Tunisia launches project to protect ex-prisoners from extremism

Tunisia’s Action Against Exclusion and Marginalisation Association has launched a new project which aims to rehabilitate and integrate youth prisoners into society and professional life and protect them from extremism.

The project, which includes 200 young men and women and will extend from 2019-2021, is funded by the European Union in partnership with the Ministries of Health, Education and Youth.

The association said it is important to integrate and rehabilitate these young people as soon as they leave prison and not exclude them so they do not become victims to extremism.

The head of the association, Zahra Bin Nasr, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the project is preventative and targets the segment of prisoners who are most vulnerable to extremism.

“A young man who leaves prison and does not receive any care becomes easy prey to extremist or criminal groups,” Bin Nasr said, explaining that many factors contribute to young people being recruited by extremist groups including poverty, family disintegration and school failure.

Read: Tunisia allocates $19.5m to support rural women