This second manual of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) goes beyond addressing misinterpretations of Islamic concepts to deal with broader issues, like how one becomes radicalised and what could induce feelings of hatred towards others.

The guide aims to better help the Muslim scholars convince hardcore detainees and self-radicalised individuals that their extreme beliefs are not part of Islamic teachings, but a gross violation of these teachings and a result of indoctrination.

'RRG is aware that we need to constantly seek improvements, as extremists are continuously changing their methods in the hope of winning sympathy,' said Ustaz Ali Mohamed, a co-chairman of the group, on Thursday.

A wide range of extremist manuals are being disseminated on Internet sites and forums, the group said in a statement. The array has drawn several individuals to imbibe extremist ideology on their own and be self-radicalised as opposed to picking up such ideas from terror groups that recruit them.

The RRG is made up of 30 Muslim scholars, including seven women, who volunteer to counsel current and former terror detainees and their families.

The 220-page manual, which took nearly a year to compile, is based on the group's experiences from more than 1,000 counselling sessions. It also draws on research and discussions with intelligence officers, psychologists, academics and religious leaders, said Ustaz Ali at the group's annual retreat.

The manual was launched at the event by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng. He had launched the first handbook in 2003, which dwelt on how Jemaah Islamiah (JI) detainees misunderstood Islamic concepts like jihad, or struggle, which radicals say justifies militancy.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.