don´t we extend the idea to dealing with malignant cancers ????
We could have cancer deprogrammers talking to tumours and explain to them that what they are doing is really nasty. Killing people is not very nice and anti social. We would all love them, if only they became benign and stopped stopped trying to kill us.
God Almighty says
Being expert in Physiognomy, my immediate impression on this vile misfit is courtesy of yet another simplistic lame Judge he will be responsible for many civilian deaths. Judges need to be Judged, and harshly!
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Let the punishment start with the U.S. Constitution’s impeachment provision. Roberts goes out first, then the three gals, including the fraud Elena Kagan, then Kennedy and Souter. Only one Supreme Court judge has ever been impeached and removed, for the offense of being overtly political in his decisions, and as far as I know not a single federal judge. It’s time to start on that project. There’s a reason the Framers put the clause into the law, which they fully expected to be used, and a quick look at the state of the nation tells you what they feared. Mass lawlessness, even when it comes to Moslems and their overt program to destroy freedom, with actual law tool graduates at the sinking helm.
Mirren10 says
Now there’s a face I would love to kick
It drips sheer arrogance, contempt, and hatred. Very islamic.
And this dhimmi judge thinks a few courses on ‘civic responsibility’ is going to change that. Fool.
Jay Boo says
Mirren10
Sometimes your comments are quite good.
How ironic to speak of arrogance after that first sentence.
Mirren10 says
”Mirren10
Sometimes your comments are quite good.”
Can’t say the same for yours.
”How ironic to speak of arrogance after that first sentence.”
*Your* arrogance leads you to think you’re qualified to be some sort of arbiter/hall monitor on this forum. Guess what, you’re not.
I wouldn’t kick *your* face, I’d just put my boot up your arse. Silly little twat.
Jay Boo says
Prideful people never seem to learn
I’m reminded of the time that certain someone started to sail their ship in these murky waters and after I offered a course correction that person suddenly came up with an imaginary “Nigerian friend” for the moment. I would expound more, but that is old news and a delegation of Martians have just landed in my backyard to ferry me back to their planet in order that I might gladly lend assistance to some needy orphaned Martian children in great need of food and medical supplies.
Jay Boo says
Mirren10
Le tonneau vide fait beaucoup de bruit.
Jay Boo says
PS
Best wishes to your imaginary “Nigerian friend”
Jay Boo says
PS
You proved my very point so much better than I did.
Mirren10 says
God knows what you’re drivelling on about now.
Seek help; you sorely need it.
gravenimage says
Jay Boo, why are you going after Mirren? I also believe that Abdullahi Yusuf looks arrogant. Indeed, there are few Muslim supremacists who do not.
bewick says
Fairly sure that the Saudis tried that – rehab – and it didn’t work.
Baucent says
This is bordering on comical. Judge Davis is letting lose a wolf among pigeons. What evidence is there that Yusuf wants to be “deradicalized”? He merely pleaded guilty, a smart move if the evidence was compelling, but to try and displaced deeply held Islamist beliefs won’t be easy. No doubt he will make the right noises, and leave sneering at the kufar fools, and he will be right about that.
Matthieu Baudin says
Yes Baucent, and ready to pounce on random victims.
Jay Boo says
Liberals will gladly throw us all under the bus – if we let them.
Saturday Night Live recently did a short skit about the peopled murdered on the German Wings flight by a Muslim. Supposedly the skit was to mock animations used by CNN and they included another piece about Iran as cover.
The real purpose of the skit was a liberal knee-jerk reflex to advertise to Muslims in general that “Hey no offence taken” much like an approval seeking dog that wags its tail while rolling over on its back to grovel in desperate hope of receiving a reassuring belly scratch.
Carlos Danger says
Many Hajjis will screw THAT pooch.
duh_swami says
Heartland director Mary McKinley…
What are her qualifications? Most likely Heartland’s average client has good insurance So who is the judge ordering to pay for his room, food and therapy sessions? There are places the terrorist can be controlled, but a semi-open door facility, with bleeding heart therapists will cure him of nothing, but it will provide him with jihad ‘opportunity…
Grntonpnt says
I suppose he will get his koran and prayor mat. He will be deradicalized during the Day and reradicalized at night when he is alone with his holy book….makes sense..
Angemon says
*sigh*
Lucy says
This is crazy.
Have you seen this website ?
http://www.ikhwan.whoswho/en/
It is said that muslim brothers considered as partners by Obama are jihadi.
richard courtemanche says
Unsuccessful terrorists can now apply for re-hab programs in the USA. Such programs unlikely to be successful are compliment of the fake (or perhaps real) union between Radical Islam and the US government. Unbelievable.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Judge Davis released him with an electronic monitoring device around his ankle.
I predicted in here that sooner or later “terrorism” (aka Jihad mass murder) would end up being an offense punishable by ankle bracelet. Leave it to Minnesota, Land of the Liberal, to be the first over the line in the headlong race to civilizational suicide. Wouldn’t a better punishment be to send Yusuf over to the Levant with a court officer and make him watch his co-religionists gang rape Yazidi and Christian women but not allow him to partake in the fruits of Islam? Speaking of the Fruits of Islam, where have Rev Louis Farrakhan and his fruity bodyguards been lately, they ain’t been in pubic much lately.
gravenimage says
Federal judge orders jihadi out of jail and into rehab program
……………………………..
What could possibly go wrong? sarc/off
More:
“The U.S. has been trying for years to ‘counter violent extremism’ by fighting the message of terrorists instead of just the terrorists themselves.” The U.S. has been trying to counter the message of the terrorists, mind you, while ignoring the content of that message and/or pretending that it is other than what it is.
……………………………..
Yup. We hear that ISIS is “not Islamic” all the time…
More:
Once inside the halfway home, Yusuf was to be “de-radicalized” through regular meetings with a counselor whose curriculum looked more like a high school civics course than religious deprogramming.
……………………………..
Does Yusuf look like the kind of guy who paid attention during civics class?
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Does Yusuf look like the kind of guy who paid attention during civics class?
Being a Minnesotan, and maybe this is politically incorrect, he looks like an aspiring cab driver sitting in line at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport.
Carlos Danger says
He was 18 when he was arrested. there are plenty of 18 year olds in the U.S. Armed Forces. I’d be happy to contribute to his one-way fare to ISISland where inshallah he’ll leave his bones to bleach in the desert sun.
Champ says
Rehab? …this perp is stoned on islam!
Enfant Terrible says
Execute Abdullahi Yusuf and he’ll be permanently de-radicalized. Leave the electronic monitoring device around his ankle to convince Judge Davis, whose “court” deserves derisive contempt, that it’ll work.
gravenimage says
Heartland Democracy’s core program is “Empowering U”–the problem is that Abdullahi Yusuf is already feeling plenty “empowered” right now.
This touchy-feely program is ‘participant driven’, and helps them “discover their identity”–which while a bit silly, is probably fine with the average American student. With a wanna-be violent JIhadist, not so much…
From Heartland Democracy’s web page:
“Our trained educators (coaches) use a deliberate Socratic method to let participants drive the process, and find questions and challenges around identity and community, so that our students come out of the early sessions with a foundation that can lead them through future work in the program.
We want our students to spend time really thinking about how they see themselves, and how the world sees them. We believe these questions and conversations are the keys to determining a firm grasp of what “community” means, and what values drive us in making our communities better places to live.
We talk about what community means to these students. How do others define “community”? What are values, and what are competing values? Why do they compete? What are the aspects of these issues that put them in conflict with one another?
As we find students feel more comfortable with saying, “This is who I am.” we can then begin to find ways of connecting that “I” to the bigger world…”
http://heartlanddemocracy.org/empowering-u/
The problem, of course, is that a pious Muslim like Abdullahi Yusuf *has* thought about how he sees himself and how the world sees him–as a violent Jihadist. And he knows what “community” means, too–the “community” of believers, the Ummah, of which he is a soldier, and the “community” of Infidels who would be his victims.
What does he believe would make a community a “better place to live”? Why, imposing Shari’ah law, beheading journalists and aid workers, stoning women to death, and using non-believers as sex slaves.
Heartland Democracy seems like a well-meaning group. To say they are out of their depth dealing with someone like Abdullahi Yusuf is a severe understatement…
FredvanH says
Why don’t they just execute the vermin, I wonder.
overwatcher1 says
That one has especially cold and evil eyes. I wonder what’s going to be happening behind those eyes when he looks at one of the soft, clueless, “educated”, hipster type therapists – especially if it’s a female? Some of the young Arab type jihadists can exhibit a little normalcy and even humor at times but not that one – ever. The movie “Terminator” comes to mind.
overwatcher1 says
If this was a country governed by sane, strong, and wise people there would be a efficient and swift “Impeachment Line” for Federal judges, starting with the so called “Supreme Court.” These “Impeachment Specialists” would be people sanctioned by Congress and they would be called “Independent Prosecutors”. The “Judges Of The Judges” would be citizens of average intelligence with good reading skills and they couldn’t be lawyers or politicians. Any judge that had made a decision that wasn’t clearly covered in The Constitution as read by the “Impeachment Specialists” would be OUT, right then. 10 or 20 of them could be impeached and convicted daily. Then there would be a second trial for the rejected judges. It would be called the “Criminal Phase” and any judges’ ruling that caused an innocent person to die would make the judge guilty of murder.