The religious dialogue project in Yemen, which aimed to end the attitudes of suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists in the state’s prisons, was one of the first deradicalisation programmes in the world. It inspired similar efforts in other Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, and proved influential across the world. Ane Birk tells the story of the religious dialogue programme in Yemen, exploring the role of the state and the detainees and evaluating its dynamics, as well as pinpointing its successes and failures.
This important contribution to the understanding of deradicalisation and disengagement programmes is the second paper in ICSR’s Developments in Radicalisation and Political Violence series. It is certain to influence the debate over the effectiveness of such initiatives and provides a valuable resource for experts and policymakers.