Militant Islam: Encyclopedia II - Militant Islam - Current movements

Militant Islam - Current movements

Modern Islam went through major political and philosophical developments in the early part of the twentieth century, but it was not until the 1980s that it became powerfully militant in an international arena. The Khomenist revolution in Iran, though Shia in character, provided an inspiration to many radicals and served as an example that an Islamic state could be established, using violent and militant means.

During the conflict against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, many militant Islamists came together to fight what they saw as an atheist invading force. This confluence resulted in many alliances being made between groups with similar ideologies, but also many alliances of convenience. Significantly, Osama bin Laden, a Saudi influenced by Wahhabism and the writings of Sayed Qutb, joined forces with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad under Ayman al-Zawahiri to form what is now called al-Qaida. The aftermath of the Soviet invasion eventually led to chaos, and then the rise of the deobandi Taliban, a movement which bin Laden helped influence in more radical directions following his arrival in Afghanistan in 1996.

Militant Islamic political groups are also active in Algeria, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Sudan and Nigeria.

Much militant activity since has been directed against governments in Muslim societies, which those professing Islam as an exclusive political movement oppose because they are governments according to human law, not divine law.

However, among most militants, a considerable effort has been made to fight Western targets, especially the United States. The United States arouses anger because of its support of the state of Israel, its presence on sacred Saudi soil, what some militants regard as its aggression against Muslims in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, what others regard as its neglect of Shia resistance in the wake of the UN-Iraq war (which got many Shia killed) and its support of dictatorial and corrupt regimes that they oppose. Israel is viewed with hostility throughout the Islamic World but especially in the Arab World, so it is relatively easy to find help for any activity undertaken against it.

Osama bin Laden, at least, believes that this is of necessity due to historical conflict between Muslims and Jews, and considers there to be a Jewish/American alliance against Islam. This rhetoric has echoes of that of American "militias" concern with a Zionist Occupation Government controlling the federal government of the USA.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Current movements", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki