ISIS fighter from Ottawa appears in video threatening Canada with attacks ‘where it hurts you the most’

2014/12/09 Leave a comment

The latest ISIS recruitment video, starring John Maguire from Ottawa (see earlier profile on Maguire’s troubled past in  Ottawa jihadi seeking ‘martyrdom’ with ISIS in Syria | Ottawa Citizen):

“It follows quite closely to the theme of a variety of videos aimed at Western audiences, like the video aimed at French Muslims a few weeks ago,” said Professor Amarnath Amarasingam of the Dalhousie University Resilience Research Centre, who is studying Canadian foreign fighters.

“The interrelated themes are of course ones of religious obligation: if a caliphate has been established and Muslims have been persecuted by the state you are living in, you are required to leave the state you are living in. The risk of staying is hellfire. Maguire’s video is similar to the video aimed at French Muslims, asking a simple question: what are you waiting for?”

The video refers repeatedly to the October killings of two Canadian Forces members in Quebec and Ottawa by men who had adopted Islamist extremist beliefs. It said the attacks were a “direct response” to Canada’s military role in Iraq.

“The more bombs you drop on our people, the more Muslims will realize and understand that today, waging jihad against the West and its allies around the world is beyond a shadow of the doubt a religious obligation binding upon every Muslim.”

ISIS fighter from Ottawa appears in video threatening Canada with attacks ‘where it hurts you the most’.

John Maguire, Ottawa man fighting for ISIS, urges attacks on Canadian targets in video

And good in-depth reporting on deradicalization programs in Germany and Denmark in the Globe:

 Reversing radicalization through anti-terror ‘psychological warfare’ 

Filed under Radicalization Tagged with , , , ,

Those old terrorist tendencies – 19th Century

2014/12/08 Leave a comment

Valid points, reminder that extremism, terrorism and radicalization have long been with us, with just the particular ‘flavour’ being different:

It helps us understand lone terror improvisers of today to look at their forebears in the mass, as provided by the forgotten history of the 19th century. Certainly, it reminds us that our time is just a great deal less violent. And it suggests that Islam is more or less an excuse, a convenient outlet for revolutionary fervour. But the main lesson we instinctively know already: that the trick is not to let terror take hold of us, to maintain our democratic temperament in the face of what are essentially accidents.

Those old terrorist tendencies.

Filed under Radicalization Tagged with

Denmark’s jihadist rehab: school, sport and Islam

2014/12/08 Leave a comment

More on the Danish approach (see earlier post Denmark tries a soft-handed approach to returned Islamist fighters, sending them to therapy, not jail):

Belying its reputation as a harmonious, wealthy country, Denmark has the second largest number of foreign fighters in Syria relative to its size among Western nations, behind only Belgium, according to an estimate by The Economist magazine.

The young men Mads works with grew up in places like the sprawling Gellerupparken, a dreary housing estate where four out of five are from immigrant homes.

With its graffiti, crumbling concrete and broken glass it is a far cry from Denmark’s wealthy image — and only a short walk from Grimhøj mosque, which has gained notoriety for refusing to denounce the ultra-radical Islamic State (Isis).

This may help explain why in a city like Aarhus, with just 324,000 residents, as many as 30 people have gone to fight in Syria.

At least 100 Danes have taken part in Syria’s bloody civil war, according to estimates by the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET). At least 16 have been killed, and roughly 50 have returned home.

Faced with this challenge, Denmark is offering rehabilitation programmes to would-be fighters — and most controversially of all, even helps those returning from Syria.

A young man who came back from Syria was “shaken” and had seen things “that weren’t quite normal for a regular young Danish guy,” Mads said. The two started out by talking about football. But the real objective was to prevent him from returning to Syria, and to motivate him to finish his education.

“Those were our primary targets, and they succeeded,” Mads said, with a hint of pride.

It is part of a two-pronged approach — slapping travel bans on radicalised youths and jailing them if they break them, but also investing in preventive measures.

Denmarks jihadist rehab: school, sport and Islam – The Local.

Filed under Radicalization Tagged with

Stephen Harper thanks Muslims for condemning recent soldier attacks

2014/12/08 Leave a comment

Overdue but welcome:

Harper told a Toronto-area Muslim event last night that non-Muslim Canadians needed to hear from their Muslim neighbours that Islam is a force for peace and not something to be feared.

Its believed to be Harper s first public words of support for Canadian Muslims following the attacks.

….Some Muslims criticized Harper for not publicly stating his support for Canadian Muslims in the wake of the attacks.

Stephen Harper thanks Muslims for condemning recent soldier attacks – Politics – CBC News.

Filed under Multiculturalism, Radicalization Tagged with ,

Joining ISIS has left them bored, disillusioned and afraid, French jihadists write in letters to home

2014/12/04 1 Comment

Not surprising that the reality provokes reflection and regret for some (and the trivial but nevertheless importance of an iPod and the music it represents):

Le Figaro reported Islamist commanders had noticed some of the French were beginning to want to leave. One Frenchman was rumoured to have been beheaded when he explained to his commander he wanted to follow his friend who had already left.

“Everyone knows that, the longer these people stay there, the worse it will be because having watched or committed atrocities, they become ticking time bombs,” said one lawyer, quoted in the newspaper.

“But, when it comes to having a discussion about whether France is ready to accept repentants, no politician is willing to take the risk. Imagine if one of these ex-jihadists is involved subsequently in an attack?”

‘I’m fed up. My iPod doesn’t work any more here’

A group of lawyers in France is acting on behalf of the families of the jihadists to try to persuade the state to allow them to return. They told the newspaper they were trying to make contact with anti-terrorist police, the directors of internal security and the office of the interior minister,

Bernard Cazeneuve.The lawyers said nothing was agreed in advance on behalf of the jihadists — and the advice was always: “Present yourself at the French consulate in Istanbul or Erbil [in Iraq]. And then we will see.”

Joining ISIS has left them bored, disillusioned and afraid, French jihadists write in letters to home

Filed under Radicalization Tagged with

The myth of de-radicalization of Islamic radicals​ | Tarek Fatah

2014/11/27 Leave a comment

One view:

The challenge, I said, is to prevent radicalization and the way to do so was to:

1. Lay hate speech charges against any Muslim cleric who hides behind religious rights as he attacks and demonizes other religious faiths or people of no faith at all.

2. Every mosque must be monitored for such hate speech where the word ‘kuffar’ is invoked to hide the real target — Hindus, Christians and Jews.

3. Any mosque indulging in active politics must have its charitable status revoked.

4. Donations of more than $20 at all religious institutions must be made by cheque or credit card to cut off the possibility of money laundering.

5. Ally with anti-Islamist Muslims from among the victims of Islamist oppression — the Kurds, Baloch, Darfuris and Iranian exiles.

6. Treat the PKK Kurdish Workers Party and the MeK Iranian Resistance as allies, not adversaries.

And finally I recommended that immigration from Pakistan, Somalia, Iran, Iraq and Syria must be suspended until Canada can be assured that security documents, identity papers and university degrees cannot be bought on the black market or from state agencies.

Part of the challenge in countering radicalization is that if one only speaks to the Tarek Fatah and other secular Muslims, some ferociously so, one will not engage with those closer to those most susceptible to radicalization.

The myth of de-radicalization of Islamic radicals​ | Fatah | Columnists | Opin.

Filed under Radicalization Tagged with

Canadians with alleged terrorist links – Canada – CBC News

2014/11/26 Leave a comment

The list as compiled by CBC.

And the normal mix of those who have dual nationality (or who have citizenship rights from another country) and who can have their citizenship revoked, and those who have Canadian citizenship only, who cannot:

Likely Dual Nationals

Likely Canadian Only

Canadians charged by the RCMP but still at large

Ferid Ahmed Imam

Ahmad Waseem

Maiwand Yar

Hasibullah Yusufzai

Canadians reported to be fighting or supporting extremists abroad, but not charged

Mohammed Ali

Sami Elabi

Um m Haritha

Omar Hassan

Mohammad Ibrahim

Abu Dujana al-Muhajir

Farah Mohamed Shirdon

Collin Gordon

Gregory Gordon

John Maguire

Canadians accused of possible terrorist links by other countries

Faker Boussora

Abderraouf Jdey

Amer El-Maati

Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

Canadians with alleged terrorist links – Canada – CBC News.

And the accompanying article and debate whether the list should be broader (i.e., lower standard of proof to be on the list):

Who are the most wanted extremists in Canada?

Filed under Radicalization, Revocation Tagged with

Majority of Canadians worry about domestic terrorism, according to new survey

2014/11/25 Leave a comment

Results are not that surprising, given recent events, and given that civil liberties rarely do well in public polling.

But encouraging that people recognize the importance of prevention and the contributing role of mental illness and marginalization:

Almost two-thirds of Canadians believe homegrown terrorism is a serious issue, but most do not perceive a threat from radicalized individuals in their communities, according to a new survey.

The national poll, conducted in the wake of deadly attacks on Canadian soldiers, found that just over half of respondents supported new anti-terror legislation that would boost the powers of Canada’s spies. Another 22 per cent said the government should go even further, suggesting they have not been swayed by civil liberties concerns.

At the same time, those surveyed recognized that there are many factors behind radicalization — religion, mental illness and marginalization — and seemed open to a range of preventative measures, not just punitive ones.

“People are sensitive to the fact this is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach,” said Christian Leuprecht, a security expert at the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen’s University.

Majority of Canadians worry about domestic terrorism, according to new survey.

Filed under Polling, Radicalization Tagged with , ,

Opinion: Multiculturalism should not be misused to justify divisions: Farid Rohani

2014/11/25 1 Comment

Farid Rohani of the Laurier Institution on multiculturalism and integration:

Canadians must understand that multiculturalism is not about segregation and division.

What we are seeing now, more and more, is a polarization and mistrust among significant segments of our population. What is needed, then, is a more unified vision of Canadian society, one that emphasizes interdependence and cooperation among diverse groups, beginning at arrival and continuing at schools and throughout our communities.

Failure to do so will see some within our communities who don’t understand or accept the fundamental concept of pluralism use violence, including acts of terror and fear to import distant conflicts onto our shores. There will be attempts at imposing their beliefs on the rest of society and they will use, support or facilitate violence, as a method to effect societal change to achieve their goals.

Any polling I have seen suggests that Canadians get it and view multiculturalism in this manner, and place emphasis more on integration than an “anything goes” accommodation.

And no matter what governments and others do, there will always be some who sit outside that political consensus, whether in the context of religious fundamentalism (or other fundamentalisms) or violent extremism.

Overly general, without concrete or practical suggestions.

Opinion: Multiculturalism should not be misused to justify divisions | Montreal Gazette.

Filed under Citizenship, Multiculturalism, Radicalization Tagged with

Government rethinking counter-terrorism plan, Senate learns | Ottawa Citizen

2014/11/18 Leave a comment

Sensible focus on prevention strategy, particularly community outreach and intervention:

[ADM at Public Safety, Gary] Robertson and other officials from Public Safety and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, in response to committee questioning, also revealed Monday that:

– Contrary to rumours, the government is not contemplating outlawing the promotion or glorification of terrorism on the Internet – beyond existing laws against hate speech and hate crime.

– Some of the estimated 80 to 90 radicalized Canadians who have returned home from foreign terror activities have become “disillusioned” with jihad.

– Disruptive measures, such as no-fly lists, seizing passports, immigration actions and officially banning activities related to terrorist organizations and individuals so-called federally listed entities, help explain why more traditional criminal arrests and prosecutions haven’t occurred in Canada.

– The 2012 counter-terror strategy, which put some badly needed meat on the bone of the government’s 2004 national security policy, has four pillars: prevent, detect, deny and respond.

Robertson said the government believes prevention, largely through community outreach and intervention, is the most effective way to address the problem of radicalization.

That includes training individuals, from imams, teachers and school counsellors to community nurses, to recognize changes in behaviours and attitudes that may signal an individual is becoming radicalized.

There also are “law enforcement personnel that are trained and sensitized to these unique issues, that they understand how to (deal) with the community practitioners,” he said. “It isn’t necessarily going to lead to incarceration” if a family or friends of a person approach police about them.

Government rethinking counter-terrorism plan, Senate learns | Ottawa Citizen.

Quebec Premier Couillard emphasizes the importance of addressing social inclusion and causes of radicalization in his meeting with members of the Muslim community:

«Il ne faut pas faire semblant d’ignorer la question, qu’il y a quelque part un lien entre la déformation de l’islam, de la religion et ces actions. Ça, ça contribue davantage à l’incompréhension entre les communautés», a fait valoir le premier ministre.

Il reconnaît que les crimes qui ont récemment ébranlé le Canada ne s’expliquent pas simplement par une cause unique comme l’islam radical, mais précise que souvent des jeunes aux prises avec d’autres problèmes sont plus vulnérables et deviennent des proies pour ceux qui prônent la violence.

Il faut examiner les causes de la radicalisation des jeunes, a avancé M. Couillard.«L’idée nest pas de dire ceci est compréhensible, parce que… Non. Ces gestes sont condamnables de toute façon, dans l’absolu», a-t-il dit.

«Mais on doit travailler ensemble sur notre société pour mettre en place un environnement qui éloigne les jeunes de ce projet, on peut dire, maléfique.»

Il croit de plus que cette discussion est nécessaire, car il faut aussi protéger les Québécois de confession musulmane qui sont eux-mêmes victimes de harcèlement ou de violence.

M. Couillard veut notamment améliorer l’intégration des membres de cette communauté, pour éviter qu’ils ne se radicalisent, en favorisant l’éducation et l’emploi. Il a notamment dit qu’une reconnaissance des diplômes étrangers plus souple est sur la table et que sa ministre de l’Immigration, Kathleen Weil, prépare actuellement une nouvelle politique d’immigration.

Couillard a rencontré des membres de la communauté musulmane | Stéphanie Marin | Politique québécoise.

Filed under Radicalization Tagged with , , , ,

← Older posts

Newer posts →