Australia could use disillusioned IS fighters as mentors: expert

Australia could use disillusioned fighters returning from Islamic State as mentors in intervention programs, a terrorism and deradicalization expert told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Dr. Clarke Jones from the Australian National University questioned whether the government's strong stance for those wishing to return from Islamic State was appropriate.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday there was no place in society for those fighting with Islamic State or any other terrorist group.

If their passport has not already been canceled by authorities, those returning to Australia who are found guilty of working with a prescribed terrorist group face up to 25 years' prison.

"We need to take the fuel out of the fire," said Jones. "In other words, if there are some people who want to withdraw from the conflict -- and there will be many who disagree or have fallen foul of the Islamic State and want to get out -- we need to try take responsibility for them rather than allowing them to stay there and fight."

Jones, a visiting fellow who worked on national security programs with the federal government for 15 years, said by carefully examining each returning fighter on a case-by-case basis, some could be allowed back into the country.

"We say that as if it is an easy process but it is not," said Jones.

"We do need to judge on a case-by-case basis because there is a significant risk that some of those remain radical and might be used for ongoing terrorism."

"We also need to consider mental health."

On Tuesday, News Corp reported three Australian who had joined Islamic State in the Middle East had contacted the Australian government through lawyers to explore their options to return home.

One disillusioned jihadist, currently living in Turkey, said the perception of Islamic State broadcast on professionally-edited propaganda was "a lot grander than what the reality really is."

Jones, who has studied prison and terrorism radicalization, said some disillusioned fighters could prove useful in domestic intervention activities aimed at destroying radicalization before it becomes dangerous.

"If we can bring them back, there is obviously a chance they have already disengaged with terrorism and they could provide some kind of mentoring role in intervention initiatives.

"If that was part of their conditions for coming back and they voluntarily wanted to do that, then we could possibly use them to persuade [other Australians to deradicalize]."

Jones acknowledged this approach would not be to the liking of all and would require some understanding.

The criminologist said he was not sure the government's threats that it will abandon its citizens overseas or jail them for long periods helped the cause.

"They want a deterrent message," he said. "I'm not so sure that it is the right way of doing it as each case needs to go before the courts and we don't want to be prejudicial towards the case."

Prime Minister Abbott said on Tuesday that returning IS fighters would be "arrested, prosecuted and jailed" upon return to Australia.

"If you go abroad to kill innocent people in the name of misguided fundamental extremism... we are hardly going to welcome you back into this country," Abbott said. Endi