Religious Extremism

Turkey's Islamization and Cultural Homogenization Proceeds with Announcement of Historic Conversion of Greek Orthodox Church to Mosque

February 25, 2020

The Islamization and cultural heritage assault on Turkey's Christian minority communities is accelerating under the country's ruling Islamist party, with the recent announcement by state's highest administrative court that the historic Greek Orthodox Church of Chora, which contains some of the most celebrated Byzantine frescoes in Christianity, will be converted to a functioning mosque in 2020.
French President Pledges to Tackle Political Islam as a Source of Separatism and Violence

February 25, 2020

The run-up to local elections in France is the context for the public pledge by France's President Emmanuel Macron to tackle the intersecting problems of political Islam, religious separatism, and foreign funding aimed at radicalizing the country's Muslim communities through preaching in mosques.
Global Terror-Finance Watchdog Keeps Focus on Islamist Extremism and Criminality

February 25, 2020

The latest recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog agency responsible for standards-setting and regulations to combat terrorist financing and money laundering, underscored the linkages between violent Islamist networks and criminal finance activities by blacklisting/graylisting the Islamic theocratic regimes of Iran and Pakistan.
Council of Europe Resolution Encourages Best Practices on Marriage for UK Sharia Councils

February 25, 2020

The 47 member-states of the Council of Europe passed a resolution calling on British state authorities to take administrative measures and public awareness campaigns to ensure that the country's sharia councils, open to British Muslims for issues of family, inheritance, and commercial issues, are operating in full compliance with state laws that ensure the full range of protections for equality before the law for women.
Jihadist Groups Build Unified Front to Solidify West Africa and Sahel as Sharia Region

February 25, 2020

West Africa and the Sahel are emerging as a regional space of innovation in jihadist tactics, as groups like al-Qaeda, Islamic State, and their local affiliates are putting aside competition in place of a united front with the common goal of consolidating the enormous swathe of territory on the African Continent as a sharia-ruled, multi-state territory.
Qatar Uses Soft Power Influence Operations in U.S.

February 25, 2020

The Mideast monarchy of Qatar continues to expand its soft power influence-Wahhabist network operations inside the United States, including huge financial support for think tank and higher education programs, along with professional lobbying activities.
Islamist Factionalism Drives Turkish Government's Latest Target of 695 for Arrest

February 19, 2020

Factional infighting between Turkey's two main Islamist currents, that of the ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) and that comprised of followers of US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, has provoked another round of purges by AKP state prosecutors.
Iran Imprisons Environmentalists on Espionage Charges

February 19, 2020

Iranian courts meted out lengthy prison sentences of up to 10 years against eight environmental activists on alleged charges of espionage and collusion with the United States.
Germany Debates Burqa Ban Proposal

February 14, 2020

Debates are intensifying in Germany about proposals to ban the wearing of strict Islamic face coverings like the burka and niqab in institutions of secondary and higher education.
Al Qaeda Leadership Focuses on Islamist Doctrinal Unity in Africa

February 14, 2020

The robustness of Al Qaeda’s (AQ) ideology and propaganda strategy was reflected in the recent release of pamphlets from the AQ “Group for Support of Islam and Muslims,” which advises the diverse jihadist groups of the African Continent.