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France's first de-radicalisation centre to tackle Islamist threat opens

The country's first centre aimed at de-radicalising would-be jihadists was unveiled on Tuesday, as part of government measures to counter a wave of terrorist attacks on French soil.

France's first deradicalisation center in Beaumont-en-Véron
France's first deradicalisation center in Beaumont-en-Véron Guillaume Souvant/AFP
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The Centre for Prevention, Integration and Citizenship is designed to host a maximum of 25 people aged between 18 and 30, the first of whom will arrive next month. They will take in people referred by the justice system to try to stop them from being brainwashed by jihadist networks.

Officials stressed that the selection would be on a “voluntary” basis from among candidates who have been radicalised but “are looking for a way out”.

The "volunteers" will wear uniforms, receive medical and psychological support, and take classes in a variety of subjects including history, religion, philosophy and the media. Their day will start with the raising of the French flag at 6:45am.

But the decision to locate the centre in the Indre et Loire region of central France has prompted anger among locals, who protested outside the manor on Tuesday and complained of a lack of security guarantees.

The government believes that nearly 9,300 people in France have been radicalised, with the new plan aiming to have 3,600 participants within two years.

The 40 million euro government de-radicalisation programme will see similar centres open in each of France’s 12 regions.

France remains under a state of emergency after more than 230 people were killed in a series of terrorist attacks since January 2015.

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