Dr Nuri Veronika1, Dr Leebarty Taskarina2
1Monash University, Australia, 2University of Indonesia, Indonesia
Biography:
Nuri Veronika received her PhD from Monash University’s School of Social and Political Science in May 2024. Her expertise encompasses women’s agency in the Global South, violent extremism, PVE, gender and security sectors. Before her PhD, she worked at the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs. She is currently an Affiliate Fellow at Monash Global Peace and Security Centre and an (upcoming) visiting scholar at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technical University (NTU), Singapore.
Abstract:
This paper discusses the experiences of three Indonesian women involved in terrorist cases prior to, during, and after their incarceration. This paper argues that the complex interplay between the legacy of coloniality, patriarchy and state’s rehabilitation programs result in the “othering” practices towards extremist women. This results in failure to address women’s engagement to terrorism and hinder women’s successful societal reintegration due to the associated social stigma. Using a life history narrative approach, the chapter draws from in-depth interviews with three women convicted of terror cases to examine their experiences in the Indonesian postcolonial and patriarchal criminal justice system. This chapter illuminates the challenges encountered by women committing terrorist acts during their gendered rehabilitation and deradicalization programs, underscoring the need for a more gender-sensitive approach in addressing the underlying causes of women’s involvement in terrorism. Lastly, this chapter advocates the significance of adopting a feminist and postcolonial perspective to comprehend the experiences of extremist women, offering valuable insights for the development of gender-responsive policies and interventions.