Islamic Fundamentalism Beliefs and Practices Social Movements and

Islamic Fundamentalism Beliefs and Practices; Social Movements and Groups

Islam is not equal to Islamic Fundamentalism DO NOT CONFUSE THE TWO!

Beliefs of Islamic Fundamentalism

Islamism or Islamic Fundamentalism • As globalization spread, many Muslims became skeptical about western economic development and political and cultural norms • Blamed the West for their own economic and political problems and the breakdown of traditional social and religious values • Saw the abandonment of Islamic traditions as the cause of their problems and many blamed the US The Saudi Arabian Mutaween, or religious police, enforce the Islamic dress code

Islamist Reaction • Many saw the solution as a revival of Islamic identity, values, and power • Most sought to bring about change through peaceful means • An extremist minority has claimed a mandate from God that calls for violent transformations Supporters of Hizbut Tahrir, a hardline Muslim group, protesting in front of the US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia

Islamic Fundamentalism Beliefs • Islamic society should be united and returned to a “more pure” time • The true Islamic state should be led by a Caliphs – as in the early Islamic Empire • The Koran and Islamic law (sharia) should be the legal basis for state and society. • Islam must be a fixed element in all areas of life. • Some fundamentalists reject all reform and modernizing as “Un-Islamic”. • Islam, as generally lived nowadays, is seen as a compromise with the unbelieving world.

Why Do They Hate The West? Especially USA

• Westernization Why do they Hate USA? • Imperialism • US overthrew Iranian elected prime minister in 1952 and replaced him w/ a king • Cultural Imperialism • economic imperialism • OIL • Iraqi sanctions/embargo (1990 -2002) • over 1 million dead • half of them under 5 yrs • Support of Israel • $3 billion a year • uses $ to fight Palestinians • Support Saudi Arabia • continued military bases • Good vs. Evil

Why Do People Turn To Islamic Fundamentalism? What is the appeal?

Appeal of Islamic Fundamentalism: Why? • Muslim fundamentalists, filled with idealistic zeal, are committed to the establishing of a state which is influenced only by Islam. • They are prepared for great sacrifice – even their own lives – to work for this goal. • Their life is to assist in the building of an Islamic state. • Their aversion to all things western and non-Islamic is expressed by clothing and strict adherence to an Islamic moral code. • The strength is to give individual people an identity, hope, and new sense of self respect. • Some of the social-welfare projects which fundamentalist groups have set up are exemplary, such as orphans’ and widows’ pensions, the building of hospitals and schools etc.

Goals and Methods

Islamic Fundamentalism Achieve Goals By Doing The Following: • Combine religion and government = create more “Islamic states” • Use “Shari’a Law” for whole society • Limit the effects of modernization • Force non-fundamentalist Muslims and others to obey, even using violence • Women’s rights are virtually non-existent • Unfair justice system • Punishments are cruel • Target the United States as the “Great Satan”

Why use terrorism? • Guerilla Warfare • Desire to wound a more powerful foe. • You may be more powerful, but you can still bleed • The higher the target’s profile, the better. • American Embassies in Africa (Aug. 1988) • World Trade Center (1993 & 2001) • Military targets • Beirut, Lebanon (1983) • 241 Marines killed • Pentagon • US naval ships (USS COLE in Oct. 2000) • About sending a message!!

Jihad • Convinced that the Muslim world is under siege, extremists used the concept of the jihad to rationalize and legitimize terrorism and revolution • Jihad is sometimes called the Sixth Pillar of Islam and is an exertion or struggle in achieving the ways of Allah • It invokes the right and duty to defend Islam and the Islamic community from unjust attack Members of the Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the Al-Quds Brigade, in Gaza

TERRORIST OR FREEDOM FIGHTER? ?

History of Islamic Fundamentalism and Islamism/Islamists

Growth of Islamism Islamists • Movement to reorder government, society according to Islamic laws • Islamists believe Muslim countries have strayed from true Islam, followed Western models of political, economic development Conflicts, Violence • Egypt, Iran, Iraq have seen growth of Islamism; has led to conflicts within society, government • Some extremists have used violence to bring about changes, have attacked regional governments, their allies, innocent civilians

Example: Muslim Brotherhood

Sayyid Qutb Especially influential theorist, Sayyid Qutb (1906 -1966), an Egyptian journalist, highranking member of Ministry of Education Critic of corrupt King Faruq Exiled to U. S. , earned M. A. in Education from Colorado State College of Education (1949) Appalled by consumerism, secularism, relaxed sexual mores, high divorce rate, racial inequality, alcohol, and support for Israel On return to Egypt, joined radical Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, became leading theorist

Sayyid Qutb Nationalist Colonel Gamel Abdul Nasser overthrew King Faruq, courted Qutb and Muslim Brotherhood Qutb proposed Nasser remake Egypt as Islamic theocracy Secularist, Arab-nationalist Nasser refused Qutb and Muslim Brotherhood turned against him Qutb arrested, imprisoned, tortured; executed for opposition to Nasser (1966) Became martyr, hero of radical Islam Inspiration for ideas, actions of Al Qaeda, Taliban, radical Islamists

Growth of Muslim Brotherhood • Egypt’s defeat in Arab. Israeli war of l 967 provided an opportunity for the Muslim Brotherhood to expand • Since 1970 s, fundamentalist groups attracted growing popular support Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt 23

Other Examples of Islamic Fundamentalism

Roots of Islamic Radical Extremism Muhammad Al-Wahhabi “Pure” Islam Al-Qaeda ? ? ? Muslim Brotherhood Egypt Hezbollah Lebanon Sayyid Qutb Anti-West/Anti-America HAMAS Gaza Taliban Afghanistan

Anti-Israel Islamic Fundamentalist Groups • Goal: the destruction of the state of Israel • Reside in West Bank & Gaza • Build schools, clinics, roads, etc • Political parties • Hezbollah: Party of God • Southern Lebanon • Shiite Muslims • HAMAS: Islamic Resistance Movement • Leading political party in Gaza Strip • Sunni

Example: Hezbollah

Hezbollah – The Party of God • Goals: • Elimination of Israel, liberation of Jerusalem, and Islamic rule in Lebanon • Guidance and assistance to other extremist groups • Independent State of Palestine

Hezbollah – The Party of God • Attacks: • Many attacks in Israel (80’s -90’s) • US Embassy (1984) • Marine Barracks, Lebanon, 1984 • Kidnapping of Americans in Lebanon -1980’s • TWA hijacking – 1985 • Israeli Embassy attack – 1992

Hezbollah – The Party of God • Financing: • Iran • False charities and humanitarian groups • Wealthy individuals • Diplomatic, political, and logistical support from Syria • Businesses

Example: Hamas

Hamas Background n n Arabic acronym for “The Islamic Resistance Movement” Grew out of the Muslim Brotherhood Created in 1987 by Shaikh Ahmed Yassin Headquarters in Gaza City, Palestine

Hamas • Attacks: • Goals: • Many bombings, suicide • Destruction of Israel bombings, rocket and • Destruction of Judaism artillery attacks, kidnappings, • Political violence beatings, and other acts of • Creation of an Islamic State violence against Israeli civilians during 80’s and 90’s- in Palestine hundreds of casualties • Provides relief, education, to Palestinians • Provides political participation

The Slogan of Hamas “God is it’s target, the Prophet is it’s model, the Qur’an it’s constitution: Jihad is it’s path and death for the sake of God is the loftiest of it’s wishes. ”

Hamas • Financing: • Various Middle East countries • Illegal drug sales • Palestinian expatriates and private donors in Saudi Arabia and other oilrich Persian Gulf states. • Muslim Charities around the world • Iran also provides significant support

Example: Al Qaeda

What is al-Qaeda? • Al Qaeda is a stateless (meaning without a country) terrorist organization. • led and financed by Osama bin Laden, a radical Shi’a Muslim.

Osama bin Laden • Osama bin Laden began his militancy in response to the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan • He helped found the Maktab al. Khadamāt (MAK) which recruited and funded mujahideen to fight the Soviets • Ironically, the US also supported the mujahideen based on the Cold War philosophy that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”

al-Qaeda Part of the post. Desert Storm US military presence at Prince Sultan Air Base, 80 km south of Riyadh • In 1988, bin Laden split from the MAK and formed a new group comprised of some of the most militant mujahideen that would become the al-Qaeda terrorist group • The US involvement in Desert Storm and continued presence in Saudi Arabia, home of the Muslim holy sites of Mecca and Medina, bin Laden became infuriated by the Western influence

al-Qaeda calls for the use of violence and force bringing about the end of non-Islamic governments, and in particular, a wish to drive the U. S. armed forces out of Saudi Arabia and Somalia. 40

Bin Laden • Osama bin Laden overtly criticizes the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia banishes him; his family disowns him (officially). • Bin Laden leaves Saudi Arabia to further build al Qaeda. al-Qaeda is responsible for the proliferating of terrorists throughout the world, and providing them with equipment and financing. • al-Qaeda has become a “movement” (philosophy).

History of attacks on US Interests connected to al Qaeda prior to September 11, 2001

USA in Somalia • Dec. 4, 1992, George H. W. Bush sends 28, 000 American troops to Somalia. • Bush wanted to help the Somali people since all attempts to send food to them were intercepted by war lords.

Black Hawk Down! • In 1993, 18 Americans died when their Black Hawk helicopter was shot down over Mogadishu, Somalia. • The US believes al Qaeda operatives taught the Somalis how to shoot down helicopters just like they did in Afghanistan against the Soviets.

World Trade Center bombing • 9 -11 was not the first terrorist attack on the WTC. • In 1993, a man rented a Ryder truck and detonated a large bomb in one of the towers hoping to knock it over onto the other tower.

1993 WTC bombing It killed 6 people and injured over 1000.

Ramzi Yousef • He was a planner of the WTC bombing. • He was a member/leader of al Qaeda. • Yousef stated, "Yes, I am a terrorist, and proud of it as long as it is against the U. S. government. " • Speaks 7 languages and has college degrees in engineering and chemistry. • Currently serving a life sentence.

1996 Car Bombing of Khobar Towers • The Khobar Towers provided housing for American military stationed in Saudi Arabia. 19 Americans were killed and hundreds injured.

US Embassy Bombings • Two American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed simultaneously in 1998. 220 people were killed.

Fatwa – Legal interpretation of Islamic Law • In August of 1998, Osama bin Laden and 4 of his close associates sign and distribute a statement declaring “it is the individual duty for every Muslim who can do it” to kill Americans.

Clinton Responds • President Clinton decided to attack al Qaeda in response. • US attacks al Qaeda training camps in Sudan and Afghanistan with Tomahawk missiles. Camps were destroyed. Osama lives.

USS Cole attack Oct. 2000 • In Yemen, Al Qaeda operatives sent a suicide bomber aboard a small ship near the USS Cole and detonated its bomb, blowing a large hole in the US Navy ship. • 17 sailors killed.

al-Qaeda’s International Presence at the Time of the Sept 11 Attack

Example: ISIS, ISIL, The Islamic State

ISIL: Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant ISIL has taken control of parts of Iraq & Syria ISIL is so extreme, even al Qaeda rejects them

ISIL: Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant • ISIL began as an al Qaeda affiliate in Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion • American forces spent years and enormous resources to bring the group largely to heel before US troops pulled out of the country in December of 2011 • Since then, the region has been in political turmoil and sectarian hatreds • The Islamic State has seized on those Sunni-Shiite tensions to help inspire its Sunni extremist followers • The group is led by an ambitious Iraqi militant known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

Flaws

Flaws in the Islamic fundamentalist argument • There was no “purer” time • The past they wish to “return to” is not the way they think it was • It violates rights of modern Muslims & non-Muslims (especially women) • It leads to extremist acts (like terrorism) that violate the principles of peace inherent in Islam • Fundamentalist leaders rely on modern technology (the internet, cars, planes, bombs, etc) – the same things they say they are fighting against

Political Cartoons on Islamic Fundamentalism