December 15th, 2014 / August 28th, 2018
Extremism in the Middle East and North Africa
The “War on Terror”, intended to obliterate al-Qaeda and other Sunni transnational jihadi organizations that supported al-Qaeda, has been far from successful. Launched by President George W. Bush in reaction to 9/11, it did not deprive the alleged terrorists of their safe havens. The terrorists have not been under siege, their resources and funds have not dried up, and their ideological discourse and electronic propaganda have not been destroyed.
Extremism Special Files
Fanack offers a special file on Extremism in the region.
Latest Updates
Extremism Special
The IS Conquest of Parts of Iraq and Syria
On 29 June, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced the creation of a caliphate in all conquered territories in Iraq and Syria (mostly in the north), with himself as caliph, to be known as Caliph Ibrahim. IS became the Islamic State (IS).What led to the rise of IS in Iraq?
The most important predecessor of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was the Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose proper name was Ahmad Fadel Nazal al-Khalayleh. Al-Zarqawi became infamous as the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, which later became...Global Jihad—How it Spread and Thrived
Jihad (Arabic for ‘struggle’), or ‘Jihad for the cause of Allah’, is a major duty of Islam. According to the Sharia (Islamic law), the word means any acts done or words said for the sake of spreading Islam or defending threatened Muslim lives, propert...The War on IS, the Igniting Spark and the Opinions of Experts
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as it called itself until 29 June 2014, has emerged as the most powerful faction among the groups fighting the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.IS Ideology Extremely Difficult to Uproot
Several recently published reports indicate that it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate IS permanently, regardless of how the world might fight it. The reason, according to the reports, is not the military power of IS, nor the...Syria: A Safe Haven for IS
Several media reports indicated that IS continued to gain ground, even after the start of the global campaign in 2014. In the last few months, the radical group captured several villages in the Syrian west and in the suburbs of Damascus, the Syrian capital,...Muslim Responses to the Charlie Hebdo Attack
Condemnation has been nearly universal, but Muslim groups have stated that, although they do not defend the killing, they oppose the provocative caricatures that sparked the incident.Human Suffering Under Islamic State
A first-hand account of life conditions in ISIS-controlled territories.Why Many Tunisians and Few Algerians Fight in Syria
As of January 2015, the five North African countries—Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia—provided an estimated 5350 fighters to extremist organizations in Syria; Tunisia alone supplied a remarkable 3000 male fighters.How Strong is the Islamic State?
On 29 June 2015, the Islamic State (IS) celebrated its first anniversary—a full year of brutality and tragedy paid for mainly by civilians. Such atrocities dominate the mainstream media, but let’s examine how strong IS really is.Jabhat al-Nusra Tries to Look Like a Moderate Terrorist Group
Many observers have read the words of Abu Muhammad al-Golani, leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, during an interview with al-Jazeera, as an attempt to present al-Nusra as a more moderate group than the Islamic State.Little Action against Sexual Slavery by the Islamic State
One wonders what significance international human-rights law or Islamic law have, when women are systematically raped and enslaved by IS in the 21st century, in the name of Islam and under international observation. Apart from sensational accounts and...‘Cocktail of Motivations’ Drives Suicide Terrorists, Say Experts
“The evidence from the database largely discredits the common wisdom that the personality of suicide bombers and their religion are the principal cause,”prof. Riaz Hassan said, adding, “Though religion can play a vital role in recruiting and mot...The Indoctrination of Children by Islamic State
Under international law, a state bears primary responsibility for protecting its children from exploitation or abuse. In IS strongholds, this responsibility is nearly impossible to maintain and has resulted in the abduction of hundreds of children. The...Redrawing the Map of the Middle East to Defeat the Islamic State
The complicated rivalries among Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia and the increasingly sectarian outlook of the conflict in Syria opened the door for proposals to redraw the borders of the region’s countries, perhaps going as far as to suggest the establishment o...Islamic State on the Retreat Yet Still Dangerous
Western security officials see IS threats to Europe as a sign of weakness on the ground rather than of strength. US coalition officials say that their anti-IS strategy is working and IS has increasing problems paying their fighters, controlling their...Is the Islamic State Really Weakening?
The IS’ new format is a lose network of disparate groups whose only affiliation is the need for a strong brand name. Hence, lone wolves are encouraged to commit their violent acts and pledge allegiance to the IS’ caliph.Sources of Financing the Islamic State
The Islamic State sustains itself by using diverse and sophisticated financing strategies. IS was able to develop a qualitative economic system that relies on diverse sources of income and significantly minimize its reliance on foreign donations that...The Increase of Terror Attacks in the Middle East
in 2017, IS’ ambitions and objectives seem to have changed. It now appears that the Islamic State is honing its efforts to inspire followers, and focusing on more careful planning and coordination in its attacks. Its increase in complex mass-casualty a...Make Laughs Not War: The Comedy Groups Fighting Islamic State with Humour
Many of the comedians producing anti-IS comedy say they have a political mission to combat the group’s message by pointing out the inconsistencies in its ideology and making adherents look ridiculous. Certainly some of the comedy pieces poking fun at I...Islamic State’s Loss of Territory Does Not Mean Its Demise
The loss of Islamic State’s jihadists to their territorial bases does not signal the end of the group, but their warped ideology has not been vanquished. The group will continue to propagate its hateful ideas online. Its fighters will probably continue...Islamic State is Wounded but not Dead
The survival of IS’ media outlets will determine the capacity of the group to rebound from its losses in Iraq and Syria, rally its supporters and inspire continued allegiance. IS’ Amaq news agency remains active online, helping to spawn the lone wolf att...
