Terrorist Recruitment and Communication Revolution: The Double-Edged Sword of the Digital Age

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 12 January 2024 Terrorist Organizations Are Dynamic Entities That Have Evolved Over Time. Terrorist Organizations Have Exploited The Technical Advantages To Support Their Activities. The Fight Against Online Radicalization Isn't Just About Silencing Voices; It's About Amplifying Those That Promote Tolerance, Understanding, And Peace. Major Points: 1. terrorist groups exploiting these platforms for recruitment and radicalization. 2. This reorganization provides greater flexibility, responsiveness, resilience, and outreach. Modern terrorist networks often consist of widely distributed, smaller cells that communicate and coordinate in an interweaving fashion. 3. the global reach of online platforms has facilitated the merging and dissemination of terrorist networks beyond national boundaries, cultures, and languages. 4. The key lies in recognizing the power of this digital space not as a passive canvas for extremist propaganda, but as a dynamic platform for counter-narratives, education, and community mobilization. ------ In today's interconnected world, the internet and social media have become powerful tools for communication, information sharing, and even mobilization. While this offers immense benefits, a chilling consequence has emerged: terrorist groups exploiting these platforms for recruitment and radicalization. Imagine a generation raised with instant access to a virtual world, one where extremist ideology can lurk behind seemingly harmless screens. Terror groups like ISIS have mastered this digital game, using sleek videos and tailored messages to captivate vulnerable individuals across borders. The appeal is undeniable. Social media offers a global reach, a platform to craft targeted narratives, and a veil of anonymity for both disseminators and potential recruits. The ability to bypass traditional gatekeepers and speak directly to hearts and minds makes it a potent weapon in the hands of those with nefarious agendas. But the fight against online radicalization isn't a lost cause. Challenges abound, from jurisdictional complexities to the sheer volume of extremist content. Yet, hope lies in potential solutions: · Empowering online communities: Let the digital landscape become a counter-narrative battlefield, where positive voices drown out the whispers of hate. · Promoting media literacy: Equip individuals with the tools to critically evaluate online content and build resilience against manipulation. · Legislative and policy interventions: Explore responsible content moderation, blocking of harmful sites, and promoting alternative narratives. The key lies in recognizing the power of this digital space not as a passive canvas for extremist propaganda, but as a dynamic platform for counter-narratives, education, and community mobilization. It's a battle for hearts and minds, and winning it requires proactive engagement, collaborative action, and a commitment to harnessing the internet's power for good. Remember, the fight against online radicalization isn't just about silencing voices; it's about amplifying those that promote tolerance, understanding, and peace. Let's make the digital world a beacon of hope, not a breeding ground for hate. Terrorists' Methods For Radicalization On Social Media And The Internet Terrorist organizations are dynamic entities that have evolved over time. Traditionally, they were perceived to have a centralized, hierarchical structure with leaders at the top controlling the entire organization. This structure allowed for a well-defined chain of command but also increased the risk of disruption if key individuals or units were compromised. However, with the advent of social media and the internet, the landscape has changed. These technologies have accelerated information sharing, prompting many terrorist organizations to shift towards a network-style structure. This reorganization provides greater flexibility, responsiveness, resilience, and outreach. Modern terrorist networks often consist of widely distributed, smaller cells that communicate and coordinate in an interweaving fashion. 1. From Pyramids to Webs: This shift in structure was exemplified by the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris in 2015, where terrorists acted independently, with ties to different extremist groups. The information revolution has also allowed terrorist groups to move away from traditional war models, focusing more on conflict at societal levels. They leverage social media and the internet for brand management, propaganda, and influencing public opinion to attract new recruits. 2. Information Warfare: In essence, the evolving structure of terrorist organizations, facilitated by online platforms, has led to more autonomous and interconnected cells, emphasizing information operations to influence societies and individuals. 3. Global Reach: Additionally, the global reach of online platforms has facilitated the merging and dissemination of terrorist networks beyond national boundaries, cultures, and languages. This is evident in the formation of global coalitions among previously distinct terrorist organizations. A significant example is the pledging of allegiance (bayat) to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS. Social media, overcoming geographic and security constraints, served as an alternative platform for groups in Southeast Asia, such as Maute, Abu Sayyaf, Katibat Ansar al Sharia, and Mujahidin Indonesian Timor, to pledge allegiance via online videos. Acceptance of these pledges was also communicated through online videos. 4. Tailored Messages: These adaptations underscore how the internet and social media enable terrorist groups to communicate, collaborate, and function as global networks. Simultaneously, individual members and cells gain greater autonomy to coordinate, reach, and recruit target populations. Centralized messages can be independently tailored to resonate with localized narratives, addressing the push and pull factors specific to local populations. ISIS, for instance, has established media units in various regions, capable of producing sophisticated, locally contextualized propaganda materials in the language and culture of their target populations. Combating these dynamic networks requires a multifaceted approach. We must develop strategies that address the unique advantages offered by online platforms - their global reach, anonymity, and ease of communication. This includes promoting media literacy, countering extremist narratives with positive voices, and exploring responsible content moderation measures. Beyond Words: How Visual Storytelling Fuels Modern Terrorism Terrorist groups haven't just hijacked the internet for communication; they've mastered the art of visual storytelling to captivate and recruit. No longer confined to grainy propaganda films, they wield high-definition cameras, slick editing software, and even video games to craft narratives that resonate with a vulnerable audience. Imagine high-quality videos mimicking Hollywood productions, showcasing life within their territory as a thrilling adventure, contrasted with portrayals of the outside world as corrupt and unjust. This potent mix plays on existing vulnerabilities and yearnings, potentially influencing the "push and pull" factors that can lead to radicalization. Remember Al-Hayat Media's HD videos in native European languages? By depicting a seemingly fulfilling existence within their ranks, they targeted young Muslims and converts, exploiting cultural familiarity and religious aspirations. The impact is undeniable – such polished productions have reportedly played a part in real-life radicalization cases. Terrorists understand the power of popular culture. Take "Salil alSawarem," the ISIS-affiliated video game modelled after popular first-person shooters. Released strategically on YouTube and other platforms, it aimed to reach young gamers, blurring the line between entertainment and extremist ideology. This attempt to infiltrate familiar spaces and exploit pre-existing interests highlights the evolving tactics of these groups. The effectiveness of these methods lies in their accessibility and emotional appeal. Sophisticated visuals and interactive elements like games bypass intellectual defences, directly impacting emotions and fostering a sense of connection to the presented narrative. The modern veneer makes the violence and ideology appear relatable and even exciting, potentially influencing how young viewers perceive these realities. Beyond games and videos, sleek online magazines like Dabiq, Inspire, and Gaidi Mtaani serve as digital mouthpieces for terrorist organizations. They offer insights into their ideology, operations, and even practical advice for potential recruits. This ongoing narrative builds a sense of community and purpose, further solidifying their presence in the online landscape. Combating this visual onslaught requires a multifaceted approach. Promoting media literacy, fostering counter-narratives that offer positive alternatives, and developing responsible content moderation strategies are crucial steps. Remember, we need to speak the language of this generation, offering compelling alternatives to the allure of extremist propaganda. Terror in the Digital Age: Navigating the Minefield of Online Recruitment Social media has become a double-edged sword in the realm of communication. While it empowers individuals to connect and share information, it also offers a fertile ground for terrorist organizations to spread their ideologies and recruit vulnerable individuals. Take the case of Anwar al-Awlaki, the "bin Laden of the Internet." Recognizing the limitations of traditional propaganda, he pioneered online platforms like Facebook and YouTube, creating slick videos and magazines to reach English-speaking audiences. This paved the way for a new era of terror networking, where IT expertise and online marketing became key weapons in the recruitment arsenal. Figures like Siti Khadijah, with her carefully curated Facebook page depicting an idyllic life in ISIS territory, showcase the insidious nature of online radicalization. Her narrative of financial security, community, and religious fulfilment resonated with individuals like Shabran Yaa Nafsi, tragically drawn into the web of violence. However, the path to recruitment is rarely a linear one. Online platforms serve as initial hooks, grabbing attention and fostering a sense of connection. Once initial interest is established, recruiters shift to more secure channels like Telegram, WhatsApp, or specific forums where encrypted communication prevails. These platforms offer a space for deeper indoctrination, where like-minded individuals reinforce extremist ideologies and plan real-world actions. Encryption technology adds another layer of complexity. Platforms like Skype offer secure video calls, while services like bitmessage.ch enable anonymous email exchanges. Terrorists, aware of these tools, exploit them to communicate and coordinate activities with minimal risk of interception. The challenge ahead lies in anticipating these evolving tactics. Governments and online platforms must stay ahead of the curve, constantly assessing potential vulnerabilities and emerging technologies that could be exploited for nefarious purposes. Proactive prevention strategies, informed by an understanding of future threats, are crucial to breaking the cycle of online radicalization and recruitment. References Al-Rawi, Ahmed, ‘Video Games, Terrorism, and ISIS’s Jihad 3.0,’ Terrorism and Political Violence, 30(4), 2018, pp. 740-760 Archetti, Cristina, ‘Terrorism, Communication and New Media: Explaining Radicalization in the Digital Age,’ Perspectives on Terrorism, 9(6), 2015. Available at: http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/401 European Parliament, ‘Tackling the dissemination of terrorist content online’ (Provisional Edition), European Parliament, 2019. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0421_EN.pdf?redirect. EUROPOL, ‘EU Internet Referral Unit - EU IRU,’ EUROPOL, 2019. Available at: https://www.europol.europa.eu/about-europol/eu-internet-referal-unit-eu-iru?page=0 Kernan, Erik R., ‘The Islamic State as a Unique Social Movement: Exploiting Social Media in an Era of Religious Revival,’ Honors Thesis, University of Vermont, 2017. Available at: https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1227&context=hcoltheses. Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), ‘Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen’s Shahada News Agency Launches Bot to Connect with Users on Telegram,’ MEMRI, 2017. Available at: https://www.memri.org/jttm/al-shabab-al-mujahideens-shahada-newsagency-launches-%E2%80%8Ebot-connect-users-telegram-%E2%80%8E. Stalinsky, Steven and R. Sosnow, ‘Germany-Based Encrypted Messaging App Telegram Emerges as Jihadis’ Preferred Communications Platform,’ Part V of MEMRI Series: Encryption Technology Embraced By ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Other Jihadis, September 2015- September 2016. The Middle East Media Research Institute, Inquiry and Analysis Series Report No. 1291, 2016. Tech Against Terrorism, ‘Project Background (Online),’ Tech Against Terrorism, 2017. Available at: https://www.techagainstterrorism.org/project-background/. Twitter Help Centre, ‘Terrorism and Violent Extremism Policy,’ Twitter Help Centre, 2019. https://transparency.twitter.com/content/dam/transparency-twitter/download/2019-juldec/Twitter_Transparency-Rules_Enforcement_Jul-Dec-2019.pdf ----- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. URL: https://newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/terrorist-communication-revolution-sword-digital-age/d/131500 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Vivekananda: Beyond Hinduism

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 12 January 2024 "We've had enough of all religions, their shrines and gods. We've also had enough of so-called spirituality and mysticism. All we need is a heart full of love and compassion." Vivekananda January 12 is Vivekananda's Birth Anniversary ----- Long ago, a scholar, who was an authority on Vivekananda, shared the aforementioned thought with me. He sent it in Bengali which I've translated into English. Those people, who're projecting Swami Vivekananda as the face of Hinduism, should know that even Vivekananda got disillusioned with the conventional religions and gods. It must be mentioned that Vivekananda was an atheist in the beginning but turned a believer when he came in contact with Ramakrishna Paramhans. But that atheistic rationality (all atheists are rational people) stayed with him till the end. Hindus generally don't quote the aforementioned statement of Vivekananda. Rather, they project him as the poster boy of neo-Hinduism who descanted upon the resurgence of Hinduism in his 1893 speech in Chicago World Religion Convention (also known as The World's Parliament of Religions). Jiddu Krishnamurthy said in one of his discourses at Belur near Calcutta in 1952 that after the age of 30, Vivekananda began to feel the futility of all faiths, including Hinduism, and considered all religions, shrines and gods as impediments to inner divinity but he didn't share his new awakening with many. He started feeling that only untainted love and compassion for all and sundry would help an individual realize his/her goal in life. Vivekananda was a dynamic man who believed that love, compassion, ethics and empathy were integral to humans without the help of religion and religiosity. Alas, he died young at the age of 39. I'm sure, had he lived longer, he'd have publicly derided and discarded all faiths, including his Hinduism, much to the consternation of today's Sanatanis and Anburajs. All mystics (well, Vivekananda started disliking the term mystic, though his mentor Ramakrishna was one) also urged mankind to go beyond religions and sects. They exhorted humans to go and spread love in all directions. Just like Hindus, Muslims on this portal may also take umbrage if I quote Reynold A Nicholson's definitive observation on Rumi, "Towards the fag-end of his life, Rumi began to feel suffocated and embarrassed in showcasing his Islamic identity. He secretly dropped all identities....." The same happened to Vivekananda. In fact, almost the same awakening dawned on Kumaril Bhatt, one of the greatest and most aggressive exponents of ancient Hinduism along with Vachaspati Mishra. Vivekananda would have been appalled to see what's going on at the moment. There's no love, only hatred; religious hatred to be precise. Had he been alive, would he have aligned himself with today's degenerated Hinduism? By the way, he was born on January 12. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/vivekananda-hinduism/d/131503 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Religion Is A Monumental Chapter In The History Of Human (And Individual) Egotism

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 11 January 2024 “Religion Is A Monumental Chapter In The History Of Human Egotism.” ― William James So very true! Let me add the word 'individual' to the quote of the great philosopher and one of the first modern psychologists William James whose birth anniversary falls on January 11 to rewrite it: ' Religion is a monumental chapter in the history of human and 'individual' egotism.' Aren't you all witnessing one particular individual's sickening egotism in the brouhaha of Ram Mandir? It seems as if this man is redefining Hinduism and turning a putative deity's consecration into a national carnival. Whether Muhammad, Mahavir, Moses or Modi, the saga of religion/s has been the manifestation of human and personal / individual egotism in the history of human civilization. Egotism is, 'the fact of being excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself.' There's a subtle difference between 'Egoism' and 'Egotism'. While both are negative traits, 'Egotism' has more negativity to it because it's full of I, Me and Myself. If you read Gita, the megalomaniac Krishna calls himself the Essence of Existence (Jeevan Sattva) and the Alpha and Omega of divine consciousness. William James further wrote that in all religions, the so-called prophets and proponents superimpose human egotism upon their respective divine fabrications and call their own faiths or sects as the only true way to divinity. In fact, all the religions are the most egotistical as well as egoistical manifestations of collective human ego but ironically, all religions try to project themselves as models of modesty and egalitarianism. It's an egotistic delusion of a Protestant Christian that he calls himself greater than a Catholic Christian or a Sunni Muslim will look down upon a Shia, though both belong to Islam. Egotism is too much insistence on one's own prejudices and false perceptions. And what's a faith if not a huge compendium of prejudices and false perceptions? Egotism dwarfs the presence and existence of others and builds its own ivory tower of pathological exclusivity. All religions, sects and sub sects have been doing this right from their inception. It's egotistic Islam that never approved of other faiths wholeheartedly. Judaism and its followers also did the same and called Christianity and Islam as false faiths and mere tributaries (which is, however, theologically a correct statement). The egotistic neo-Hindus or today's Sanatanis are calling their version of faith as the most authentic. Please read Sanjay Dixit's ridiculous and most puerile book 'Why All Religions Are Not The Same.' You'll understand how an egotistic Hindu thinks in these religiously polarised times. Humans are not bothered about their fellow humans. They're only bothered about their religious egotism. Yet, we call ourselves as evolved beings and that's yet another example of humans' perennial egotistical behaviour. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/religion-monumental-history-human-egotism/d/131494 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Amidst Violence And Boycott Call Hasina Makes A Predictable Victory

By Nava Thakuria, New Age Islam 9 January 2024 When Bangladesh embraced 12th general elections on Sunday (a working day for the Muslim majority nation) amidst violence and boycott call from the prime opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), it was predicted that the ruling Awami League (AL) led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will win for the fourth consecutive term to lead the poverty stricken south Asian country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ------ The incumbent AL won 222 Parliamentary seats, where the voters’ turnout was low. A compromised opposition Jatiya Party won 11 seats and three smaller parties emerged successful in one seat each. Significantly independent candidates succeeded in 62 constituencies, a record since its birth as a nation in 1971, to enter the Jatiya Sansad, the highest legislative body of the populous country which is strategically located between India and Myanmar. The polling took place from 8 am till 4 pm, where nearly 120 million registered electorates were supposed to exercise their franchise under high security arrangements as the 170 million nation often report widespread poll-related violence, but less than 42% voters’ turnout was recorded. To encourage the electorate, PM Hasina, accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana and daughter Saima Wazed, cast her vote as the first individual in Dhaka City College polling station. Over 750,000 police and paramilitary forces were deployed on the ground, where Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel were on duty to ensure security during the single day polls in 261,912 polling booths under 42,024 voting centres across the country. More than 200 foreign observers representing over 30 countries and organisations like the Commonwealth, European Union, US-based International Republican Institute, South Asia Democratic Forum, National Democratic Institute, etc were in the country to monitor the election. Three senior members of the Election Commission of India also joined the group. Over 20,000 Bangla observers representing 84 organizations were also engaged in the process. Sporadic incidents of violence and rigging of polls were reported, as BNP leaders called for a 48-hour Hartal (general strike) beginning from 6 am on Saturday till 6 am on Monday. Alleging that polls under Hasina's government would not be fair and fair, the BNP and its political allies stick to their demand to conduct the election under a neutral caretaker government in Dhaka, which Hasina denied. Jamaat-e-Islami, a radical party of Bangladesh, also took out processions in the capital city on Sunday supporting the BNP’s boycott call. BNP’s president Khaleda Zia (78 years old) is ailing and with more to it the former Bangla Prime Minister is under house arrest for graft charges. Even the party’s acting president Tarique Rahman has been living in self-imposed exile since 2008. Son of former Bangla President Ziaur Rahman and Zia, even faced 18 months jail term before leaving to London and staying there till date. So the party has been termed as a leaderless entity on the ground and they are assumed not to be in a position to contest the elections. Hasina (76) had earlier won the national elections continuously from 2008 to 2019 to establish herself as the longest-serving government head among women in the world. Daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina maintained that only her party can lead Bangladesh towards peace, prosperity and growth. In the election manifesto, Hasina promised to convert the digital Bangladesh to a Smart Bangladesh. She also assured that her party will always protect and promote the spirit of democracy, offer quality education to youths, modernise agriculture, make healthcare services affordable to all, etc. The Paris-based global media rights body Reporters Sans/Without Borders (RSF) in a statement issued on Tuesday condemned unacceptable violence against the journalists during Bangladesh polls, when at least 12 reporters were attacked and expelled or denied entry to voting stations, in most cases by supporters of the Hasina’s party. “Bangladesh’s general elections were marred by unacceptable violence against journalists. Ruling party supporters attacked reporters covering cases of electoral fraud. We call on the relevant authorities to launch an independent investigation so that those responsible are brought to justice. Furthermore, in a context of stifled media freedom, muzzled by governmental suppression of all criticism, we urge the newly re-elected authorities to finally adopt strong measures to safeguard unrestricted Internet access and protect the freedom of the press enshrined in Bangladesh's constitution and freedom of expression, which is being obstructed by the draconian new Cyber Security Act. The government’s toxic control over news and information must end,” said an RSF statement. On a polling day marked by tension – with the main opposition party (BNP) boycotting the polls- many journalists were physically attacked or were subjected to harassment and intimidation, and were either expelled from or were denied entry to voting stations. Most of the harassment and violence was the work of ruling Awami League supporters targeting reporters trying to cover irregularities and cases of fraud. In another serious violation of the right to report, access to the website of Daily Manab Zamin, a leading media critic, was blocked on 6 January. The newspaper stressed that it had no internal technical issues when it reported the ongoing access problem in an alternate media message on the previous day to voting. “The Bangladeshi authorities also refused to issue visas to journalists from the headquarters of many leading international media outlets, including BBC News, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Agence France-Presse, Reuters and Al Jazeera. Most of the foreign reporters who managed to obtain visas were those based in New Delhi. Some foreign reporters were also asked to sign a statement accepting that their photos and video footage would have to be approved by the Bangladeshi authorities before being sent, and could not harm the national image,” added the statement. Even though the United States of America expressed dissatisfaction over the polls as not being ‘free or fair, India remains sympathetic to Hasina as she maintains a comfortable relationship with New Delhi. Her strong actions against the north-eastern militants (taking shelter in Bangladesh) as well as various initiatives to enhance bilateral economic ties with India had already been appreciated by the billion plus nation. It’s logically expected that the regime in Dhaka will safeguard the interest of religious minorities (Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, etc.) in the land of Bengalis in any situation, as Hasina is traditionally considered as a pro-Indian in nature compared to her rival Begum Zia. ------ Nava Thakuria is a northeast India-based professional journalist who is an engineering graduate. URL: https://newageislam.com/current-affairs/violence-boycott-hasina-victory/d/131482 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Online Radicalism and the Threat of Lone Wolves

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 9 January 2024 The Emergence Of ISIS And The Manipulation Of Online Tools To Spread The Terrorist Ideology Brought To The Fore The Danger Of Lone Wolfism. This Article Studies The Pattern And The Strategies Of Lone Wolfism. ----- Main Points: 1. The recent surge in lone wolf attacks, particularly those inspired by IS, has underscored the increasing danger posed by individuals who adopt radical ideologies and engage in violent actions without detection or intervention. 2. The complexity and diversity among lone wolf terrorists make it difficult to create a singular framework or profile that can be applied universally. 3. The planning conducted by lone wolf terrorists often remains unnoticed until it's too late. 4. Factors such as exposure to extremist materials, influence from spiritual leaders, feelings of alienation, marginalization, political oppression, discrimination, perceptions of Western government misconduct, and the desire to take action all contribute significantly to the radicalization of individuals. ----- Lone wolf terrorism has emerged as a significant trend in modern terrorism, presenting an undetectable and unpredictable threat to Western societies. The appeal and influence of this approach gained traction notably in September 2014 when Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, the official spokesperson for the Islamic State (IS), called upon sympathizers and Muslims in Western nations to commit acts of violence against non-believers, particularly Americans, Europeans, Australians, and Canadians. This tactic isn't entirely new. However, the recent surge in lone wolf attacks, particularly those inspired by IS, has underscored the increasing danger posed by individuals who adopt radical ideologies and engage in violent actions without detection or intervention. Notable incidents involving individuals like Man Haron Monis in Australia, Zale Thompson in the U.S., Martin Zehaf-Bibeau and Martin Couture-Rouleau in Canada, Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein in Denmark, and Mehdi Nemmouche in Belgium have emphasized this growing threat. Consequently, there has been a rise in research focusing on lone wolf terrorism. While there has been an increase in studies shedding light on the ideologies, motivations, behaviours, and pathways leading individuals to embrace lone wolf tactics, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of this phenomenon. Despite efforts, establishing a definitive and typical profile of a lone wolf remains challenging due to the highly individualized nature of each case. The complexity and diversity among lone wolf terrorists make it difficult to create a singular framework or profile that can be applied universally. Who is a Lone Wolf Distinguishing lone wolf terrorists from other terrorist categories like group-based terrorists, home-grown extremists, or Pantucci’s (2011) four types of lone wolves is crucial for pinpointing intelligence and policing gaps that allow these individuals to evade detection. Definitional challenges in accurately discerning differences among terrorist types pose a hurdle in identifying lone wolf terrorism as a distinct phenomenon and understanding the timing and nature of lone wolf attacks. Pantucci’s categorization defines lone wolf terrorism as “individuals pursuing Islamist terrorist goals alone, motivated either by personal reasons or their belief in being part of an ideological group.” This definition shares similarities with others but lacks precision regarding membership or association with terrorist groups. It presumes that the lone wolf is Islamic and suggests the potential for psychological issues driving their belief in belonging to a terrorist organization. For a definition to be effective, it should be precise, without imposing unnecessary limitations or assumptions. Spaaij (2010) offers a more refined definition aimed at isolating lone wolf terrorism. According to Spaaij, a lone wolf terrorist may hold identification or sympathy toward extremist movements or terrorist organizations but ceases to be classified as a lone wolf upon joining an established organization. Spaaij, known for conducting one of the most comprehensive studies on lone wolf terrorism in 2012, provides a practical definition that sets this form of terrorism apart from others. In his definition, lone wolf terrorists are individuals who: (a) operate alone, (b) lack affiliation with an organized terrorist group or network, and (c) conceive and direct their modus operandi independently, without direct external command or hierarchy. This distinction, alongside the broader terrorism definition, clarifies the disparities between group-based terrorists and outlines the actions that qualify as terrorism, specifically identifying when an act is considered lone wolf terrorism. Strategies The strategies employed in lone wolf attacks and those orchestrated by organized extremist groups often share similarities yet yield distinct outcomes. While it proves more challenging for extremist groups to execute successful attacks in Western territories compared to lone wolf terrorists, these groups tend to be more effective in advancing their agenda through terrorist strategies. Kydd and Walter, in their essay "Strategies of Terrorism," assert that "terrorists must delegitimize the regime and impose costs on occupying forces," aligning with the goals pursued by both lone terrorists and extremist groups. Terrorists typically utilize five primary strategies to delegitimize the state or propagate their message. Of these, two are particularly prominent in Western attacks: Attrition And Provocation In an attrition strategy, terrorists aim to convince their adversary that they possess sufficient strength to impose substantial costs if the enemy continues a specific policy. For Islamist extremist terrorism, this might involve targeting 'unbelievers' and 'apostates' in the West, pressuring the government to withdraw from Middle Eastern operations, or imposing penalties on voters, thereby escalating costs for the government and its populace. On the other hand, provocation involves instigating the enemy to respond to terrorism with indiscriminate violence, which, in turn, radicalizes the population and garners support for the terrorists. The underlying theory is that government crackdowns on perceived dangerous or similar populations to the terrorist attacker could lead to radicalization within the target population, thereby increasing support or sympathy for the extremist cause. Radicalization Suicide bombing Community manipulation ISIS, al Qaeda, and Global Threat of Lone Wolves Terrorist organizations like ISIS and al Qaeda have evolved their tactics to include inspiring lone attacks. They've shifted away from centralized approaches due to struggles for power. Daniel Byman pointed out that when these groups are weak, they tend to encourage lone wolf actions. For instance, in a 2010 issue of Inspire magazine, al Qaeda focused on disseminating 'do-it-yourself' terrorism methods, providing basic instructions on target selection and attack methods. This approach emphasizes the strength of lone wolf attacks compared to the cumbersome, bureaucratic processes of organized extremist groups. Techniques like vehicle ramming require minimal planning and few weapons, making them accessible to individuals without extensive guidance. These types of attacks demand less organization, planning, and funding compared to larger extremist operations, making them easier to carry out and potentially more efficient in causing violence. Propaganda magazines such as Inspire for al Qaeda and Dabiq and Rumiyah for ISIS target potential lone terrorists. These individuals are often vulnerable to the messaging of these groups, especially when focusing on narratives like belonging. While mainstream audiences may witness gruesome videos of brutal acts by these organizations, they also craft narratives portraying a supposed community, fostering a sense of belonging. Easterly and Geltzer suggest that belonging is a powerful draw for recruits, particularly those from Western states. This aspect of ISIS's propaganda tends to resonate with individuals who feel disconnected or alienated from their own communities. The appeal lies in becoming part of something larger than themselves by taking up arms or carrying out violent acts, offering a sense of purpose and community, contrary to feeling alone or isolated. Induction Of Lone Wolves Through Online Tools The present surge in the influence of IS (Islamic State) has raised apprehensions regarding the future generation of terrorists, necessitating further research into all facets of lone wolf terrorism. Lone wolves, as previously defined, operate independently, detached from organized terrorist networks, and are propelled toward violence without external assistance. Spaaij's study in 2012 examined 88 lone terrorists responsible for 198 attacks, delving into five prominent cases. This research provides crucial insights into the ideologies, motivations, and radicalization processes of these individuals. Despite the absence of a universally agreed-upon profile for lone wolf terrorists due to their individuality and rarity, researchers have identified some common characteristics. These include a higher likelihood of facing mental and social challenges, a history of criminal behaviour, a tendency to blend personal frustrations with extremist ideologies and externalize blame onto others, experiences of depression, grievances, personal crises (e.g., job loss, financial issues, stress), familiarity with weapons, and a tendency not to act impulsively. While the ideologies of terrorists and lone wolf terrorists may align, the pathways to radicalization often differ. Typical terrorists commonly undergo radicalization by travelling abroad for training, associating with known terrorist or extremist groups, and procuring weapons or creating explosives before an attack, actions that usually draw attention from law enforcement and intelligence agencies. In contrast, the planning conducted by lone wolf terrorists often remains unnoticed until it's too late. Presently, lone wolves primarily seek training online, researching methods to cause harm in the name of their ideology and connecting with like-minded radicals to develop their beliefs and motivations without direct physical contact. The process of lone wolf radicalization is complex and lacks a single defining factor. Typically, it begins when individuals experience frustration with their lives, societal structures, or both foreign and domestic government policies. Precht outlines a common radicalization trajectory where individuals connect with like-minded people and collectively undergo a series of events and phases, potentially culminating in terrorism. Various factors contribute to this process, including social and religious identification, interactions and integration within social circles, experiences in prison, influences from family and friends, socioeconomic status, government policies, personal experiences, criminal backgrounds, globalization, racism, psychological well-being, the internet, and broader global political, cultural, and economic developments. To gain a comprehensive understanding of radicalization, it's crucial to examine each factor and behaviour individually, discerning their roles in the radicalization process Presently, the Internet is considered a significant factor in the radicalization of lone wolves, although opinions on its level of influence vary among researchers. This perception often hinges on specific case studies. Online platforms allow potential lone wolves to connect with like-minded individuals, shaping their beliefs, expressing grievances, and fostering a sense of belonging to a cause. Anders Behring Breivik, for instance, revealed his use of the Internet to gather tactical knowledge from Al-Qaeda and participate in extremist forums, aiding his solo terrorist attack in Oslo. The Internet offers access to endless extremist propaganda and violent ideologies, often evading detection. Factors such as exposure to extremist materials, influence from spiritual leaders, feelings of alienation, marginalization, political oppression, discrimination, perceptions of Western government misconduct, and the desire to take action all contribute significantly to the radicalization of individuals. However, despite extensive research on terrorist radicalization and home-grown terrorism, a comprehensive understanding of lone wolf radicalization remains limited. Prior studies have struggled to differentiate between true lone wolves and individual terrorists with ties to terrorist organizations or networks. While a single-case study may not yield broadly applicable conclusions, it aims to offer valuable insights into the radicalization process of a lone wolf. Conclusion Omar Mateen orchestrated the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil post-9/11 precisely because he acted alone. He operated without connections to suspicious groups that would trigger counterterrorism surveillance, radicalizing in isolation through online exposure. Purchasing weapons legally, he evaded suspicion. His attack drew inspiration but lacked direction from Islamist extremist groups. Its impact, however, didn't resonate on a governmental scale, failing to instigate change or impose significant costs on the state. Lone wolf actors necessitate fewer resources and less organization compared to structured extremist groups, rendering their identification and apprehension more challenging. Their elusive nature makes attacks in high-security Western countries more probable. Radicalization via online propaganda and conspiracy theories, originating from extremist groups, blurs the line for law enforcement between curious bystanders and those actively planning violence. While lone wolf attacks often result in higher casualties, they lack the capacity demonstrated by organized extremist groups, such as the impactful 9/11 attack by al Qaeda, which coerced governments to yield to terrorist demands. Numerous lone wolf incidents in the West have failed to prompt significant shifts in state or international policies, hence posing a less substantial threat to state survival. References Burke, Jason. “The Myth of the ‘Lone Wolf’ Terrorist.” The Guardian, 30 March 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/mar/30/myth-lone-wolf-terrorist Pantucci, R. (2011). A Typology of Lone Wolves: Preliminary Analysis of Lone Islamist Terrorists. Developments in Radicalisation and Political Violence, 1-39. Precht, T. (2007). Homegrown terrorism and Islamist radicalisation in Europe. Copenhagen: Danish Ministry of Justice. Spaaij, R. (2012). Understanding Lone Wolf Terrorism: Global Patterns, Motivations and Prevention. London/New York: Springer. Spaaij, R. (2010). The Enigma of Lone Wolf Terrorism: An Assessment. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 854—870. Veilleux-Lepage, Yannick. “How and Why Vehicle Ramming Became the Attack of Choice for Terrorists.” The Conversation, 29 March 2017. https://theconversation.com/how-andwhy-vehicle-ramming-became-the-attack-of-choice-for-terrorists-75236 ----- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. URL: https://newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/online-radicalism-threat-lone-wolves/d/131479 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

State-Sponsored Propaganda Literature

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 9 January 2024 I call George Orwell sort of a clairvoyant because he predicted long ago that in the 21st-century, State-sponsored propaganda literature would be a common phenomenon. The French existentialist Albert Camus also prophesied that in the next century (21st-century), states would systematically promote religions and every State would pit its favoured religion against all other faiths. The prophecies of these great minds are getting crystallized into realities. Poster boys of Hindutva like Amish Tripathi, his elder sister, Sanjay Dixit of Jaipur Dialogues, among others are being sponsored and promoted by the State to glorify Sanatan Dharm. Amish and his la-di-da sister eulogised idol worship of Hinduism a month ago and now this rabid Hindu zealot Sanjay Dixit's book 'All Religions Are Not The Same' has hit the stands. Agreed, all religions are not the same and every religion is NEGATIVELY as well as AGGRESSIVELY unique, pitting Hindu Dharm against all other faiths and looking down upon them is not desirable either. The hardcore Hindu readers are of the view that Sanjay Dixit presents Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma in its own right, not according to a monotheistic terminology using inappropriate Abrahamic concepts. He shows how Sanatana Dharma forms a complete system of universal knowledge, not requiring the approval of contrary religions for it to be socially, scientifically or spiritually valid. There's no denying the fact that India is hurtling towards being called a Hindu Rashtra. Soon it'll be officially called a Hindu Rashtra. If you watch Sanjay Dixit's You tube channel 'Jaipur Dialogues', you'll be pissed off with this man's condescending attitude towards all other faiths, particularly his pontification of Islam. But he's extremely popular among Anburaj-type fanatic Hindus. Way back in 1978, a famous Pakistani-Parsi columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee of The Dawn wrote that, "When a religion is bandied about on all platforms with the tacit or open consent of the State, all other developments become subservient or unimportant to the glorification of religion." Exactly the same is happening at the moment. Developments in all other fields have come to a standstill. Basic rights of the citizens are at stake. But religion is the foremost objective of the government. Ardeshir Cowasjee further wrote in the same write-up that Pakistan was digging its own grave by giving extra importance to religion (read, Islam). See where Pakistan stands today. The same dismal fate will sooner or later strike India if it chooses to turn a deaf ear to the sane voices of reason and moderate religiosity. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/state-sponsored-propaganda-literature/d/131478 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

A Great Tragedy of Nakba (Catastrophe) After the Declaration of the State of Israel in Palestine 1948

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 8 January 2024 The Brutal Expulsion Of Palestinians, Which Destroyed Their Identity, Political Rights, Society, And Culture, Is Known As The Nakba, A Tragic Event In The 1948 Israeli-Palestinian War. Palestinians Hold Keys In Their Hands As They Remember This Tragedy On May 15. Palestinians Were Reportedly In Great Suffering As They Evacuated Their Homes, Possibly Locking Them In The Hopes That The Killing And Violence Would Eventually Stop And They Might Return, But That Never Happened. ------ A significant historical tragedy in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has been the Nakba. The term "Nakba” (Catastrophe) \ refers to the violent uprooting and expulsion of the Palestinian people coupled with the eradication of their identity, political rights, society, and culture. 1948 saw the forced relocation of almost 750,000 Palestinians, according to historical accounts. A person with a basic understanding of humanity may easily picture the anguish someone would experience if their home were taken away. Every year on May 15, the Palestinian people mark Nakba Day in remembrance of the persecuted Palestinians during the conflict. This tremendous catastrophe is known as the Nakba (Catastrophe). That day, they hold keys in their hands. Their keys range in complexity from simple to heavy to rusted. Not only are these keys made of metal, but they also represent the persecution of the Palestinian people, who have endured years of injustice and bloodshed and are now appealing for justice worldwide. These keys provide a way for those who scream for human freedom to knock on the door of common sense and observe how the Palestinians are uprooted from their land and long for freedom from the harsh grasp of time; despite this, they have not been able to reclaim their land but instead must endure ongoing attacks by Israel on their territory. Palestinians carry keys and march through the streets on Nakba (Catastrophe) Day each year. These are the keys to their houses, from which they were driven away 75 years ago; they were never allowed to go back. They have been keeping these keys safe from generation to generation ever since. In most interviews conducted on Nakba (Catastrophe) Day, Palestinians tell media representatives that they have carried these keys with them in the hopes of returning to their houses eventually. They go on to claim that it makes no difference to them if their homes are demolished or remain protected. They claim the right to cling to this hope and go back to their homes. This is because they have this privilege due to international law. They are hoping that international law will live up to its promises and assist them. It is another matter entirely when international law will live up to its promise. The spark of this Nakba (Catastrophe) started when Israel declared its independence from the British Mandatory Palestine on May 14, 1948. On the second day following this declaration, the Arab-Israeli war began and lasted for around fifteen days. During this time, almost 7.5 million Palestinians were forced to flee their homes and endure unrelenting waves of persecution. Every year on May 15, the Palestinians commemorate this event of displacement—known as the Nakba—with a demonstration in which the keys to their homes serve as a prominent symbol. Israel took control of the Palestinian territories and annexed them. The local Palestinian population states that Zionist militia members and Israeli soldiers drove them from their homes and never permitted them to return. The Israeli authorities, on the other hand, use the statement, "It was the Arab countries who asked the Palestinians to leave their lands and residences so that they would not have to bear the consequences of the war when they attacked the new state," to silence the Palestinian voice. Nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees are recognised by the UN as having rights, many of whom are compelled to live under oppression in camps in East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon. According to historical records, when the Palestinian inhabitants were driven away from their homes, they did so out of a deep sense of regret because, as human beings, they had fled to protect themselves. They took whatever they could from their homes before leaving, including the house keys. They may have closed their doors for fear that they would return and resume their lives there once the violence and killing stopped, but that was never going to happen. ----- A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is an Aalim and Faazil (Classical Islamic scholar), with a Sufi-Sunni background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. He has also done B. A (Hons.) in Arabic, M.A. in Arabic and M.A. in English from JMI, New Delhi. He is interested in Islamic Sciences; Theology, Jurisprudence, Tafsir, Hadith and Islamic mysticism (Tasawwuf). Urdu Article: 1948: A Great Tragedy of Nakba After the Declaration of the State of Israel in Palestine 1948: فلسطین میں اسرائیلی ریاست کے اعلان کے بعد نکبہ کا عظیم سانحہ URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/nakba-catastrophe-israel-palestine-1948/d/131473 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Remembering Galileo And Stephen Hawking, Rationalists With A Scientific Temperament, In Times Of Unreasoning

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 8 January 2024 “I had no desire to share the fate of Galileo, with whom I feel a strong sense of identity, partly because of the coincidence of having been born exactly 300 years after his death!” ― Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time By the way, Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 and Galileo died on January 8, 1642! (Left Stephen Hawking, Right Galileo ---- Both the geniuses were rationalists with a scientific temperament. In fact, if a person is a rationalist, he's endowed with a scientific temperament. Hawking was a complete non-believer whereas Galileo was an agnostic who said, "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use " and, ''There are those who reason well, but they are greatly outnumbered by those who reason badly.” Yes, the world is full of those who reason badly and whose reasoning is perennially flawed. Just ponder the life of Stephen Hawking, who spent most of his life on a wheelchair. Yet, his spirit remained indomitable till he breathed his last. Never did he read the Bible or pray to an imaginary god for some relief and respite in his terribly handicapped existence. Nor did he curse himself for the supposed bad karmas (!) in the previous birth/s just the way, majority of indoctrinated easterners believe. Rather, he chose to contemplate on the enigmas and imponderables of the Universe but never dwelt upon the inanities of god and idiocy of hell, heaven and Afterlife. Stephen Hawking's whole life is a living example of a well-lived life sans god, faith and books. The same can be said about Galileo who whispered before death, "I don't know whether there's a god. But I know that I found fault with his book." This is unwavering faith in oneself that needs no bolstering from any damn god, scripture or faith. Today, when reasoning has completely gone from the lives of most of the humans across the globe, when people still believe that a bearded sadist, called god, is angrily looking at us even when we innocuously ogle at a lovely damsel or a well-hung beef-cake, the exemplary lives of these two mavericks Hawking and Galileo become even more awe-inspiring and relevant. But can minds, still stuck in the bygone eras of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Ten Commandments and the desert of Arabia, think like these fearless greats? Impossible. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/galileo-hawking-times-unreasoning/d/131472 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Islam, West, Violence and Islamophobia

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 6 January 2024 Islamophobes portray Islam as a threat by portraying radicalization of religious Muslims, disregarding peaceful Islamic teachings and human values, and diverting attention from West's crimes against the Islamic world. They receive a lot of help in this venture from Islamists and Takfiri Muslims who present Islam as an ideology of political domination rather than a spiritual path to salvation, one of the many that Allah Subhan Ahu Ta'ala has bequeathed to humanity through thousands of prophets appointed in different lands in all the times that humanity has been here on earth since Prophet Adam Alaih Is Salam. ---- In this article, we are focused on the nefarious activities of Islamophobes in denigrating Islam and portraying it as a religion of terror. Taking their cue from the traditional Islamist theology and its modern propagators in the ISIS and Al-Qaeda, Islamophobes have worked hard to create the impression that Islam and extremism go hand in hand. They employ every tactic to demonstrate that the radicalization of religious Muslims is a result of Islamic teachings. Their objective is merely to show their enmity against Islam and defame it across the world. They ignore the noble teachings of Islam and the values of Muslims, focusing only on narratives that show the early Muslims brandishing their swords in defence of themselves and against injustice. They do not, however, want the general people to be aware of Islam's admirable principles. They don't want to consider that Islam permitted the early Muslims to brandish swords because of religious persecution. Their only goal is to portray Islam as a threat to the broader public. What drives Islamophobes to repeatedly engage in such labour? An Urdu writer said, "This is a cleverly thought-out plan that attempts to divert attention from the crimes the West has perpetrated upon the Islamic world". Think back to Afghanistan and Iraq following 9/11. Islamophobes emerged, claiming that the troops of the US and Europe had invaded Muslim countries to establish peace and portraying “Muslims as barbarians from every aspect”. They just put effort into fanning the fire. But they repeatedly assert that Muslims are to blame for the breakdown of international harmony, as if 9/11 had happened in a vacuum. Even in Muslim societies today, things like beards, veils, Jihad, and madrasahs are derided and associated with extremism or terrorism because of the blame put on them by this potent propaganda. ----- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: ://newageislam.com/muslims-islamophobia/islam-west-violence-islamophobia/d/131461 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

The Islamic World and Modern Challenges

By Aman Singh, New Age Islam 5 January 2024 Islam Only Spread Because Of The Democratic Thought Of The Prophet Mohammad. It Got A Wider Horizon Because Its Message Was To Absolve Racism. When Prophet Mohammad Was Making A Hajj To Mecca, He Did It Without Shedding An Ounce Of Blood. Mohammad Resolved The Situation Through Practical As Well As Moral Means. ------ The Islamic World is facing several challenges nowadays. Its challenge has also not emanated from modern times. In other words, we cannot discount the significance of world history. According to a 1959 article by Najmoud Din Bammat, “Islam today has to go through several revolutions at once: a religious revolution like the Reformation; an intellectual and moral revolution like the eighteenth-century Enlightenment; an economic and social revolution like the European Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century; and, in the age of the two great Eastern and Western blocs or systems, several small nationalist revolutions of its own. At a time when pacts are being forged on a world scale, the Muslim countries are still waiting and searching for their Garibaldis”. Why has the Islamic world fallen behind in a number of areas? This is not the whole truth. Islam originated from a period 1000 years ago when the Industrial Revolution came into being. That doesn’t mean that no scientific inventions took place through Islam. It was under Islam that some of the most remarkable discoveries were made. In trigonometry, the Muslims discovered the sine and tangent. The Muslim geographers rectified imperfect measurements of latitude and longitude made by Ptolemy. The Muslims also deserve high marks for optics, for chemistry too i.e. the discovery of the distillation of alcohol, the manufacture of elixirs and Sulphur acid. Islam only spread because of the democratic thought of the prophet Mohammad. It got a wider horizon because its message was to absolve racism. When prophet Mohammad was making a hajj to Mecca, he did it without shedding an ounce of blood. Mohammad resolved the situation through practical as well as moral means. Fernand Braudel has also reiterated in a passage what S. D. Goitin has remarked: “Was it the fault of the 'Barbarians'? This is what a recent historian, S. D. Goitin has suggested. They had been the military saviours of Islam against the threats from Asia and the West. Had they also sapped it from within?” This passage reminds me of how a country like India has come into being. A country like India too has been built only because it had internal purges and thus later only it was able to build a military to protect itself. India had its heroes in the form of social reformers and communists. Mahatma Gandhi, Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule, Periyar were all social reformers. It has also seen militant struggles against feudal oppression led by communists and revolutionaries. All of which are being diluted under the current Hindutva government. The Soviet Union and China themselves became what they are today because they had internal purges. Both of them fought the bourgeoisie of their respective nations. The situation has become different today and the methods to be adopted have also become different. Wherever countries are fighting in themselves or among each other western countries supply weapons to the regressive side. Like the Taliban in Afghanistan and ISIS in Iraq. Before the West intervened Afghanistan had democracy and Iraq too had peace. The war on those countries for their natural resources like oil opium and other natural resources had a very debilitating consequence on its citizens. The internal purges required to establish a state are not only required for appetites but the appetites of the coming generations too. Internal purges are only possible if there is faith in humanity and humanism. Not just Allah, Ram or any other god. Reading the Quran or Sunnah is important. But the same has been written 1300 years back. Its moral guidelines for living are important but equally is its non-applicability in modern times. Prophet Mohammad himself used the term ‘ijtihad’ to explain circumstances where the Quran or Sunnah is not applicable and called on sound reason to resolve such circumstances. But Muslims who aren’t educated as well as those who are partly educated rely on just the Quran or Sunnah. The more things cannot be able to brought under the light of reason, the easier to be able to judge, so says the modern caliphate. Fernand Braudel has also given solutions to the problems faced by the Islamic world. He says, “In the struggle for development, every economy has certain advantages or trump cards. Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria have oil; Egypt has the fertile Nile Valley, the Suez Canal, and high Morocco has industrial development, very often intelligently devised; Indonesia has rubber, oil and tin mines; Pakistan has vast resources of wheat and jute. These assets are invaluable: but the task remains difficult and risky. The problems to be solved are intricate. At once economic and social, they are so closely interrelated that it seems impossible to tackle them one by one. Taken together, they demand a formidable plan of campaign. This involves, in fact: • Above all, better farming. This means doing violence to archaic property laws, attacking the multiple problems of irrigation, and stopping the erosion and devastation of arable land. In a word, agrarian policy and technology. • Establishing industrial firms (State-owned or private, in heavy industry or light), and if possible integrating them into the country's economy as a whole. They need to be based on the economy's global structure and contribute to its general growth. • Solving the problem of investments — a burning question because it involves foreign aid (which may be private international capital, brought in via Swiss banks, or Governmental assistance from the Soviet Union, the United States, France, or the European Community). • Creating a market. Here, there are two problems. First, a market presupposes a certain standard of living (which is what all these measures are intended to attain); and secondly, any effective market needs to be far bigger than on a merely national scale. Hence various plans, launched with more enthusiasm than success, for a Pan-Arab market, a Maghreb market or an African market. The dreams are sensible: what is hard is to make them come true. • Educating and training the workforce, all the more necessary in that automation, otherwise feasible in industries starting from scratch, would not solve the urgent, crucial problem of unemployment and surplus labour. • Training managers and others: engineers, teachers and administrators. Teaching and technical training are on the agenda, and they are long-term tasks. Only great eagerness to learn, on the part of the people, will make it possible to overcome immense difficulties here”. The woman's question too is as important as the above-mentioned points. I am not going to generalise the question of women here. Those countries who lag in the above-mentioned points surely won't be able to treat their citizens equally. here are few opportunities for employment and education for everyone in the war-torn countries of Afghanistan and Iraq, which are better referred to as the backward regions. This is especially true for women. The CIA-led Western coup took over Afghanistan. While still suffering from civil conflict, Syria is one example of a country where women can live in a democracy. Nonetheless, women in Iran are not only compelled to wear the burqa but also have limited access to work and educational possibilities. Those who can do so come from very wealthy families and go to countries in the West and Europe. In Iran, women who speak out against the veil system face imprisonment, flogging, and even death by beating. Mahsa Amini's situation is the most recent; numerous other Iranian women are incarcerated for speaking out against the veil system. After falling under Western control, Libya also allowed the slave trade to flourish once more. The only exceptions are still Uzbekistan and the Islamic countries under Soviet influence. In certain areas, the West attempted to sow discord and establish an Islamic state. And it wrecked devastation where it succeeded. similar to Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan. The less developed Arab countries share essentially similar political and socioeconomic frameworks. Similarly, there are certain areas where the Arab world may work together. The first would be a kind of democratic revolution, with the rights to free education, universal suffrage, and the right to express disagreement. A quest for the future goes hand in hand with revolutions, which do not adhere to fads or trends. I am not referring to colour revolutions spearheaded by the West, but rather revolutions that alter the population's spatiotemporal longevity. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/islamic-world-modern-challenges/d/131458 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

A New Pastime For The Religious Idlers

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 5 January 2024 “Lord Ram Belongs To The Bahujan. Lord Ram Belongs To Kshatriyas. People Want Us To Turn Us Vegetarian But Lord Ram Used To Hunt And Eat Meat. Lord Ram Was A Non-Vegetarian. How Do You Expect A Person Who Lived In The Forest For 14 Years To Search For Vegetarian Food..." Dr Awhad, A Former Minister Whether the putative Ram of Sanatanis was a vegetarian or non-vegetarian is an inconclusive debate. What's much more important and pitiable is that we're speculating and fighting over a mythical character's food habits and preferences! Alas, we've so much time for all non-issues. Scottish philosopher and historian David Hume wrote that the pagan believers would often indulge in useless debates over the drinking and eating habits and preferences of their pagan deities. English historian Edward Gibbon also said the same thing in his magnum opus, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that one of the minor factors of the decline of the Roman Empire was Speculative Religiosity of the Romans. Since then, this term has become popular in the domains of Religious Studies, Theology, History, Sociology and also modern Psychology. Just think of this petty issue from the sociological and dietary perspectives. Hindus, who've taken umbrage at calling Ram a non-vegetarian, will have to accept the fact that many Hindus among them are non-vegetarians but devout Ram-Bhakts. A majority of Hindus may be vegetarians but there's also a very big chunk of Hindus relishing meat. They too worship Ram. Rajputs are devout Ram bhakts but they eat meat. Ram belonged to the Kshatriya clan (Ikshvaaku Vansh) and Kshatriyas have been eating meat right from the beginning. Ram's godhood came much later. Even Valmiki Ramayana doesn't depict him as a god. It describes him as Maryada Purushottam (Mard-e-Kaamil in Islamic context, used for Muhammad) and also mentions his lapses, e.g, Shambuka Vadh when Ram himself put Shambuka to the sword. According to the story, Shambuka, a Shudra ascetic, was killed by Rama for attempting to perform tapas in violation of dharma, resulting in the bad karma which caused the death of a Brahmin's son. Coming back to Ram's food preferences, if Ram of Hindus never touched meat, why do many Hindus eat meat? If you follow Ram, follow him in toto. Stop consuming non-veg. We've created myths that our gods don't indulge in eating meat and having sex to create a false divine aura. Emulate your gods and stop mating and meating. Humans are perennially befuddled beings and religiously insane creatures, born with no brains in their skulls. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/pastime-religious-idlers/d/131456 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

ISIS And Manipulation of Cyberspace for Terrorism (Part Two)

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 4 January 2024 The Sudden Emergence of ISIS In Syria and Mass Appeal Among Muslims Across the World Showed the Danger of Online Terrorism. ISIS Proponents Were Able to Spread and Recruit People to Their Cause Using Cyberspace. The Migration of Educated Young To Fight The ‘Caliphate’ Highlighted The Importance Of Online Surveillance Of Cyberspace To Filter Terror Content. In India, 23 Youths Who Migrated to Yemen to Fight ISIS Were Also Radicalised Through Online Interactions. Main Points: 1. Jihadist organizations employ diverse channels to disseminate their narratives, with a particular focus on cyberspace 2. Social networking services have become the primary tool for terrorist groups, serving as a means for recruitment, target selection, and the dissemination of propaganda, including interconnected stories in support of their narrative, recruitment efforts, and fundraising 3. ISIS's media organization has invested considerable effort in producing diverse propaganda products with varying themes 4. it is imperative to emphasize that extremist movements or organizations pose not only potential risks to public order but also have a profound impact on individuals, significantly affecting the lives of their victims ------ ISIS used cyberspace effectively to spread their ideology through a process called ‘lone wolf theory’. Their manipulation of cyberspace brought into significance the importance of controlling cyberspace from becoming a haven for terrorist organisations. This article explains the exploitation of cyberspace by ISIS for their nefarious activities. Jihadist organizations employ diverse channels to disseminate their narratives, with a particular focus on cyberspace, which they perceive as a crucial tool for technological advancement and a battleground against the Western world. Notably, Islamist terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS extensively utilize online platforms such as jihadi forums, Social Networking Services (SNS) like Facebook and Instagram, private websites and blogs, and even Internet gaming. ISIS, for instance, maintains well-protected jihadi forums like Shumukh al-Islam and al-Minbar, featuring hidden forums discussing software to conceal tracks and encrypt messages. These platforms also share information gathered from U.S. and other national sources, including counterterrorism efforts, malware details, firearms and explosives manuals, and actions against online jihadis. Advanced weaponry discussions and guidance on avoiding surveillance are also present. Social Networking Services like Facebook and Twitter were initially popular, but due to increased efforts by these platforms to remove terrorist propaganda, there is a decreasing trend in their usage. Despite this, some jihadist groups, like the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan supporting al-Qaida, maintain Twitter accounts. Given the stricter supervision, many jihadists have shifted to encrypted platforms like Telegram, where they establish official channels for indoctrination through messages, videos, and audio clips. Furthermore, jihadist groups often operate personal webpages or blogs using open-source platforms like WordPress or FileFlyer. These serve as both security measures in case certain forums are compromised and backups for propaganda, ensuring continued dissemination across various mediums. Social Media Tools And ISIS Social networking services have become the primary tool for terrorist groups, serving as a means for recruitment, target selection, and the dissemination of propaganda, including interconnected stories in support of their narrative, recruitment efforts, and fundraising. This trend is particularly prominent in the case of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. A substantial portion of ISIS activities revolves around online propaganda, showcasing a highly organized and strategic approach to social media weaponization. Analysing their strategy, overarching narrative, strategic information objectives, target audiences, and utilization of social network media reveals a meticulously planned and professionally executed social media information campaign, akin to contemporary cross-media marketing or political public relations campaigns. Since June 2014, ISIS has conducted an exceptionally aggressive online recruitment and incitement campaign, utilizing social media to an unprecedented extent in the history of terrorist groups. The group has effectively converted popular social media technologies into tools for building and reinforcing support, even among individuals who have not physically been inside the so-called "caliphate." Strategically, ISIS employs social media to capture mass media and strategic audiences' attention, control and amplify its messaging in support of its narrative, recruit and radicalize followers, deter opponents, and raise funds. The group demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of presenting a unified vision (the Caliphate) and a common purpose. They effectively leverage user experience and visual mediums, such as infographics, to emotionally engage their followers and strategic audiences. Simultaneously, they disrupt opponents' narratives and online activities by exploiting messaging, positioning themselves among other jihadist factions in the Middle East. The strategy emphasizes "Force Multiplication" through social media to project a more potent image than reality. This involves creating a substantial online presence for visibility with strategic audiences, gaining mass media attention, and creating the illusion of a large following. "Disseminators" play a crucial role, spreading ISIS tweets and postings to their followers, creating social proof and potentially attracting more genuine followers. The use of carefully crafted hashtags and "astro-turfing" techniques adds credibility to their narrative, borrowing from political campaigning strategies. ISIS also employs "test-balloons" to track and gather feedback on potential ideas, terms, and graphics, resembling both target audience analysis and product pre-testing in support of their campaign. From a strategic narrative perspective, the creation of a Caliphate, marking a return to the original version of Islam with the introduction of Sharia law, is central to ISIS. The group presents Muslims as besieged globally due to perceived laxity, advocating for the restoration of a caliphate as a religious duty. Despite a centralized narrative, ISIS utilizes diverse voices and apparent contradictions in messaging, incorporating deterring images alongside seemingly humanitarian actions like delivering food and displaying affection for kittens. Analysing the narrative and associated messaging reveals that ISIS's social media campaign aims to set the international media agenda, control the narrative, counter opposing propaganda, position themselves in contrast to other jihadist factions, connect supporters in online networks, recruit new members, intimidate, and deter opponents, demonstrate capacity and command and control, and raise funds. The strategic audiences for ISIS include sympathizers and supporters, potential recruits, potential donors, international media, local audiences in conflict zones, and the wider international community, including Muslim scholars. Upon analysing the narrative and associated messaging, it becomes evident that ISIS's social media campaign pursues several strategic objectives: 1. Setting the international media agenda: Gaining attention and visibility for their messages. 2. Controlling the narrative: Shaping the perception of their cause. 3. Countering propaganda: Responding to Western, Shia Muslim, and regime narratives against ISIS. 4. Positioning themselves: Presenting as more powerful than they may be in reality. 5. Connecting supporters: Building and maintaining online support networks. 6. Recruiting new members: Especially targeting disenfranchised youth in the West. 7. Intimidating and deterring opponents: Including Iraqi/Syrian soldiers, civilians, and rival jihadist factions. 8. Demonstrating capacity and command and control: Projecting a sense of organizational strength. 9. Raising funds: Utilizing social media for financial support. Equally Important, ISIS Identifies At Least Six Strategic Audiences: 1. Sympathizers and supporters: To gain and maintain backing. 2. Potential recruits: Particularly disenfranchised youth in the West for mobilization and recruitment to jihadist theatres. 3. Potential donors: Seeking financial support for their activities. 4. International media: Aiming to gain attention and shape media coverage. 5. Local audiences in conflict zones and ISIS zones: Including Iraqi soldiers, civilians, and other rival jihadist factions. 6. Wider international community: Including Muslim scholars for broader influence and recognition. ISIS’s Media Organs ISIS's media organization has invested considerable effort in producing diverse propaganda products with varying themes. The Diwan (high governmental body) of Central Media has played a pivotal role by providing support and guidance to local media bureaus. To centralize the propaganda production and dissemination process, ISIS's Diwan of Central Media has implemented written guidance, an evaluation system for both bureaus and products and a real-time quality-control process, ensuring close interaction between the central body and local media bureaus. ISIS has established a comprehensive set of rules and processes governing propaganda production. This structured approach has fostered unity of purpose among the group's local media bureaus, enabling them to not only create individual products but also contribute to a cohesive narrative portraying ISIS as a large and well-functioning caliphate. ISIS and its supporters utilize various online platforms to disseminate their ideology, including: 1. Jihadi forums such as Shumukh al-Islam and al-Minbar in Arabic, as well as pro-ISIS forums in other languages like Ansar al-Jihad fi Italia. 2. Social Networking Services (SNS) like Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. 3. Telegram, an encrypted messaging software. 4. Sharing sites like archive.org. 5. The dark web. Prominent Media Related to ISIS Include: • Al-Furqan: Established in 2006, it initially belonged to AQ in Iraq but shifted allegiance to ISIS in 2013, becoming the official media outlet for ISIS' leadership. • Al-Hayat Media Center: Established in mid-2014, it targets non-Arabic speakers, adheres to mainstream media standards, and produces material in various languages such as German, English, and French. Notably, it published digital magazines like Dabiq, Konstantiniyye, and Dar al-Islam, which seem to be discontinued. • Ajnad: Specializing in Nasheeds and audio content, Ajnad Media publishes religious hymns in Arabic and Western languages, mobilizing ISIS members for jihad. • Al-Bayan: A radio network providing coverage in Arabic, English, French, and other languages, reporting on ISIS activities in different arenas. • Al-Naba Weekly: ISIS' official weekly in Arabic, still active, covering the group's activities and providing religious justifications for its operations. • Amaq News Agency: Appearing in 2014, Amaq issues claims of responsibility for ISIS operations worldwide. While its official role was endorsed by ISIS in July 2017, its place in the group's media hierarchy remains somewhat opaque. • Al-Nour: An unofficial media outlet of ISIS, producing audiovisual and written propaganda material for French speakers. • Furat: Another unofficial media outlet of ISIS, producing audiovisual and written propaganda material in Russian and English languages. Silber & Bhat, authors of the 2007 NYPD jihadist report, describe the Internet, with its numerous extremist websites and chat rooms, as a virtual incubator. Many extremists initiate their radicalization while researching or browsing the cyber world. Assaf Moghadam, in "Nexus of Global Jihad," emphasizes the Internet's role in contemporary terrorist cooperation, particularly through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. These platforms enhance individual actors' ability to support terrorism, contributing to radicalization. Facebook dominates social media in the Middle East, with 164 million active monthly users. Arab youth rely on Facebook and Twitter for news, with 49% getting daily news from Facebook. YouTube remains a media powerhouse, witnessing a 160% increase in channels in the Middle East over the past three years. The Internet has amplified the importance of informal networks, facilitating cooperation among terrorist actors. Recruiters use social media to outsource recruitment, reaching broader audiences. Social media influencers, like Ahmad Musa Jibril and Musa Cerantonio, provide spiritual support and bridge language gaps, connecting official accounts with non-Arabic speakers in Western countries. Various Internet platforms, including forums, social media, private websites, blogs, and online gaming, facilitate terrorist cooperation. Conventional forums, like jihadi forums and chat rooms, persist alongside unconventional platforms. Facebook and Twitter serve jihadists for sharing operational information, attracting recruits, propaganda dissemination, and intelligence gathering on potential targets and attack schedules. The internet has played a crucial role in enhancing informal networks and increasing the number of terrorist actors involved in cooperation. It enables rapid and cost-effective connections between terrorist actors across various locations. Recruiters use social media to outsource recruitment, reaching a broader audience and streamlining the formation of geographically dispersed cells. Jytte Klausen highlights how social media facilitates recruitment outsourcing to hubs of militants outside war zones, expanding organizational reach. Moghadam's study emphasizes the online influence of jihadi spiritual authorities, such as Ahmad Musa Jibril and Musa Cerantonio, who use platforms like Twitter to provide spiritual support, disseminating jihadi material to followers. These "disseminators" serve as a bridge between official accounts in Arabic and non-Arabic speakers in Western countries. Regarding internet platforms for terrorist cooperation, conventional forums like jihadi forums and chat rooms, alongside unconventional platforms such as social media, private websites, blogs, and internet gaming, play a significant role. Despite a shift towards unconventional forums, conventional ones remain important, with five to fifteen jihadi forums active at any given time, according to Thomas Hegghammer. Chat rooms are widely used for radicalization and cooperation between terrorist actors, as seen in reports of Finnish foreign fighters joining Al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria after engaging in chat room conversations. Facebook is a prominently used platform by jihadists, serving four main purposes: sharing operational manuals and tactics, attracting potential recruits, acting as a propaganda outlet, and gathering intelligence on potential targets and attack schedules. Twitter is another favoured social networking site for jihadists due to its simple user interface and immediate public sharing function, utilized by various jihadist groups, including Al-Qaeda affiliates, the Islamic State, and Boko Haram, to disseminate propaganda and communicate with like-minded individuals and groups. What It Realized Through Presence in Cyberspace Terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS consider media, especially social media networks, crucial for various purposes like psychological warfare, indoctrination, recruitment, and funding. Despite significant territorial losses, ISIS has utilized platforms like Telegram and Google+ to disseminate propaganda and promote lone-wolf attacks in the West, framing them as revenge for perceived attacks on Muslim civilians and assistance to the Islamic Caliphate. In a message dated August 2018, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi acknowledged the group's territorial setbacks, urging unity among its members. He endorsed lone-wolf attacks in the West, advocating for simple methods like shootings, stabbings, or bombings, including driving into crowds. Similarly, ISIS has weaponized social media, emphasizing themes like maintaining unity among jihadists, portraying apostate Muslim leaders as betrayers of Islam, labelling the United States as the primary enemy of Islam, claiming U.S. weakening, and asserting that the United States is stealing Muslim oil. • importance of keeping unity among jihadists; • claim that “apostate Muslim leaders are betraying Islam”; • United States as the primary enemy of Islam; • claim that “the United States is weakening”; • claim that “the United States is stealing Muslim oil”. Impact On the Targeted Audience Analysing historical, political, and cultural aspects of right-wing extremism reveals commonalities in terms of target audience, conduits, and messages. Treating the impact of their similar narratives collectively underscores a fundamental dynamic. The current socio-political context, marked by immigration, stagnation, cultural, social, and economic crises, along with the fear of terrorism, forms a backdrop that unites European countries in various patterns and degrees. The extreme right has strategically capitalized on this sensitive historical period, not merely relying on nostalgia but effectively exploiting the social shock of globalization and its ensuing instability. The approach involves addressing the need for security and responding to both old and new social fears with strong and radical (clearly defined) identities. It's noteworthy that the extreme right leverages current media, discourse, and network opportunities, utilizing offline activities, new technologies (web and social media), transnationalism, and modernized ideology, rhetoric, and methods as strategic tools. This serves their purposes of self-presentation, campaigning, recruitment, communal identity building, audience engagement, and mobilization. To maximize their social reach and appeal, the extreme right targets both male and female individuals, regardless of educational background. They attract a broad demographic, including young (high-school/university-age) to middle-aged individuals from both advantaged and disadvantaged social segments. This encompasses socially and politically active individuals, drawing from both old right-wing extremist circles and the new conservative spectrum. Unveiling a common logic or leitmotif, the extremist message offers a simplified and universal solution to the ongoing transition, upholding the easier and more attractive path of rejection against the harder and unknown transformation. Recognizing this, the real challenge lies in making the latter even more seductive. • Self-presentation; • Campaigning; • Recruitment; • Communal Identity building; • Engagement of the audience; • Mobilisation. Conclusion In conclusion, it is imperative to emphasize that extremist movements or organizations pose not only potential risks to public order but also have a profound impact on individuals, significantly affecting the lives of their victims. A thorough understanding of this impact and its consequences can inform the development of future policies. Alongside victimization and the implications for the democratic legal system, careful consideration should be given to the association of illegality with extremist actions, as these two aspects have often been closely intertwined. Part One of the Article: Islamic Terrorism In Cyberspace: Changing Frontiers Of Global Muslim Terrorism ----- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-terrorism-jihad/isis-cyberspace-terrorism-part-two/d/131451 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Learn To Bite Your Tongue: If You Continue to Hate, When'll You Love?

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 4 January 2024 “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” ― Ernest Hemingway Once the great mystic Fariduddin Attar was concocting and mixing different fragrances to make attar (perfume). His family was into making perfumes. So, he was called Attar. He always chose a secluded place while experimenting with different types of fragrances. Someone asked him why he always chose a secluded place while concocting a perfume. Attar said, "So that, I could smell and listen without any noise." The man was surprised. He asked Attar, "I can understand the smell part as you need seclusion while smelling a perfume but the listening part is unintelligible to me. What does listening have to do with making perfumes? "The enlightened Attar said, "all these concoctions and liquids are boiled and boiling water creates different levels of sounds that can be discerned by those who're too attentive and perceptive." In other words, you listen to discern. "Kahin Chatki Kali Koi, Main Yeh Samjha Ke Tu Aayee" (Even the softest sound of blossoming of a bud gives me an idea that you've arrived). We're all in the habit of butting in and we seldom allow others to complete their sentences. There's a Hadees (Muhammad's teachings): If you talk all the time, when will you listen? It's like, if you continue to hate, when'll you love? So, listen at least as much as you talk because listening is also a sign of respect. Biblical proverbs are full of listening and its positive ramifications: A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion (Proverbs 18: 2) or If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame (Proverbs 18:13). Neurologists have coined the term, Neural Rest. When you listen, you give rest to your neurons and feel better but when you talk, especially, when you talk incessantly, your neurons are stressed out and agitated. Listening provides tranquillity and serenity to your whole being whereas talking tires you. Many issues in life can be sorted out if we practise listening earnestly and carefully. Tiffs of lovers and spouses can be resolved if they listen. Rumi said in Greek, Tene Kenza Virni Vic Mest Eloqua (Listening is more difficult than speaking). Yes, there are four exiguous poems of Rumi in Greek, albeit in rudimentary Greek as he spent the last phase of his life in Turkey and was also entombed in Konya (Turkey). Turkey touches Greece. He picked up a smattering of Greek in his last nine years in Turkey. In The Notebook of a Jurist, the legendary judge, Muhammad Karim Chhagla wrote that to be a good judge, listening is the fundamental trait to develop. Let the other person complete what he or she wants to say. Then you open your mouth. To listen is to understand the perspectives of others. Listening is the key to acquiring wisdom. To quote the British playwright Tom Stoppard, "Men make a botch of things as they tend to ejaculate quite often" (pun intended, in archaic English, the word 'ejaculate' meant 'to say something suddenly and thoughtlessly'). You all know the prevalent and more common connotation of the word 'ejaculation.' ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/tongue-hate-love/d/131450 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Let Our Humaneness Remain Unalloyed

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 3 January 2024 “People are never so completely and enthusiastically evil as when they act out of religious conviction.” ― Umberto Eco, The Prague Cemetery " Humans are basically good. They're bad when a fabricated god and a concocted faith eclipse their innate goodness." Albert Camus, Guilt and Innocence These two famous quotes have assumed far greater significance in these times when inherently good humans have turned surprisingly evil, thanks to god, religion and 'holy' books. By the way, January 4 is the death anniversary of the French existentialist Albert Camus and January 5 is the birth anniversary of Italian philosopher and exponent of Semiotics, Umberto Eco. Just ponder; those who crucified Mansur-al-Hallaj and Jesus were not evil. They had no personal enmity against Jesus, Mansur or Sarmad Kashani. Yet, those 'good' people tortured and killed innocent souls like these three and many more because people were convinced that their religious tenets were infallible. All those Hindus, who demolished Babri Mosque, were not necessarily bad people. But they turned evil and vandalised an old and abandoned shrine as they believed that it was the place of their Ram. So, Muslims had no business in Hindus' scheme of things. All the perpetrators and participants in the Holocaust and the Partition were normal humans like you and I but they turned demons because of their religious convictions. The widespread belief that Muslims are bad people has stemmed from extremely turbid religious convictions of Hindus. Muslims also think in the same manner and intensity. Our perceptions of 'other' people are always coloured by our religious beliefs and convictions. Galileo said, "Despite knowing and being fully convinced that I'm right and these Biblical fanatics are wrong, I'm having to say that I'm wrong because I'm aware of the evil influence of scriptures that can turn sane people into insane beasts." So very true. Religion, scripture and your fabricated god turn perfectly sane humans into insane zealots. The problem with humans is that most of us still erroneously believe that religion allows us to act in a rampaging and marauding manner and a god in the sky approves of this evil behaviour. In other words, like alcohol, religion is often an excuse for humans' collective sins and savagery. Here, my objective is not to spread atheism on this site which is principally an Islamic portal that encourages free and liberal thinking sans any partiality and prejudice. My point is: Don't let your religion, books and gods influence your basic goodness in such a drastic manner that you cease to remain humans and become embodiments of barbarism. Let our humaneness remain unalloyed by our religiosity. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/humaneness-muslims-hindus-religiosity/d/131447 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Baadah-e-Shiraz/Mul-e-Isfahan: Religion Becomes a Catalyst for Social Mobilization

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 2 January 2024 Those knowing Persian are aware of this archaic Persian adage, Baadah-e-Shiraz/ Mul-e-Isfahan. Farsi words Baadah and Mul mean wine. We often use the word Baadakash for Maykash (alcoholic) in Urdu. People of medieval Iran would often get into unnecessary debates regarding the quality of wine of Shiraz and Isfahan. Those from Shiraz, would claim that their wine was the best and people hailing from Isfahan would assert that theirs was the best wine. It remained inconclusive as to which wine was the best. Medieval Persian historian Aneeq Qanai wrote that the wine lovers of Shiraz were particularly adamant and arrogant in asserting the supremacy of their respective wine. Going by this analogy, today's Hindus, intoxicated by the wine of fanaticism, are asserting that their way is the highway. They're the Baadakash-e-Shiraz (alcoholics of Shiraz). The famous atheist and ex-Muslim Anwar Shaikh coined a phrase 'Maykash-e-Mazhab' (Alcoholics of religion) for the fanatics. Now these religious alcoholics, in a soon-to-become Hindu Rashtra, are issuing edicts that all Indians irrespective of their faiths, must chant Jai Sri Ram. Religion often becomes a catalyst for social mobilization. It also lends legitimacy to our (wrong) actions and decisions. This has happened in all ages and in all countries wherever religion got an upper hand. Anthropologist Breymer opined in his essay, 'Periodic Assertiveness in Religiosity' that in the history of all man-made faiths, there have been phases and periods of religious assertiveness. All faiths have experienced this and asserted their supremacy in that period. Islam enjoyed the longest period of religious fanaticism. It's still more or less a fanatic faith. Medieval Christianity was killing and burning all heretics. Judaism, till the 6th-century, was a faith of zealots. Adi Shankar's Hinduism was hell-bent upon the annihilation of Buddhists and Jains. The same zealotry has returned in the form of neo-Hinduism. The history of human civilization has been a sanguinary saga of religious madness and bloodshed. That we still call ourselves 'civilised' is the biggest joke. So profound is the impact of neo-Hinduism that a superstar from South, who always called himself an avowed atheist, is now chanting Ram, Ram. Humans will never be able to get rid of their chromosomic religiosity which is in their DNA. Sigmund Freud aptly said, "Until a brand-new human species with absolutely no preconceived ideas of concocted gods and outdated religions emerges and replaces the existing substandard humans, a handful of sane and godless individuals will continue to suffer." There cannot be a more correct and incisive observation than that of Sigmund Freud. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/shiraz-isfahan-religion-social-mobilization/d/131436 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Unveiling the Problems with Classical Theism: A Call for Critical Examination and Reform

By Adis Duderija, New Age Islam 1 January 2024 Throughout history, classical theism(I use the word here in the sense of approaches to God as espoused by Aristotle, Augustine and Ghazali to new some famous examples) has shaped religious traditions, defining the ideal believer through concepts of obedience, liturgical piety, and devotion. However, an urgent need exists to reassess these traditional paradigms and redefine religious authenticity in ways that prioritize multiperspectivity, creativity, and appreciation for original and contextualized thought. This short piece outlines the problematic aspects of classical theism, shedding light on its reinforcement of patriarchal structures, the presence of eschatological thinking, the notion of eternal damnation, and the enforcement of rigid beliefs. I. The Patriarchal Foundations of Classical Theism: Feminist theology has played a pivotal role in exposing the inherent problems within classical theism over the past five decades. By perpetuating a patriarchal understanding of God, this theological framework reinforces hierarchical ontologies that permeate all facets of society. The resulting male privilege manifests in the structure and governance of civilizations, perpetuating gender inequalities and hindering progress toward gender equity. II. Eschatological Thinking and Its Implications: Classical theism, particularly in Christian and Islamic variations, often embraces eschatological thinking, rooted in their respective scriptures. This emphasis on apocalyptic visions has led to the emergence of puritanical sects that ardently pursue the fulfilment of these prophecies. Throughout history, such extremist groups, including recent examples like ISIS, have fervently sought to bring about the apocalypse or have based their ideologies on these eschatological narratives. This apocalyptic mindset can disrupt social and political stability, potentially leading to violence and conflicts. III. The Damaging Effects of the Notion of Eternal Damnation: One of the most troubling aspects of classical theism lies in its promotion of the idea of eternal hell and damnation. Orthodox institutions have wielded this concept to exert control and manipulate their followers. By instilling fear and enforcing strict adherence to dogma, the notion of eternal damnation stifles intellectual inquiry and suppresses alternative interpretations. This absolutist control not only hampers individual growth but also undermines the potential for religious pluralism and dialogue. IV. Repression and Violence in the Face of Apostasy: Classical theism has a long history of enforcing "correct" belief and doctrine, often through violent means. Dissenters, particularly free thinkers and women who challenge orthodoxy, have been targeted and persecuted. The fear of apostasy threatens the social order envisioned by religious institutions, leading to egregious acts of violence and oppression. This suppression of divergent beliefs restricts intellectual diversity and inhibits societal progress. Conclusion: In conclusion, the problems inherent in classical theism necessitate a critical examination and a call for reform. By redefining religious authenticity through a lens of multi-perspectivity, creativity, and contextualized thought, we can forge a more inclusive and tolerant religious landscape. It is crucial to address the patriarchal foundations of classical theism, the potentially destabilizing effects of eschatological thinking, the damaging notion of eternal damnation, and the violence associated with the enforcement of rigid beliefs. By undertaking these reforms, we can foster a more compassionate, ethically beautiful ,intellectually vibrant, and socially harmonious society. ---- A decades old patron of New Age Islam, Dr Adis Duderija is a Senior Lecturer in the Study of Islam and Society, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science; Senior Fellow Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, Griffith University | Nathan | Queensland | Australia. His forthcoming books are ( co-edited)- Shame, Modesty, and Honor in Islam and Interfaith Engagement Beyond the Divide (Springer) URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/unveiling-classical-theism-reform/d/131432 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Virulent Tirade Against Same-Sex Marriage: Let All People Live Respectfully

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 1 January 2024 Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye recently launched a virulent tirade against same-sex marriage, denouncing it as an "abominable practice" and advocating for the stoning of gay couples, citing religious reasons. The President, known for his conservative Christian views, previously called for homosexuals to be "banished" and treated as outcasts. Christianity and the western world will leave no stone unturned to condemn Islam for its extreme attitude towards gays and when Islam suggests Sangsaar or stoning to death (Lapidation) for homosexuality, the 'educated' Christians and Jews will call it (Islam) primitive. In fact, Jewish scriptures and religious texts are full of references to stoning to death for adultery and homosexuality. Christianity, that came after Judaism, also advocated the same treatment for gays. Then came the youngest Semitic faith, Islam, which also incorporated the same rubbish. Homosexuality is a common biological phenomenon across all societies, communities, races and faiths. It's an alternative sexuality in a human evolutionary process. There have been gays and lesbians in Islam, Christianity and Judaism right from the beginning. Why should it be condemned? If these people are 'nature's freaks,' so be it. Why so much hue and cry over someone's sexual preferences? Dutch sociologist Ton Abalanche, who studied the phenomenon of Stoning to Death in religions and ancient cultures, defined it as 'humans' indifferent participation in a gruesome spectacle.' He cited an everyday example to make it clear. When a thief is caught and he's being beaten, other people also participate in that free-for-all show. They too slap or kick that helpless thief. This is a manifestation of our Participation Syndrome. We love to participate in such gruesome spectacles. In Saudi Arabia, where public beheadings are still in vogue, thousands of people, including women, throng to see these bloody spectacles. This is our rudimentary cultural behaviour that got religion's approval. Granted, the 'civilised' world has condemned what the moronic Christian President suggested, but there's no denying the fact that we all have a fascination for such gory things. How people live and behave in a bedroom should never be a religion's concern. What they do in the privacy of four walls shouldn't be a religion's headache. Let all people live respectfully whether they're straight or queer. But do religions let people live the way they want to? ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/virulent-tirade-igbtq-marriage/d/131427 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism