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Islamic extremism

Islamic extremism, Islamist extremism or radical Islam refers a set of extremist beliefs, behaviors and ideology within Islam. These terms remain contentious, encompassing a spectrum of definitions, ranging from academic interpretations to the notion that all ideologies other than Islam have failed and are inferior.[1] Furthermore, these terms may extend to encompass other sects of Islam that do not share such extremist views.

Not to be confused with Islamic fundamentalism or Jihadism.

Political definitions of Islamic extremism, such as that employed by the government of the United Kingdom, characterize it as any form of Islam that opposes "democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs."[2] In 2019, the United States Institute of Peace issued a report on extremism in fragile states, advocating the establishment of a shared understanding, operational framework for prevention, and international cooperation.[3]


Islamic extremism is different from Islamic fundamentalism or Islamism. Islamic fundamentalism refers to a movement among Muslims advocating a return to the fundamental principles of an Islamic state in Muslim-majority countries. Meanwhile, Islamism constitutes a form of political Islam. However, both Islamic fundamentalism and Islamism can also be classified as subsets of Islamic extremism. Acts of violence committed by Islamic terrorists and jihadists are often associated with these extremist beliefs.

Definitions[edit]

Academic definition[edit]

The academic definition of radical Islam consists of two parts:

May 2016: An Appeal from the Crown Court and Central Criminal Court: several individuals' cases considered together.

[9]

October 2016: In which the Judge concluded that Imam is an Islamic Extremist, and does not uphold Begg's claim that the BBC had libelled him by saying so.[10]

Shakeel Begg

Key influences of radical Islam[edit]

Early Islam[edit]

According to the academic definition of radical Islam, the second condition for something to be called radical Islam, is that it is antigovernmental. Consequently, a government is a condition for radical Islam. However, even though the peace of Westphalia was established in 1648 and thus introduced the nation state, the writings of the formative centuries of Islamic history are influential to the contemporary writings that were coined radical after the concept of the nation state was established in the Muslim world as well. Key influences of radical Islam that stem from early Islam include:

Foreign political support[edit]

According to the British historian Mark Curtis, in his book Secret Affairs: Britain's Collusion with Radical Islam, Britain has been accused of consistently supporting radical Islam to combat secular nationalism. Because the secular nationalists threatened to seize the resources of their countries and use it for internal development, which was not accepted by England.[87] The United States, like Britain before it, has been accused of historically supporting radical Islam in the face of secular nationalism, seen as a major threat to Western colonial dominance. Chomsky and coauthors accuse Israel of destroying Egypt and Syria in 1967, two bastions of secular Arab nationalism opposed to Saudi Arabia, which they view as the leader of radical Islam.[88]

Meleagrou-Hitchens, Alexander; Hughes, Seamus; Clifford, Bennett (2021). . Homegrown: ISIS in America (1st ed.). London and New York: I.B. Tauris. pp. 111–148. ISBN 978-1-7883-1485-5.

"The Ideologues"

(2007). "Chapter 5: The Battle of Islamic Fundamentalisms". The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future (1st ed.). New York and London: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 147–168. ISBN 978-0-393-06211-3. LCCN 2006012361.

Nasr, Vali

Ramakrishna, Kumar (2022). Extremist Islam: Recognition and Response in Southeast Asia. and New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780197610961.001.0001. ISBN 9780197610961. OCLC 1267403660.

Oxford

Shultz, Richard H. (April 2008). . Global Insurgency Strategy and the Salafi Jihad Movement. INSS Occasional Paper. Vol. 66. Colorado Springs, Colorado: USAF Institute for National Security Studies at the USAF Academy. pp. 42–86.

"A Global Salafi Jihad Insurgency: Myth or Reality?"

Ullah, Haroon K. (2017). Digital World War: Islamists, Extremists, and the Fight for Cyber Supremacy. Yale University Press.  978-0300231106.

ISBN

Quotations related to Islamic extremism at Wikiquote