SINGAPORE is well-placed to host a symposium on de-radicalisation, given its experience in rehabilitating and reintegrating extremists into society, terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna said yesterday.

This symposium, planned for April next year, will look at how countries can counter the influence of groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in ways other than by military action, he told The Straits Times.

“The world has focused largely on fighting terrorism using force … This is the strength of the Western nations,” he said. “But the strength of Singapore and the strength of Asia is engagement.”

…Dr Gunaratna, a professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), spoke after a conference in Singapore on crisis management organised by insurance firm AXA and the French Embassy. At the conference, he talked about ISIS’ rise.