There are merits to some of the arguments. But overall it is a flawed approach we are taking when it comes to dealing with people migrating to join an institution like ISIS. Society is trying to be compassionate in dealing with these individuals. Questions of integration and assimilation is definitely important, and as I have noted in some of my earlier columns, the burden of integration is not only on the host society, but also mostly on the immigrants. The immigrants or refugees choosing to stay in their own personalized ghettoized cocoons, surrounded by nothing other their own conservative culture, and restrictive way of life, are bringing up generations who cannot associate themselves to their own country, vulnerable to outside influence and temptations of a land faraway and alien customs, and disillusioned by the constant dual life they have to lead, with no strict sense of identity.

But there is also another forgotten aspect. It is psychological, the attraction to ultra-violence. In this age of mass media and constant bombardment of news and events, it is unbelievable that people joining organizations like ISIS are not aware of the horrible living conditions, or the evil that is being perpetrated in the name of a particular religion. The people still going after that are either looking for their dose of ultra-violent adventure, or they know that even if things don't work out, they will be welcomed back without any form of punishment. The transition to normal life after a little "working holiday" adventure in Syria or Iraq would be smooth, just a matter of attributing to the "lure" of evil and being "misled" by preachers of evil. The fear of punishment as a deterrent factor is gone from our post-modern society which aims at maximizing reform, and not retribution.

Here's how to deal with this extraordinary situation, with privileged middle class people joining death cults like ISIS. The answer to the people voluntarily leaving to join ISIS is not stopping them to stay, or taking away their passport. It is heightened vigilance, intelligence and monitoring, and allowing them to take a decision, and making them know of the consequences once they take that decision. Don't stop them going to join ISIS, rather let them go. Don't allow them to come back after that, but make an example of them. Let it be an exemplary situation, which will act as deterrence to everyone contemplating joining ISIS and living a Jihadi life. Compassion in these extraordinary situations is worse than fatal conceit or magnanimity. The ultimate aim of the state and sovereign is to protect lives and maximize security. The situation in these cases is no different than criminals joining and executing gang members in violent crimes. Those people are prosecuted and punished. Why will this be any different when someone from a privileged family gets to join ISIS and then play the victim card?

It is understandable that there will be women and men who will be interested in joining ISIS as a jihadi bride or a terrorist; after all there are women and men fighting ISIS for the Kurds, and bombing ISIS for the coalition. There is always the other side of the proverbial coin. But the greatest propaganda battle against ISIS will not be won by stopping people from joining ISIS. Rather they should be allowed to experience firsthand that the Middle East is not the paradise and killing "infidels" won't get them a chance in heaven. Rather they will have a life worse than hell on Earth, with no medication, sweltering desert conditions, no proper life, education, industry or first world amenities. The fear of being bombed to smithereens, or being raped and passed around by Jihadis will be omnipresent. Most deaths will be caused not by fighting and dying like a martyr and hero, but rather by slow poisonous festering gangrenous wounds caused by flies on an open burn, without any medicine or doctors or modern hospitals. No amount of piety and prayers will alleviate the misery. And, finally, it will be one way traffic, with no chance or returning back to the first world life they used to enjoy. Only by means of fear, can this psychological aberration and madness be stopped.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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