Some call them the Salafist police. Others say they are just ordinary extremists. Either way, they are terrorizing other Muslims in the Netherlands, radicalizing Muslim youth, and working to undermine the secular democratic system – not just in Holland, but in Belgium, France, and elsewhere across Europe.
While America seems to have largely forgotten the threat of radical Islamism, jihadism, according to Dutch intelligence agency AIVD, remains the greatest security threat for Europe. That threat exists not only in the form of terrorist violence, but in the effect of online propaganda, Salafist-run schools, intimidation on social media, and ongoing efforts at polarizing European society as Salafist groups and charismatic activists urge fellow Muslims to reject Western democratic mores.
Gettin pretty darn diverse out there.
Hindu nationalists, white supremacists join forces
Preliminary findings indicate the two extremist groups on separate continents are hooking up on social media
During Ramadan, a man attacked a mosque in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He allegedly yelled slurs, tore up a Qu’ran, and attempted to run down worshippers in his vehicle.
Some people on Twitter have raised the idea that the attacker was connected to Hindu extremist groups; however, the investigation is still ongoing.
This is one of two hate-motivated incidents at mosques in Markham in a week. Although police said they don’t believe the incidents are connected, as a researcher of online extremism I can theoretically link these events to a global trend of Islamophobic violence.
That’s some link!
