2017 is the year global terror became mainstream. This is what we’re doing to tackle it

The two ends of the ‘extremism spectrum’ – Isis and the far right – are similar and feed off each other. Some would say they even need each other to function, like the two blades of a pair of scissors

For all the talk of global and domestic conflict that continued through 2017, many of the internal social and existential issues faced by both the Western and Muslim worlds in the last year were similar, if not almost identical. Across different societies and civilisations, we share a global culture – particularly an online culture – where atomised, isolated and disaffected youth are vulnerable to radicalisation, whether by Isis or the far right.

These two ends of the “extremism spectrum” are similar and feed off each other. Some would say they even need each other to function, like the two blades of a pair of scissors: apparently pushing in opposite directions, but ultimately working together to perform the same purpose.

The stats speak for themselves: just as 2017 was tragically the year global terror become an almost daily and unremarkable occurrence for many, the same could be said of Islamophobia and the associated far right prejudices. We have known for some time that Islamophobia and prejudice rise after a terrorist attack, and more recently, hate crimes against Muslims increased fivefold in the wake of the London Bridge terrorist attack this year.

In the face of all these pull factors for far-right recruitment, Security minister Ben Wallace announced a renewed focus on far-right terror grooming, which is now using almost exactly the same techniques as Isis recruitment. The two blades on the scissors grow ever closer – and sharper.

MORE:   http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/radicalisation-online-twitter-extremism-isis-far-right-international-efforts-a8134606.html

I believe that the best remedy to extremism in the Muslim world is the correct understanding of traditional Islam. I’m not alone: former US National Security Council director, Quintan Wiktorowicz, spoke directly to extremists and found that those most prone to radicalisation also had the weakest understanding of the Islamic faith. And MI5’s behavioural science unit found that “a well-established religious identity actually protects against violent radicalisation”.

7 replies

  1. I agree that to fight extremists who use Islam as an excuse must be countered by understanding the true Islam and not by reforming Islam according to what modern standards set by different people. Terrorists have no faith and they have no religion they just respond to devil.

    • actually the action against Ahmadis is the best ‘propaganda’. All people are not stupid. I personally know converts to Ahmadiyya who came because they were told not to come to us. They wanted to investigate the reasons – and stayed with us. Also in Indonesia we have new members on a regular basis. The best propagator of Ahmadiyya was General Zia ul Haq. Because of him our beloved Khalifa had to leave Pakistan. What is the result? = http://www.mta.tv !

  2. Islamic teachings do not need to be reformed, but understood correctly, or interpreted correctly. No problem for members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Our scholars are very learned. And as a ‘last resort’ we have the God-appointed Khalifa ! Alhamdolillah, how lucky we are !

    • This wolf again appears as a sheep.

      Somi did not erase his anti-Islamic contents from his website.

      He will never do it because he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
      On his infamous website he claims:

      Jesus is the son of God.
      Quranic verses must be deleted.
      The gospel is an inerrant word of God.
      He has not erased hate for Muslims, from his website.

      It is true that God is the Judge but we can see and read propaganda against Muslims on his website.

      Beware of him.

  3. This wolf again appears as a sheep.

    Somi did not erase his anti-Islamic contents from his website.

    He will never do it because he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
    On his infamous website he claims:

    Jesus is the son of God.
    Quranic verses must be deleted.
    The gospel is an inerrant word of God.
    He has not erased hate for Muslims, from his website.

    It is true that God is the Judge but we can see and read propaganda against Muslims on his website.

    Beware of him.

  4. @ Rifat— wrote/-I agree that to fight extremists who use Islam as an excuse must be countered by understanding the true Islam and not by reforming Islam according to what modern standards set by different people. Terrorists have no faith and they have no religion they just respond to devil——

    A law should be one meaning, the same understanig who read the law.
    If someone read a law, has few interpretations, the law is invalid, dangerous, have to be withdrawn from public until be corrected.
    After the authority has corrected the invalid law, when someone read the correceted law will has the same meaning and understanding. The law is valid.
    You still reject the truth?
    ❤️

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