Salafism is an ideology that posits that Islam has strayed from its origins. The word "salaf" is Arabic for "ancient one" and refers to the companions of the Prophet Mohammed. Arguing that the faith has become decadent over the centuries, Salafists call for the restoration of authentic Islam as expressed by an adherence to its original teachings and texts. "Salafists originally are supposedly not violent," Kepel explains. "They are not advocating the revolt against one who holds power, against the powers that be. They are calling for re-Islamization at the daily level."
This is a PBS report, by the way. (click title to entry - thank you)
By the mid-'90s, Kepel saw an alarming change among Europe's Muslims. Increasingly he was coming across Salafists who had embraced jihad -- in other words, who felt violence and terrorism were justified to realize their political objectives. Kepel explains that when Salafists, who tend to be alienated from mainstream European society, meet and mingle with jihadists, it fuses into a volatile mixture.
See, when the theology of a religion is based on 'street' politics there can be all kinds of abuses of the faithful. Street religions are not unusual. India has their cows, ya know?
The 'thing' with European Islamists 'of the street' is that they are 'easy prey' to extremists. Interaction among the faithful and the radical becomes homogenized. It is why Europe has such a tough dynamic.
Where it gets to be a tight rope, is when 'street preachers' are arrested for their extremist views and the faithful become alarmed and sincerely feeled threatened as though 'the prophesy' is sincere and real. It places the faithful on the defensive. Crouching if you will. Don't like to put it like that, but, in a civilized society it sort of explains the posture. Maybe susceptible is a better word.
..."And I used it and wrote it many times, and the first response they had was when Ahmed Ressam [who planned to attack Los Angeles International airport] was arrested in1999. I had a friend in Washington who called me and said, 'What is that word you were using, "Salafist?"' They didn't know that such a thing existed."...
That was 1999. Not post September 11, 2001. Okay? This mess has been around awhile.
This is a PBS report, by the way. (click title to entry - thank you)
By the mid-'90s, Kepel saw an alarming change among Europe's Muslims. Increasingly he was coming across Salafists who had embraced jihad -- in other words, who felt violence and terrorism were justified to realize their political objectives. Kepel explains that when Salafists, who tend to be alienated from mainstream European society, meet and mingle with jihadists, it fuses into a volatile mixture.
See, when the theology of a religion is based on 'street' politics there can be all kinds of abuses of the faithful. Street religions are not unusual. India has their cows, ya know?
The 'thing' with European Islamists 'of the street' is that they are 'easy prey' to extremists. Interaction among the faithful and the radical becomes homogenized. It is why Europe has such a tough dynamic.
Where it gets to be a tight rope, is when 'street preachers' are arrested for their extremist views and the faithful become alarmed and sincerely feeled threatened as though 'the prophesy' is sincere and real. It places the faithful on the defensive. Crouching if you will. Don't like to put it like that, but, in a civilized society it sort of explains the posture. Maybe susceptible is a better word.
..."And I used it and wrote it many times, and the first response they had was when Ahmed Ressam [who planned to attack Los Angeles International airport] was arrested in1999. I had a friend in Washington who called me and said, 'What is that word you were using, "Salafist?"' They didn't know that such a thing existed."...
That was 1999. Not post September 11, 2001. Okay? This mess has been around awhile.
