Religious Extremism

Islamist Power Struggles Fuel Anti-Semitism in Turkey

November 25, 2015

In the latest incident of rising anti-Semitism that has caused a precipitous exodus by Turkey's Jewish community, Ankara's courts, which are controlled by the country's governing Islamist party, are investigating one of Turkey's most prominent Jewish businessmen for providing "financial and moral support to parallel structures," a charge aimed at the opposition Islamist movement of Fetullah Gulen.
Saudi-Maldives Ties Create Openings for Puritanical Islamism to Indian Ocean

November 25, 2015

The governments of Saudi Arabia and the Maldives announced a new agreement to "improve relations in the field of religious cooperation," a move that gives Saudi Arabia the opportunity to use both religious and cultural platforms, as well as economic assistance, to spread puritanical Wahhabi Islamism into the Indian Ocean region.
Hamas Looks to Turkey for Islamist United Front on Palestinian Cause

November 11, 2015

Islamist leaders from Hamas are looking to Turkey's recently reelected Islamist government to deepen their ties in a united front defined by an anti-Israel rejectionism and marginalization of all non-Islamist Palestinian factions.
Islamism and Authoritarianism Are Winners in Turkey's Elections

November 03, 2015

Turkey's Islamists scored a major victory, as the Justice and Development Party ("AKP") has secured a little over 50 percent of the vote in snap elections, raising serious concerns about the continuation of increasing one-party authoritarianism under the country's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as the specter of growing ethnic polarization and violence against the country's large Kurdish population.
Iran's Religious Leaders Disagree on Islamic Law Versus International Law for Human Rights

November 03, 2015

Pressures from international rights groups in the wake of the US-Iran nuclear deal have intensified longstanding disputes among Iran's clerical elites about flexibility in Islamic law related to domestic human rights protections and punishments, especially regarding punitive Koranic punishments.
Attacks Against Bloggers Signal Growing Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh

November 03, 2015

The growth of extremist Islamist influence in Bangladesh is reflected in the intensified climate of violent impunity in the country, with yet another round of attacks against secularist bloggers, coupled with bombings against Shiite celebrations, and threatening demands to newspapers to adhere to Islamic injunctions against female employment.
Turkish Islamist Group Comes Under Scrutiny for Funding Congressional Trips

November 03, 2015

The US Congress is investigating the global Turkish Islamist network of the Fetullah Gulen movement, until recently a major supporter of the ruling Islamist party in Turkey, for apparent financial irregularities associated with funding for numerous US congressional delegations to Turkey.
Saudis Export Wahhabi Extremism in School Textbooks

November 03, 2015

Saudi Arabia's school textbooks, which are exported worldwide to Saudi-supported charter and parochial schools, include incitements to violence against "infidels" and non-conforming Muslims and promote hatred against non-Muslims.
Pakistani Courts Highlight Dangers of Blasphemy Laws

October 29, 2015

Pakistan's Supreme Court has highlighted the dangers to social order and human rights associated with blasphemy laws that criminalize insulting Islam, as evidenced in the societal impunity and vigilante assassination of then-Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer.
Turkey's Upcoming Elections Will Be Shaped by Bargain with IS

October 28, 2015

Turkey's approaching national elections are being shaped by the Islamist government's support for the Islamic State ("IS"), which has generated severe social cleavages over IS suicide bombings inside Turkey, state clampdowns on media freedoms, and the government's air campaign against the country's Kurdish population.