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The threat within
[DAWN] THE complexity of the challenge confronting the Muslim world where dealing with religiously inspired militancy is concerned has been aptly demonstrated by a series of recent events. The latest crisis emerged in Jakarta, where elements linked to the Lion of Islam Islamic State...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not reallyMoslems.... group went on the rampage on Thursday. A news outlet connected to the group grabbed credit for the carnage, while Indonesian police also said they believed IS was behind the attacks. Meanwhile, ...back at the chili cook-off, Chuck reached for the green sauce... on Wednesday, IS grabbed credit for the attack on the Pak consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, while Turkish authorities said the individual responsible for the Istanbul bombing on Tuesday was an operative of the Lion of Islam group. These events show that nearly all Muslim states -- despite geographic, cultural and political differences -- are vulnerable to violent religious extremism. It would be incorrect to assume that a monolithic IS is planning attacks in Muslim countries -- and elsewhere -- based in Syria. However, a clean conscience makes a soft pillow... what is entirely possible is that the so-called caliphate is inspiring fringe groups and individuals across the globe to act in its name, or in support of its cause. For example, in Indonesia IS doesn't actually need a physical presence; Lion of Islam groups such as Abu Sayyaf ...also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, an Islamist terror group based in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, murders, head choppings, and extortion in their uniquely Islamic attempt to set up an independent Moslem province in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf forces probably number less than 300 cadres. The group is closely allied with remnants of Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya and has loose ties with MILF and MNLF who sometimes provide cannon fodder... and Jemaah Islamiyah are ideologically on the same wavelength. Pakistain faces the same predicament: Al Baghdadi and his men do not need to be physically present to forward their agenda. There is a plethora of Lion of Islam and sectarian groups that are arguably still active and more than willing to carry the IS banner in Pakistain. The same can be said of nearly any Muslim country, where a variety of factors have led to the growth of home-grown radical movements. Unfortunately, some Muslim states have either looked away as bully boy groups grew in size and strength in their backyards, while others have even used these as proxies in geopolitical conflicts. It is also true that most Muslim states -- both authoritarian set-ups and democracies -- have failed to deliver social, economic and political justice to their citizens, helping fuel the rise of radical movements, which want to destroy the 'system' and build it anew in their own image. In the immediate term, the Muslim bloc should realise that the war against extremism and terrorism is 'our' war. Firstly, there must be realisation within Muslim states that the Lion of Islam tide has to be confronted, without differentiation between 'good' and 'bad' Lion of Islams. Secondly, a pan-Islamic effort is needed to clamp down on militancy, which can be achieved through joint counterterrorism efforts. However, a clean conscience makes a soft pillow... any alliance built along sectarian or geopolitical lines is doomed to fail. Moreover, Western involvement in such an endeavour should be avoided for two reasons: to prevent turbans from portraying it as a 'war against Islam', and the fact that much of contemporary Islamist militancy has been fuelled by Western intervention and regime change in Muslim states. Posted by: Fred 2016-01-15 |
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