NCJ Number
143543
Journal
Security Management Volume: 37 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1993) Pages: 24,26- 28,30
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Religious fundamentalism is on the rise worldwide, particularly among radical Islamic groups who mix violence and social services to advance their cause.
Abstract
Political Islam had its origins in Egypt where the Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928. Radical Islam caught the attention of the world in 1979 with the assumption of power by the Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran. The Islamic movement's popularity can be explained as a religious reaction to rapid modernization and secularization of society. Political Islam calls for a renewal of Islamic values in the personal and public life of Muslims. The Islamic radical minority in the community of political Islamists often advocates extreme forms of Islamic revivalism. Both political and radical Islamists often share similar views concerning the West and Israel. Militant groups have threatened Israeli, American, and other western interests by launching terrorist attacks against diplomatic facilities, businesses, and citizens. Such groups include Hizballah, the Islamic Jihad, the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS), the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and Abu Nidal. The organization and operation of these groups are detailed, and the recent World Trade Center bombing and prospects for further terrorist targeting of U.S. interests are discussed.