Experience of educational work with convicted Islamists in the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany

Tat&#039;yana Kirillova; Irina Vassilyeva

UDC

343.242

VAK Russia

5.8.7

EXPERIENCE OF EDUCATIONAL WORK WITH CONVICTED ISLAMISTS IN THE PENAL SYSTEM OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY Experience of educational work with convicted Islamists in the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany

АА Аа

Published in Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia · Pages 219–228 · Rubric: METHODOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Received: 03.03.2026 Accepted: 25.06.2026 Published: 30.06.2026 Language of publication: RUS

Authors

Tat'yana Kirillova

ORCID SPIN

Irina Vassilyeva

ORCID

Tat'yana Kirillova

Academic degree: doctor of pedagogical sciences

Science rang: professor

Federal State Institution Research Institute of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia Russian Federation

ORCID SPIN

Irina Vassilyeva

Academic degree: candidate of pedagogical sciences

The Academy of the FPS of Russia Russian Federation

ORCID

ABSTRACT

Introduction. The international nature of radicalism, extremism and terrorism makes the study of foreign experience in combating these phenomena of significant social importance. The article examines the problems of extremism and terrorism in the international context and analyses the German experience of changing the radical views and beliefs of prisoners within the penal system. The relevance of the research stems from the rise in the number of terrorist acts committed by political and religious radicals, including Islamists, as well as the need to identify effective educational mechanisms to counter radicalisation within the correctional institutions. The central issue addressed is how the legally enshrined principles of education and resocialisation are implemented in real practice in the work of educators and social workers with Islamists within the penitentiary system of the Federal Republic of Germany. Methods. The study is based on the analysis of statistical data from the Federal Criminal Police Office, materials from the official portal of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitutional Order, as well as German legislation (the Federal Act on the Enforcement of Sentences, the Juvenile Court Act, etc.). The study utilises biographical analysis, analysis of the academic literature, and programmes run by German non-governmental organisations (including “Denkzeit-Gesellschaft”, “Violence Prevention Network”, “Exit Germany” and others). The study includes the examples of specific terrorist attacks (in particular, the 2016 attack in Berlin), as well as methods of socio-cognitive and reflective intervention, applied in penitentiary pedagogy. The analysis of specific terrorist attacks as well as the methodological analysis of the concepts of social theology and interfaith dialogue in a multicultural society are carried out, the description of socio-cognitive methods (“Denkzeit-Methode”) is presented. Results. Based on the analysis carried out, it has been established that educational work with Islamists within the German penal system (hereinafter referred to as the “penal system”) is based on humanistic, holistic, individualised and reflective approaches, as well as on the principles of social theology and interfaith dialogue. The key components of the system are the analysis of the prisoner’s life story, interpretation of religious texts, identification of differences between Islam and Islamism, as well as socio-cognitive trainings aimed at developing empathy, tolerance and the ability to anticipate the consequences of one’s behaviour. Reflection is recognised as the core method, stimulating the re-evaluation of radical worldviews and the formation of universal human values. The effectiveness of the educational work is assessed according to the following criteria: renunciation of radical views, maintaining distance from extremist circles, the absence of relapses, as well as reintegration into family life and working practice, which confirms the importance of collaboration between the penitentiary system, academia and non-governmental organisations in addressing deradicalisation challenges. As a result of research into educational work with Islamists in the German penal system the roles of educators and social workers have been established, experience has been systematised and the foundations of this work identified, methodological approaches to the educational process have been defined, and the essence of theological approaches has been revealed as an integral foundation of the deradicalisation process through psychological, pedagogical and socio-pedagogical support measures; the forms, methods and criteria for the effectiveness of educational work with Islamists have been examined.

KEYWORDS

educational work, radicalisation, deradicalisation, Islamism, Islamist, prisoner, correctional institutions, the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany, educator, social worker, methodological approaches, forms, methods, criteria

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GOST

Kirillova T. V., Vassilyeva I. V. Experience of educational work with convicted Islamists in the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany // . 2026. pp. 219-228. (Date of access 19.08.2026).

MLA

Tat'yana Kirillova, Vassilyeva I. V.. "Experience of educational work with convicted Islamists in the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany." (2026): 219-228.

APA

Kirillova T. V., Vassilyeva I. V. (2026). Experience of educational work with convicted Islamists in the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany. , 219-228.

Chicago

Tat'yana Kirillova, Vassilyeva I. V.. "Experience of educational work with convicted Islamists in the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany." , no. (2026): 219-228.

WIKI

{{cite journal | author = Kirillova T. V., Vassilyeva I. V. | title = Experience of educational work with convicted Islamists in the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany | journal = | year = 2026 | pages = 219-228 }}

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EXPERIENCE OF EDUCATIONAL WORK WITH CONVICTED ISLAMISTS IN THE PENAL SYSTEM OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY Experience of educational work with convicted Islamists in the penal system of the Federal Republic of Germany

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