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Senior Sergeant Joe Ilardi, who used his PhD background in terrorism studies to help shape the curriculum, said: ‘‘The key here is religious engagement with respected and qualified imams within the Muslim community.

‘‘[It] is about challenging and helping participants to engage in discussions centred on their beliefs, bearing in mind the focus is on beliefs which are central to their offending.’’



He added: ‘‘It’s not a form of propaganda, it’s not a form of deprogramming either, which has the connotation of the use of force or coercion.’’



Senior Sergeant Ilardi said the program — which also has a strong welfare component in which participants are helped to secure post-release jobs, housing and psychological counselling services — was not a soft option.



He said the program, a first for Australia, was a valuable tool in a multi-pronged fight against terror threats. ‘‘I would contend that it’s an intelligent response to the problem [of terrorism]. Our involvement in this type of work does not diminish our commitment and involvement in more traditional forms of counter-terrorism.



‘‘We don’t have a system like Singapore where there is an internal security system which can leave individuals imprisoned until they are no longer deemed a ‘security threat’ ... These individuals will inevitably re-enter the community, whether we engage them or not.’’



Nail Aykan, from the Islamic Council of Victoria, which administers the program, said the organisation was involved because it was ‘‘in the interest of the Muslim community to tackle and eradicate extremist thoughts which may lead to violent offences’’.



‘‘There are 152,000 Muslims in Victoria and a handful of individuals create a negative image and potential backlash for our community,’’ he said.



‘‘All it takes is a handful to spoil all the good efforts that have taken place for social cohesion and harmony over the past several years, especially in the period post 9/11.’’



Launched without publicity in late 2010, the program is funded by the federal government and is overseen by a steering committee that includes ethnic community leader Hass Dellal, from the Australian Multicultural Foundation, and state and federal police.



Deputy Commissioner Tim Cartwright said the program was ‘‘very much dependent on the strength of the community connections’’.



Forensic psychologist Professor James Ogloff, who has assessed people jailed for terrorist offences in Melbourne and overseas, said he supported the program.



‘‘The extreme views come from a certain understanding or ‘frame’. I can see merit in a Muslim imam speaking to them about what the religion actually says about such matters,’’ he said.



‘‘My experience is that some people are more vulnerable to developing extreme beliefs due to personality issues and sometimes peer pressure.’’