European Parliament Identifies Wahabi and Salafi Roots of Global Terrorism
By Murtaza Haider
Jul 22, 2013
It is not merely the
faith or oil that flows out of Saudi Arabia. The oil-rich Arab state and
its neighbours are busy financing Wahabi and Salafi militants across
the globe.
A recent report by the
European Parliament reveals how Wahabi and Salafi groups based out of
the Middle East are involved in the "support and supply of arms to rebel
groups around the world." The report, released in June 2013, was
commissioned by European Parliament's Directorate General for External
Policies. The report warns about the Wahabi/Salafi organisations and
claims that "no country in the Muslim world is safe from their
operations ... as they always aim to terrorise their opponents and
arouse the admiration of their supporters."
The nexus between Arab
charities promoting Wahabi and Salafi traditions and the extremist
Islamic movements has emerged as one of the major threats to people and
governments across the globe. From Syria, Mali, Afghanistan and Pakistan
to Indonesia in the East, a network of charities is funding militancy
and mayhem to coerce Muslims of diverse traditions to conform to the
Salafi and Wahabi traditions. The same networks have been equally
destructive as they branch out of Muslim countries and attack targets in
Europe and North America.
