In this issue, Rohan Gunaratna discusses how in developing a comprehensive response, governments must recognise that the soft measures of terrorist rehabilitation and community engagement could be game changers, particularly in the context of the threat from groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS). Gunaratna recommends governments to shift from a whole-of-government to a whole-of-society approach to manage the threat.

Ahmad Saiful Rijal bin Hassan discusses the mufti-mustafti approach in religious counselling. A mufti issomeone qualified to give a legal opinion or fatwa whereas a mustafti is someone seeking a legal opinion (fatwa) from a mufti. The goal of a mufti-mustafti approach is to rehabilitate terrorists and extremists into embracing moderate views and to enable them to denounce their radical beliefs.

Muhammad Saiful Alam Shah Bin Sudiman discusses the da’i-mad’uw approach to religious rehabilitation, where da’i refers to the Muslim individual that takes upon him or herself to propagate Islam to others. Mad’uw is the individual who is benefitting from this. This approach encompasses dialogue, reflective discussion and analysis of classical religious texts in a context of fellowship between Muslims.

Lastly, Nur Irfani binte Saripi observes the unprecedented rise in the number of young women and girls as young as 15-years-old traveling to Syria to join ISIS. She argues that a rehabilitation programme specifically catering to female jihadists is necessary to ensure that these individuals will not pose a threat to their respective countries upon their return.