BRF Foundation: Seminar “In the mind of ISIS”

The Seminar “In the mind of ISIS – Psychology and Psychopathology of the Terrorist Phenomenon”, organized by the Fondazione BRF Onlus –  took place in Lucca on February 2016 at the Palazzo Ducale . 
The appointment involved psychiatrists, psychologists and experts of the phenomenon, and tried to define a psychopathological profile of ISIS members, drawing a picture as accurate as possible of the reality we are experiencing.
“The Western world – explained Prof. Armando Piccinni, president of the BRF Foundation Onlus – found himself suddenly in the middle of a war against an invisible enemy. The Islamic state invokes to jihad millions of people around the world, using for the publicity, dissemination of news, action claims and proselytizing the most powerful tool on the planet today: the web. “
Abu Bara at Hindi addresses the “brothers” living in the West of messages that leave no doubt: “I know how you feel, you feel depressed. The Prophet said the best cure for depression is Jihad for the cause of Allah. You feel like you’ve lost the honor … my brothers, come to Jihad and you will also experience the honor we have. You will hear the happiness we hear. “
But depression really plays a role in this phenomenon? Are the Jihadists “depressed” who care for the death of “infidels” who feel their enemies? Who are these men? What are their religious, cultural, anthropological, psychological, social bases? Is there a scientific-anthropological-psychological or psychiatric interpretation of their behavior?
In the ISIS mind – Reality and psychopathology of the terrorist phenomenon tried to provide answers to these questions through expert speakers of the subject, which may help to better understand the terrorist phenomenon and to form a personal judgment on that.
THE PROGRAM
09.30-10.00
Welcome coffee and inscriptions
10.00-10.15
Greetings from the authorities
Presentation of the Seminar
Antonella Delprino
10.15-10.30
The numbers of terrorism
Armando Piccinni, Donatella Marazziti
10.30-11.00
The international scenarios of terrorism
Admiral Donato Marzano
11.00-11.30
Terrorist Psychopathology
Armando Piccinni
11.30-12.00
The terrorist’s mind
Donatella Marazziti
12.00-12.30
Islam and terrorism
Francesco Borgonovo
12.30-13.00
General discussion
13.00-14.00
Light Lunch
14.00-15.00
The world today in the face of terrorism
Edward N. Luttwak
15.00-15.30
The terrorist’s psychology
Paolo Cardoso
15.30-16.00
Sociological and cultural aspects at the basis of terrorism
Tito Arecchi
16.00 -17.30
Round table: Terrorism between prevention and repression
Diego Audero, Francesco Borgonovo, Antonella Delprino, Donatella Marazziti,
Donato Marzano, Armando Piccinni, Icro Maremmani
The Speakers
Antonella Delprino is a professional journalist. She has been working in Italian national television since 1998, and since 2001 she has invited “Live Life” on Rai Uno. Among the awards she has received over the years is the International Tanker Silver Award for Reporter from Afghanistan and the 2001 International Women’s Prize for Journalism.
Edward Nicolae Luttwak is a nationalist, economist, politician and essayist of the United States, known for his publications on military strategy and foreign policy, an expert in international politics and strategic adviser to the US government.
Armando Piccinni is President of the BRF Foundation. Psychiatrist, author of dozens of scientific articles, adjunct professor at the University of Pisa, runs his work at the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Pisa and privately.
Donatella Marazziti is adjunct professor of Psychiatry. Author of dozens of scientific articles on terrorism and books, is also the Research Director at the BRF Foundation.
Admiral Donato Marzano was Head of General Staff of the Chief of Italian Defense. Knight of the Italian Military Order and Commendator of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, was awarded numerous honors for the missions that saw him involved. He is currently the Navy Logistics Commander based in Naples.
Paolo Cardoso is psychoanalytic psychotherapist, member and vice president of the International Foundation Erich Fromm. He collaborates with the Universities of Padova, Pavia, Florence and L’Aquila.
Francesco Borgonovo is journalist and essayist, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper “Libero” and author of the political talk show “La Gabbia” on La7 Television. His latest book is “Jihad Corporation”.
Fortunato Tito Arecchi was a professor of physics at the University of Pavia and at the University of Florence. In 1995 he was awarded the Max Born Award by the Optical Society of America. He is a fellow of the Optical Society of America.
Icro Maremmani is psychiatrist at U.O. Of Psychiatry at the Santa Chiara Hospital of the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pisa since 1989. He is professor of drug-toxico-dependent medicine at the Psychiatry School of Specialization at the University of Pisa. 
Diego Audero, graduated in History in Turin, earned a master’s degree in contemporary history in Seville. He currently lives in Kraków where he collaborates with the Museum of Auschwitz and with some city institutions such as the Museum of World War II at the Oskar Schindler Factory. For three years he has been working with memory trains for Auschwitz and Holocaust training for teachers.