As a result of recent terrorist attacks in France, Islamist terrorists now embody all the fears and fantasies of French society. Today, almost 1,000 radicalised people are confined in French prisons. They account for less than 1% of inmates but are at the centre of the country’s political and media coverage.
Getting them out of prison, de-radicalised and reintegrated into society is a national challenge. In this film, we follow the prison staff who work with these prisoners on a daily basis as they try to deradicalise and rehabilitate them. The challenges they face are enormous. Many people feel such prisoners should never be released. But is life imprisonment really an appropriate punishment?
By cautiously attempting to understand the motivations behind their radicalisation, this film aims to help us understand the realities of the detention of radicalised prisoners. It also explores the issues and risks involved in their release.