understanding radical islamic fundamentalists the “new” global threat or history repeating...

Understanding Radical Islamic Fundamentalists

The “New” Global Threat or History repeating itself?

Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.Department of Psychology

University at Buffalo

www.PsychologyofTerrorism.com

Copyright 2005 Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.

Islam and the Arab World

The People The Religion The Arab Conquest The Dilemma of Modern Islam


Early Arabs

Prior to the 7th Century, Arab groups existed mainly as small tribal units, largely desert dwellers• few large cities and no central government• hardly a blip on the radar of civilization

Mohammed and his followers unified the Arab tribes under the banner of Islam


Mohammed’s Gift to Arabian Civilization

Provided law and order• distinguished good from evil• charity and compassion for the weak

Provided a sense of ethic unity Provided the hope for a future

• limited on earth but Paradise awaits Provided a purpose in life Provided a religion


Law and Order

The old ‘laws’ were made by powerful men• a ruthless society where “he with the most

power makes the rules”• constant fighting and power struggles to

determine who rules as the most powerful

Islamic law is God’s law• transcends the will of man• uniform code of law applies to all


Ethnic Unity

Arabs identified with individual tribes and clans• other tribes were seen as outsiders competing

for control of limited resources• allegiance was to the tribal unit

Islam taught equality• fostered Arabic brotherhood• emphasized common purpose and beliefs• allegiance shifted from tribe to serving Islam


Hope for the Future

Life is difficult, a constant struggle, but life• can be improved on earth by

following the Will of God (Islam)• is rewarded by an afterlife in Paradise

for the true believer and righteous practitioner of Islam


Purpose in Life

To do God’s Will and follow the teachings of the prophets


A Religion

The Archangel Gabriel spoke to Mohammed, relaying the words of God

Mohammed memorized these holy words and taught them to his followers

Shortly after Mohammed’s death his followers wrote these sacred words down in what would become the Koran

The Koran is uncorrupted and supplants the Torah and the Gospels


Basic Tenants

“There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His messenger.”

The Five Pillars of Islam Practical aspects

• Islamic scholars provide definitive interpretation of the Koran and other scriptures

• Caliph heads the faith and the nation


The Five Pillars of Islam

• Declaration of Faith acknowledging there is only one God and that Mohammed is His messenger (Shahadh)

• Five daily prayers (Salah)• Giving of alms (2.5% to charity, Zakaah)• Fasting from dawn to dusk during the month

of Ramadan (Sawn)• Pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Zul

Hijjah (Hajj)These “Five Pillars” follow the Sunni belief which includes around 90% of the world’s Moslem population.


The Descendents of Abraham

Common father (Abraham, Ibrahim), different mothers• Moslems: Hagar’s son Ismael• Jews (& Christians?): Sarah’s

son Isaac


“People of The Book”

Islam teaches tolerance and respect for people who revere the words of the prophets

Jews and Christians along with Moslems are considered “People of The Book”

“People of The Book” (dhimmis) are protected people under Islam


Tolerance Towards Jews and Christians

"There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clearly from falsehood: whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the strongest rope that never breaks. And God is All-Hearing and All-Knowing." (Qur'an 2:256)

Non-Moslems pay a special tax (jizyah) but are otherwise free to practice their religion, engage in commerce, and own property

Some rulings (fatwas) have forced conversion or expulsion of nonbelievers from Islamic domains


The Prophets

Adam Noah Moses Abraham Jesus Mohammed

Judaism

Christianity

Islam

Christianity & Islam Islam


Primacy of the Koran

Moslems believe that the earlier Jewish and Christian writings were divinely inspired but have become corrupted over time• edited and re-edited by men• various (imperfect) translations

The Koran is widely used in its original Arabic without editing


Historic Islam

Spread by the sword?• Mohammed conquered Mecca and

much of the Arabian peninsula• Immediate successors spread Islam

throughout the Middle East• Later Arab armies conquered

Northern Africa, India, parts of Southern Asia, and even parts of Europe


Rapid Expansion of Islam


The Arab Conquest


Western Civilization Under Siege

Moslem armies• conquered the Middle East• conquered Greece and most of the

Balkan peninsula and much of India• conquered North Africa• conquered Portugal and most of Spain• reached the gates of Vienna

Christendom was in retreat


The Golden Age of Islam

While Europe was in the dark ages The Islamic world

• excelled in art, literature, mathematics, textiles, and medicine

• kept the heritage of ancient Greek philosophy alive

• spread ‘civilization’ throughout much of the known world


The Decline of the Islamic Empire

Internal fighting within the Empire Reconquista of Christian lands Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire

after World War I (1918) Expanded Western interest in the oil

rich Middle East Aggressive Western intervention

during the Cold War era


Arabia Today

Only remnants of a once great civilization—far behind the West

Dominated by despotic rulers who regressed to the pre-Mohammed “might makes right” principle

Few true Islamic states No true democratic governments Growing desire for Islamic dignity


The Seeds of Change

Islamic Fundamentalists • offer the promise to return to the Golden

Age of Islamic culture• view the decadent West as the source of

most problems

Few if any viable alternatives to produce desired change• status quo has stagnated Arab culture and

economic progress for centuries


Fundamentalists Beliefs

God’s words are recorded in the Koran and other Islamic works

Islam is the source of all true law Society should strictly follow Islamic

law as interpreted by its senior scholars

Secular societies based on man’s laws deviate from God’s law


Islamic Law versus Secular Law

• Man’s laws are corrupt because they follow the will and desires of mortal man

• Islamic law is prescribed in the holy works and must be interpreted by scholars who have dedicated a lifetime to study

• Democracies and other forms of self-rule are evil because they follow the whims and perversions of man

• Islam is to be lived not just preached—it dictates every aspect of life from social customs to commerce


Fundamentalist Moslems and Christians

Share a belief that society should be directed by God’s laws• emphasize religious scripture• use a literal interpretation of most writings

which are seen just as applicable today as when they were written centuries ago

View civilization as a struggle between Godliness and manliness


The Practice of Islam

Strong devotion to religion Practice of the Five Pillars Focus on the Mosque Protectors of the faith


Devotion to Religion

Religion is not something that is just practiced one morning a week or even with a daily prayer

Religion is a way of living that dictates every aspect of life• prayers five times each day• Friday services in the Mosque• fasting during Ramadan


The Mosque

Center for not only religious but cultural and political activities

Friday’s religious service is preceded by lectures, often expounding political views


Protectors of Islam

Protect the faith, even at the expense of ones own life• answer the call of Jihad• death in defense of Islam is

martyrdom rewarded with Paradise Protect fellow Moslems Protect Islam from apostates and

heresies


The Seeds of Violent Conflict

The protection of Islam is a requirement for all Moslems

Spreading the faith is debatable• Islam teaches tolerance, especially for “People

of The Book” (e.g., Jews in Egypt)• Islam teaches that all of mankind are brothers

but does not tolerate apostates Most interpretations defend Moslem lands

and all lands that have been Moslem (demanding reconquest?)


The Radical’s View

The lands of Islam have been corrupted by the West• desire for the riches of Arab lands• support for Jewish world dominance• support for apostate rulers

Islam and the Arabic people are under threat from the infidels

The struggle against the infidels is the duty of every Moslem worldwide


The Radical’s Method

Political solutions are not possible—power is never willingly surrendered only taken by force

Direct military confrontation is not (yet) possible

Terrorism is the only viable method

Note: All three of these views are shared by most revolutionary movements


Radical Fundamentalists and Terrorist Acts

Terrorism is not just associated with radical Islamic fundamentalists

Terrorism is practiced by extreme radicals found in most religions and in many social-political movements (e.g., anarchists, Marxist-Leninists)


Terrorism and Christian Fundamentalists

Like Islamic fundamentalists, most Christian fundamentalists are nonviolent

But strong fundamentalist beliefs are sometimes brought to extreme expression by advocates of violence and terrorist acts


Terrorism Under the Banner of Christian Fundamentalism

Some white-supremacist organizations such as the KKK view themselves as Christian fundamentalists, protecting the “Christian way of life” as they interpret it

Some other Christian fundamentalist groups have racist views, although they are not organized explicitly with a white-supremacist mandate


To help view radical Islamic fundamentalism in its proper perspective, consider a case of domestically grown, radical Christian fundamentalist terrorism

The case focuses on the polarized American opinion on women’s reproductive rights (i.e., abortion)


The Murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian

Amherst (NY) physician who performed legal abortions in a local medical clinic

Murdered (assassinated?) in his home on October 23, 1998 by James Kopp• Kopp viewed himself as saving the lives of

hundreds of unborn babies• Kopp’s escape was aided and abetted by like-

minded ‘Christians’ who saw him as a hero for their antiabortion cause


The Capture of James Kopp

Placed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List Escaped to Ireland and later to France where he

received assistance from others active in the antiabortion movement

Apprehended in France, March 29th, 2001 Sentenced 25 years to life on May 9th, 2003 Allegedly shot other physicians who performed

legal abortions in the U.S. and Canada Expresses no remorse over his killing Viewed as a martyr by some antiabortionists


Attacks on Medical Clinics Performing Abortions

Types of Attacks• clinic bombings and individual assassinations

Clearly constitute terrorist acts• terrorizes physicians performing this service• terrorizes people using this service

Loosely organized terrorist movement• few practicing blatant violence• many more supporting violent acts• tacit support from some religious leaders


The Threat from Radical Fundamentalists

Radical beliefs from various religious groups sometimes lead to terrorist acts, but

Radical Islamic fundamentalists remain the most serious threat to peace and global stability• active terrorists constitute a very small

minority, but support for their actions is rapidly growing worldwide


Combating Radical Islamic Terrorists

Responding to Islamic terrorism requires a thorough understanding of Islamic culture and beliefs

“More of the same” is not working• U.S. foreign policy needs to be carefully

reexamined• U.S. needs to win the propaganda war

which it is badly losing to date


Steps Toward Combating Global Islamic Terrorism

Continued support for Israel balanced with strong support for the Palestinians

Strong support for moderate Moslem leaders and progressive Arab countries• aggressive economic aid• expanded cultural and educational exchange

Calculated response to terrorism• quick and decisive action, but sanctioned by

moderate Arab nations and by European allies


The Dilemma of Modern Islam

To move forward or to move backward?• Should traditional Islam be adapted to

a changing world?• Should the changing world be

adapted to traditional Islam? Split between progressive and

fundamentalist Moslems


Modern Egypt—Predominantly Moslem with a Progressive Secular Government

understanding radical islamic fundamentalists the “new” global threat or history repeating...

Documents

banner of islam slide

religion slide

god islam

nation slide

dilemma of modern islam

islamic law

islam taught equality

gods law