Laura Gärtner leads deradicalisation effort for Islamist inmates in Germany

Laura Gärtner, a social worker for the Violence Prevention Network in Berlin, meets Islamist prisoners in German jails to help them abandon extremist ideologies. She reports that many inmates initially reject her outreach, especially female advisors, but personal events such as the death of a family member can open a dialogue.

Gärtner’s work highlights the scale of the challenge: as of August, the North‑Rhine Westphalia ministry listed 40 inmates classified as Islamist “dangerous persons”, with additional prisoners in Hesse (5), Hamburg (6), Berlin (14) and Bavaria (around 30). The article notes recent attacks, including a shooter targeting Israel’s consulate and the NS Documentation Centre in Munich, underscoring the security context within which deradicalisation efforts occur.

Through regular visits and coordination with prison authorities, Gärtner aims to identify radicalised individuals and provide counselling that may prevent future violence, even though progress can take years.