Publication

The Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Those Affiliated with Terrorism: The Case of Iraq

In this article, Joana Cook examines the rehabilitation and reintegration of Iraqi civilians perceived to be affiliated with ISIS. Drawing on fieldwork, interviews and focus groups, she highlights the barriers these families face when returning to their communities.

Author: Joana Cook
Date: 24 September 2026
Links: Read the article

Research on rehabilitation and reintegration has generally focused on convicted terrorists and former combatants. Cook instead examines civilians perceived to be affiliated with ISIS, such as family members who may not have committed crimes themselves. Her study draws on fieldwork in Iraq, including 17 semi-structured interviews and two focus groups. In total, 44 people were consulted.

The findings show that reintegration is obstructed by interconnected security, legal, social and economic barriers. Families may face revenge attacks, stigmatisation, poverty, housing insecurity and mental health problems. Missing or unrecognised documents can also restrict access to education, employment and state support. Women and female-headed households face particular challenges, including pressure created by practices such as tabriya and ikhbar.

Cook argues that affiliated civilians should not automatically be treated as offenders. Effective rehabilitation and reintegration require coordinated legal, social, economic and mental health support for both returning families and the communities receiving them. The article also shows why first-hand accounts, non-Western case studies and gender-sensitive approaches are essential to understanding post-conflict recovery.