Suicide bombers recruited in Algerian prisons

Prisoners in Algeria are an easy prey for terror recruitment networks which attempt to convince them about extremist ideas, according to an Algerian Religious Affairs Ministry, executive

• “A so-called Yusufia School (Joseph’s School) is recruiting prisoners for suicide attacks,” said Mohamed Aissa, Director of Koran teaching at Religious Affairs Ministry.
• Joseph is a prophet who spent many years in prison and gained a reputation for successfully interpreting dreams. In the holy Koran, he is regarded as a high moral character even as a young man.
• “Prisons are becoming schools for extremism. Being in jail is now a privilege to be recruited by terror groups for suicide attacks,” said Mohamed Aissa.
• He believes that “Joseph’s School” ideas preachers seize the opportunity of the desperation of prisoners to mislead them. 
• “They get them involved in organised crimes, in Algeria or in Iraq or Libanon”, he said.
• In 1998, Algerian Justice and Religious Affairs Ministries signed an agreement to guide and take care for prisoners in psychological and spiritual aspect.
• A new agreement is expected to be signed to adopt a strategy protecting the Algerian society from dangerous ideas.
• For his part, prisons administration chief Mokhtar Felioune said all jails directors called for sending imams to prisons for spiritual care. 
• “Many prisoners are considered among dead because they lost hope in society,” he added.