#Extremism in the world.
Important event in London about Extremism.
Dr Afzal Ashraf addressing the topic in a limited time as well as Sheikh Dr Hojjat Ramzy.
Many Ambassadors for Peace have made good questions about extremism in the world.
How to wisely deal with people attracted to extremist groups for many different reasons?
Dr Ashraf began by explaining that this is a very painful development for those who are genuine believers in Islam and know the beauty of the teachings of Islam. It is interesting the only ones to agree that Islamic State or Al Qaeda are true believers in Islam are the extreme right wing.
He said that despite studying this area since 1998 he realised there was so much he did not know. He has been an employee and adviser of the UK Government and will soon be teaching a number of Governments about extremism under an EU programme.
There are some parallels in history for these kinds of movements. Professor David Rapoport looked at the Zealot Zachari, who existed just after Jesus Christ. They are Jewish extremists who have some similarities to Al Qaeda and Islamic State. They were Jews living under the yoke of a superpower. They were suppressed both physically and ideologically by the superpower of the time. Invariably Jews were their victims. According to Josephus when they killed they used to say, ‘Sovereignty belongs to God Not Rome’. When they killed Caliph Ali a similar phrase was used, ‘Sovereignty belongs to Allah not you Ali.’ Another example is the Assassins of Syria were a Shia movement.
Professor Paul Wilkinson encouraged Dr Ashraf to study how extremism influences religious interpretations. The Dutch Reform church, whose origins are with Calvin, associated closely with a political party that justified apartheid in South Africa through its theological interpretation. All these groups used violence to achieve their goals. These extremist groups develop in periods of social and political stress. People reinterpret their theologies under those circumstances and justify violence on that basis.
They develop a Manichean view of the world: Good versus Evil and Them versus Us. They are a minority, often outside the main sources of authority within the religion itself, but they feel they have the authority themselves to speak on behalf of the majority. They can divide the world into two groups. They the small minority can cause the greater group to take a decision whether to be a Christian or a Muslim. They convince themselves that they alone are the true Muslims, Christians or Hindus. The rest have compromised their belief.
There are some differences with these historical groups. One is the grievances felt stem from events in different parts of the world. However, the actions in response to those grievances can be local or anywhere in the world. Thus we have 'home grown terrorists'.
The belief in the concept of success of the movement is important. I had the misfortune to read everything Bin Laden said. He pronounced, 'We have defeated the world's greatest superpower.' He said this well before 9/11. He meant his followers, the poorly armed and outnumbered Mujahideen, had defeated the Soviet Union that was the superpower of the time. From this myth was created beyond any factual proof. He saw in this a mirror to Islamic history. The Prophet Mohammed's (pbuh) time when his people were outnumbered and fought against a greater number of well-armed people and won.
There is one verse in the Quran that terrorist groups will never use. A rough translation is ‘Permission to fight is given to those against who war is laid simply for the reason that they say, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ If Allah does not repel one people by means of another then surely there will be torn down cloisters, synagogues, churches and mosques where the name of Allah is oft commemorated. Allah has power to help those who help him.’
In 16 years I have not heard this verse quoted by an extremist. The same Allah is commemorated in Churches, Temples, Synagogues as well as in Mosques. This is not a peculiarly Muslim permission. If they ever quoted this it would blow their ideology out of the water. You can only fight if war is being made against me because I am standing up for Allah.
When the Soviet Union left Afghanistan in 1989 Bin Laden created this myth. It was a selective truth. There were a number of other factors such as the decline in Soviet economy, rebellions in east Europe and Stinger missiles supplied to the Mujahideen by the USA.
We cannot defeat extremism without dealing with both of these aspects: Theology and belief in success.
The effect of the foreign policy of western powers is very related to development of suicide bombing has been studied and proved. The other extremism determinant is the poor standard of governance in Arab nations and the lack of human dignity.
As Al Qaeda lost momentum under the pressure of the 'war on terror' they could not inspire the same belief in success. Now Islamic State is claiming success and seem to have momentum and are attracting many people.
How to wisely deal with people attracted to extremist groups for many different reasons?
Dr Ashraf began by explaining that this is a very painful development for those who are genuine believers in Islam and know the beauty of the teachings of Islam. It is interesting the only ones to agree that Islamic State or Al Qaeda are true believers in Islam are the extreme right wing.
He said that despite studying this area since 1998 he realised there was so much he did not know. He has been an employee and adviser of the UK Government and will soon be teaching a number of Governments about extremism under an EU programme.
There are some parallels in history for these kinds of movements. Professor David Rapoport looked at the Zealot Zachari, who existed just after Jesus Christ. They are Jewish extremists who have some similarities to Al Qaeda and Islamic State. They were Jews living under the yoke of a superpower. They were suppressed both physically and ideologically by the superpower of the time. Invariably Jews were their victims. According to Josephus when they killed they used to say, ‘Sovereignty belongs to God Not Rome’. When they killed Caliph Ali a similar phrase was used, ‘Sovereignty belongs to Allah not you Ali.’ Another example is the Assassins of Syria were a Shia movement.
Professor Paul Wilkinson encouraged Dr Ashraf to study how extremism influences religious interpretations. The Dutch Reform church, whose origins are with Calvin, associated closely with a political party that justified apartheid in South Africa through its theological interpretation. All these groups used violence to achieve their goals. These extremist groups develop in periods of social and political stress. People reinterpret their theologies under those circumstances and justify violence on that basis.
They develop a Manichean view of the world: Good versus Evil and Them versus Us. They are a minority, often outside the main sources of authority within the religion itself, but they feel they have the authority themselves to speak on behalf of the majority. They can divide the world into two groups. They the small minority can cause the greater group to take a decision whether to be a Christian or a Muslim. They convince themselves that they alone are the true Muslims, Christians or Hindus. The rest have compromised their belief.
There are some differences with these historical groups. One is the grievances felt stem from events in different parts of the world. However, the actions in response to those grievances can be local or anywhere in the world. Thus we have 'home grown terrorists'.
The belief in the concept of success of the movement is important. I had the misfortune to read everything Bin Laden said. He pronounced, 'We have defeated the world's greatest superpower.' He said this well before 9/11. He meant his followers, the poorly armed and outnumbered Mujahideen, had defeated the Soviet Union that was the superpower of the time. From this myth was created beyond any factual proof. He saw in this a mirror to Islamic history. The Prophet Mohammed's (pbuh) time when his people were outnumbered and fought against a greater number of well-armed people and won.
There is one verse in the Quran that terrorist groups will never use. A rough translation is ‘Permission to fight is given to those against who war is laid simply for the reason that they say, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ If Allah does not repel one people by means of another then surely there will be torn down cloisters, synagogues, churches and mosques where the name of Allah is oft commemorated. Allah has power to help those who help him.’
In 16 years I have not heard this verse quoted by an extremist. The same Allah is commemorated in Churches, Temples, Synagogues as well as in Mosques. This is not a peculiarly Muslim permission. If they ever quoted this it would blow their ideology out of the water. You can only fight if war is being made against me because I am standing up for Allah.
When the Soviet Union left Afghanistan in 1989 Bin Laden created this myth. It was a selective truth. There were a number of other factors such as the decline in Soviet economy, rebellions in east Europe and Stinger missiles supplied to the Mujahideen by the USA.
We cannot defeat extremism without dealing with both of these aspects: Theology and belief in success.
The effect of the foreign policy of western powers is very related to development of suicide bombing has been studied and proved. The other extremism determinant is the poor standard of governance in Arab nations and the lack of human dignity.
As Al Qaeda lost momentum under the pressure of the 'war on terror' they could not inspire the same belief in success. Now Islamic State is claiming success and seem to have momentum and are attracting many people.
If you have questions about extremism in the world leave here your question.
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