The Rise of Jihadist Extremism in the West

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid | Salafi Publications

Over the last two decades, Europe and the West, in general, has seen a rise in Jihadist extremism. Radical groups, using methods similar to those of cult sects, have substantially increased their recruitment of disaffected Muslims.

What are the factors that have led to this extremist ideology becoming uncomfortably prevalent in the West? Muslims and non-Muslims alike need to understand the context within which these extremist sects operate and the principles they have invented to propagate their dangerous ideology.

It is important to understand the pretext they utilize to attack targets in the West. Suicide bombings in the West are mere symptoms and extensions of that which the extremists have been unleashing upon Muslim countries and populations for decades.

Excommunication (takfir), violence, bloodshed, and rebellion began in the Muslim lands, against the Muslim governments and the Muslim populations. In November 1979, a radical group stormed the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the most sacred city of Islam.

On October 6, 1981, the Egyptian president, Anwar Sadat was assassinated in Cairo by an extremist group calling itself Jamaa’at al-Jihad. Lieutenant Khalid Istambuli, the leader of the assassins cried out, “I am Khalid Istambuli, I have killed Pharaoh and I do not fear death”.

Late on may 12, 2003 while much of Riyadh was asleep, four vehicles drove through the city. Two carried heavily armed assault teams and three were packed with explosives. Their targets were three compounds which housed both muslims and non-muslims. Altogether, some 35 people were killed and over 160 wounded.

Extremist groups actively recruit in the west. They target young Muslims and converts to Islam through the internet, on university campuses and in prisons, What are the factors that lead to Jihadist extremism? Who are the ideologies and terrorist activities? This book attempts to answer these questions and many more.