Claims that former terrorist mastermind Abdul Nacer Benbrika has been reformed have been treated with disdain by an international terror expert.
Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 64, was released from a Victorian prison last month, 15 years after he was convicted of a murderous plot to kill tens of thousands of Australians.
On Wednesday, Benbrika went public to reassure Australians he was no longer a threat to the community after being 'reformed' inside Victoria's infamous Barwon Prison.
Abdul Nacer Benbrika leaves Barwon prison in December
“I've thought about it and I've learned a big lesson,” he told the newspaper Herald Sun.
'People need to know that Nacer (himself) is not who he was.'
Benbrika's assurances have been met with skepticism by those involved in assessing terror threats.
Terror expert Doctor Ran Porat told Daily Mail Australia that history dictates that most terrorists have never changed their hatred of those who oppose their beliefs.
Terror expert Doctor Ran Porat
'These people are ideologues. They believe in it with all their heart. They have been indoctrinated from a very young age. It is not easy to erase the ideology,” he said.
“Many of them are very religious and the fact that they've spent time in prison – unless you go through an extreme trial, prison is not a place where you reform.”
In reality, most of Hamas's leaders are themselves former criminals.
Dr. Porat said that while Benbrika himself posed little physical threat to the Australians due to his age, he could be even more dangerous if he worked in the background.
“I would be concerned about his teachings. I would worry about his friends. I would keep an eye on him,” Dr. Porat said.
“I would worry about his disciples, or students.”
The convicted terrorist is subject to numerous conditions as part of his release into the community, including asking police for permission to take up or volunteer for a job.
Benbrika wanted to kill tens of thousands of Australians in an evil terror plot
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (pictured) was one of his targets
He cannot visit many public places and is not allowed to discuss terrorist activities publicly, but can do so in the course of his deradicalization program.
Police may also search and remove some of his books.
Upon Benbrika's release in December, Victoria Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth acknowledged that Benbrika did not pose a risk of a 'lone wolf' crime, but a risk of influencing others.
“Rather, the general nature of the risk posed by Mr Benbrika is that he would radicalize others or encourage them to engage in acts of religiously inspired violence,” Judge Hollingworth said at the time.
The court heard that a government expert assessed him as a moderate to low risk, while an international expert called by Benbrika's lawyers assessed him as 'low risk'.
Dr. Porat said that if Benbrika had truly turned away from his beliefs, he should do his utmost to tell those who matter most.
“If you really want to reform, maybe you should publicly tell his friends and his followers that it's time to lay down your arms. It's time to talk about peace and love and things like that, and not just say you're reformed,” he said.
Terrorists who claim they reformed only to return to crime have ravaged the planet for decades.
Al-Qaeda Iraq leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi was imprisoned and tortured in a US prison before being released amid demands for reforms.
“He founded Al Qaeda Iraq, the ugly father of ISIS,” Dr. Porat said.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar claimed he had reformed before being released from prison. When he gained his freedom, he became even more dangerous
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed he reformed before becoming leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar vowed to be reformed after his release from an Israeli prison in 2011.
He had been released as part of a deal in which 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners were released from prison in exchange for a single Israeli hostage, IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Sinwar went so far as to learn Hebrew, which he used fluently after his release to convince the Jewish state that he was no longer a threat.
In 2004, he thanked his jailers for allowing doctors to save his life from a brain tumor.
His release has long been remembered as one of Israel's greatest mistakes.
“He came back, as we know, with a vengeance,” Dr Porat said.
'Before they are released, these prisoners sign confessions or statements saying they have reformed: 'I have changed my life. I am now a saint.' Nobody buys that.'
Dr. Porat said that although terrorists renounced their previous lives and lived good lives, terrorists were few and far between.
“An example is the person called 'The Green Prince,'” he said.
'He was the son of a Hamas leader who became a full-fledged Israel supporter. But generally speaking, these people are not reformed unless they experience some really major trauma.”