Eye on Extremism
March 17, 2020
The
Guardian: UK's Air War Against Isis Ends After Five
Years
“Britain’s five-year air war against Isis has quietly come to an
end, with official figures revealing no bombs have been dropped since
September – yet the MoD still acknowledges only one civilian casualty
in the entire conflict. The data shows that over a period longer than
the first world war, 4,215 bombs and missiles were launched from
Reaper drones or RAF jets in Syria and Iraq, and a wide discrepancy
has emerged between UK and US estimates of the number of civilians
killed. The US-led coalition against Isis estimates that all air raids
caused 1,370 civilian casualties, and a fresh analysis by Airwars, an
NGO, of “problem strikes”, in which it believed noncombatants were
killed, has highlighted three involving the RAF. Fifteen civilians
were killed by the RAF in the strikes in 2017 and 2018, based on
evidence from local reports. In the worst incident, 12 civilians were
killed as a result of a blast at a building housing Isis fighters in
Raqqa in Syria in August 2017. Chris Woods, director of Airwars, said
the UK was “one of several of the US’s key European allies in the war
against so-called Islamic State to routinely deny civilian harm from
their own actions”, listing France and Belgium as other nations that
refused to acknowledge the deaths of noncombatants.”
East
Asia Forum: Extremist Charities Spread In Indonesia
“The Indonesian government has arrested more than 1100 suspected
terrorists since 2015, with still more killed in counter-terrorism
operations or during attacks. As of 2018, there were 432 terrorist
inmates across 117 prisons. Hundreds are undergoing or awaiting trial.
While the Indonesian government is successfully enforcing the
anti-terrorism law, the proliferation of extremist charities exposes
the families of incarcerated or slain militants to extremist
influence. Providing stipends and financial assistance to militants’
families is part of the organisational expenses of terrorist groups.
This is to support the militant — typically male and the sole
breadwinner in the family — in focussing on his militant objectives
without worrying about the welfare of his family. For example,
US$15,000 out of US$100,000 sent by al-Qaeda to Jemaah Islamiyah in
2003 was allocated to support the families of arrested group members.
Many so-called Islamic State (IS) informal charities emerged in recent
years — partly due to increased demand as there were more arrests in
2015–2019 than in 2002–2013. These charities facilitate family visits
to prison, inmates’ trip to their hometown upon completion of their
sentences and provide inmates with meals. They also sponsor the
families’ healthcare and education expenses and capital for setting up
businesses.”
United States
The
New York Times: Once-Accused Al Qaeda Sympathizer Goes
Home
“When Uzair Paracha was convicted in 2005 in Manhattan of trying to
help a terrorist enter the United States, federal prosecutors hailed
the verdict as “another victory in the global fight against
terrorism.” He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. But now — nearly
17 years after he was first arrested — Mr. Paracha, 40, has been
released and flown to Pakistan, the land of his birth, with all
charges against him dropped, according to a government court filing on
Monday and his lawyer. The lawyer, Ramzi Kassem, confirmed Mr. Paracha
left the United States on Friday night and was with his family in
Pakistan. Mr. Paracha’s release followed months of secret negotiations
between the government and his lawyers and comes nearly two years
after a judge ordered a new trial for him, saying newly discovered
evidence called his guilt into question. The government had indicated
in court papers that it did not believe the new evidence exonerated
Mr. Paracha. As recently as late 2018, prosecutors described Mr.
Paracha as “an avowed Al Qaeda supporter” whose release would pose a
“serious danger to the public.”
Military.com:
Marine Under Investigation For Allegedly Sharing White Supremacist
Material Online
“The Marines are investigating an infantryman based at Camp
Pendleton for potential violations of the Pentagon's policy against
extremism, according to a Marine Corps spokesman. Lance Cpl. Thomas
Cade Martin, 23, posted what some experts called “white supremacist”
material across at least two social media accounts over the last two
years. The material includes a flyer with the white supremacist slogan
“not stolen, conquered” over a map of the continental U.S. That flyer
has been associated with the white nationalist “Patriot Front”
organization. Identical flyers were anonymously distributed at San
Diego State University in 2018. His pages also include stylized
patriotic graphics and photo illustrations of early 20th Century
nationalistic propaganda which experts say are similar to those
affiliated with the American Identity Movement, a white supremacist
organization that changed its name from Identity Evropa after its
involvement in planning the 2017 Unite the Right rally in
Charlottesville, Va., where a white supremacist drove his car into a
crowd and killed an anti-racist activist. Martin describes himself on
his Twitter account as a “nationalist” and says he is the chairman of
a group called the “U.S. Nationalist Initiative.” Its Facebook page
has more than 1,400 followers.”
Syria
Reuters:
Russia Says Militants In Syria's Idlib Region Not Complying With
Ceasefire
“Russia’s foreign ministry said on Monday that militants in Syria’s
Idlib region are not complying with a ceasefire brokered by Russia and
Turkey, the Interfax news agency reported. The foreign ministry said
the militants were taking counter-offensive action in the region.”
Iran
The
Times Of Israel: IDF indicates Iran scaling back terror activity in
light of coronavirus
“The Israel Defense Forces indicated Monday its primary foe in the
region, Iran, was curbing its activities as it grapples with a major
outbreak of the coronavirus. IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman told
reporters that the military noted a decrease in the amount of activity
in the region by Israel’s enemies, without specifically naming Iran.
“There are countries who have gotten it way worse than us with this
corona[virus] story, and as a result their activities are at a slower
pace,” Zilberman said. Iran is among the countries hardest hit by the
coronavirus, with hundreds of people reported killed, including a
senior cleric on Monday, and at least another 14,000 people infected
with the disease. The real numbers may be even higher, as some have
questioned the government’s reporting. Cabinet ministers, members of
parliament, Revolutionary Guard members and Health Ministry officials
have been infected, compounding fears about Iran’s response to the
global pandemic, which has infected nearly 170,000 people worldwide
and killed more than 6,500. Iran is widely considered Israel’s main
enemy in the region, controlling and funding terror groups across the
Middle East, notably the powerful Hezbollah terrorist militia in
Lebanon.”
Iraq
Al
Monitor: Iraqi Anti-IS Operations Hindered By Coalition Base
Attacks
“The fighter from a local armed group in the Popular Mobilization
Units (PMU) climbed in early March to a vantage point that had
cartridges strewn about amid rusty barrels, sandbags and old,
long-disused blue tarpaulins. “This was where the PMU used to fight
from. About 50 died here in 2015 in the battle against the Islamic
State (IS),” the fighter, who only wanted to be identified as Maad,
told Al-Monitor as the spring wind whipped through. He pointed at dirt
tracks leading into the mountains and said, “But the road there is
still full of mines. Everywhere.” On March 10, the US military
announced that two US Marines had been killed in the nearby Makhmour
mountains. The deaths occurred during a “close range” firefight called
“one of the most intense clashes” with IS in several months, chief
coalition spokesman Col. Myles Caggins told CNN shortly afterward. The
operation reportedly involved several dozen Iraqi Counterterrorism
Services forces and about a dozen Marine special forces.”
Afghanistan
The
Washington Post: The Taliban’s Political Leaders Signed A Peace Deal —
But Its Military Commanders Could Put That At
Risk
“On Feb. 29, the United States and the Taliban signed a historic
peace agreement, calling for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops in
exchange for Taliban guarantees not to use Afghanistan as a base for
terrorist attacks against the West. Although there were early snags —
including a disagreement over when the Afghan government would release
Taliban prisoners — the deal represents a rare chance to reach a
negotiated settlement in America’s longest war. The Taliban’s military
council has instructed its commanders and governors to avoid targeting
international troops — but the Taliban has resumed fighting Afghan
forces in earnest. This puts U.S. forces at risk from accidental
attack, but also from a deliberate attempt to spoil the cease-fire or
any future agreement. These risks highlight an important
organizational divide within the Taliban between its senior political
figures mostly based in Pakistan, who have been responsible for
negotiations with the United States, and Taliban military commanders
on the ground in Afghanistan. How will this divide impact the
prospects of a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan? The Taliban’s
primary decision-making body is a political, rather than a military,
one.”
Foreign
Affairs: Peace Hasn’t Broken Out In Afghanistan
“On February 29, the United States and the Taliban signed a
preliminary peace deal aimed at ending nearly 19 years of war in
Afghanistan. The agreement calls for the United States to gradually
withdraw its troops from the country over the next 14 months and for
the Taliban and the Afghan government (which was not a party to the
deal) to open direct talks. The Taliban further promise in the deal to
prevent terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda or the Islamic State (also
known as ISIS), from operating in territory they control. Much could
go wrong rather quickly. The United States and the Taliban had agreed
that a prisoner exchange should precede the negotiations between the
Afghan government and the Taliban, but Afghan President Ashraf Ghani
initially balked at the prospect. The talks did not begin on March 10,
as specified in the U.S.-Taliban accord, but on that day Ghani did
agree to release 1,500 Taliban fighters, in groups of 100 per day,
beginning on March 14; once negotiations with the Taliban have begun,
Ghani’s decree stated, the Afghan government would release an
additional 3,500 militants, in batches of 500 every two weeks.”
Egypt
Arab
News: Egypt Police Say Killed 6 Militants In Northern
Sinai
“Egyptian police have killed six militants in a shootout in the
restive northern Sinai region, the interior ministry said Monday. The
firefight broke out as police forces raided a hideout of “terrorist
elements” intent on carrying out “hostile operations,” it said.
Egypt’s security forces are battling a long-running insurgency in the
peninsula, spearheaded by a local affiliate of the Daesh group.
Weapons and explosives were found in the militants’ possession, the
ministry added, in a statement released along with gruesome photos of
the slain militants. The date of the raid was not specified. The
Islamist insurgency in North Sinai escalated following the military’s
2013 ouster of Islamist President Muhammad Mursi. Scores of policemen
and soldiers have since been killed in militant attacks. Last month,
Daesh said it had blown up a gas pipeline in the Sinai Peninsula,
saying it was connected to Israel. Security sources however said the
targeted pipeline was a domestic one. Cairo launched a nationwide
operation against militants in February 2018, mainly focusing on North
Sinai province.”
Asharq
Al-Awsat: Policeman Killed In Terrorist Attack In
Sinai
“One Egyptian policeman was killed in a terrorist attack in
al-Arish, North Sinai, according to tribal and medical eyewitnesses.
Sinai Tribal Union, a gathering of tribesmen who cooperate with the
Egyptian authorities during security operations, announced that a
security officer at Bir al-Abed Police Department, northeast of Sinai,
survived an assassination attempt. The incident happened when a group
of masked gunmen opened fire at the officer's car, killing his driver
immediately. The Union issued a statement announcing the death of
officer Ahmed Abdusalam, who was killed by extremists during the
attack. Mervat Saleh, a Bir Al-Abed resident who witnessed the
incident, reported that she heard gunshots in front of her building,
and after things calmed down, residents found out that someone
attacked the sheriff’s car. She added that the perpetrators were
armed, masked, and targeted the car with heavy fire while it was
parked in front of a pharmacy. However, the sheriff was inside the
pharmacy and they shot his driver instead. Saleh said that an
ambulance rushed to the scene followed by policemen who immediately
began combing the region looking for the attackers.”
Africa
The
National: Fifty Boko Haram Militants Killed In Niger
“Fifty fighters from Nigeria's terrorist group Boko Haram were
killed in an overnight clash in the south-east of neighbouring Niger,
the government said on Monday. The Defence Ministry said armed the
terrorists, riding in about 20 vehicles, attacked a military post in
Toummour, in the restive Diffa region. The assailants were repelled in
a “spontaneous riposte”, the ministry said, giving a provisional toll
of one soldier wounded and 50 Boko Haram fighters killed.
Reinforcements from the Special Intervention Battalion joined the
chase to the shores of Lake Chad, the ministry said. It said “several
suspects” were captured along with two vehicles and weapons. The
region adjoining Nigeria and Chad has repeatedly suffered attacks
since 2015 by Boko Haram, which has bases hidden in the vast Lake Chad
area, where the borders of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria meet.
They had subsided since late last year, but on March 7, Boko Haram
fighters, also in about 20 vehicles, raided another army base in
Chetima Wango, leaving eight soldiers dead and three missing. State
radio said there were three successive clashes and that vehicles that
managed to cross the border into Nigeria were “almost all neutralised”
in air strikes by a joint multinational force from Niger, Nigeria,
Chad and Cameroon.”
The
National Interest: Why Is Terrorism Rising In West
Africa?
“The local al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates responsible for
thousands of deaths in the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa in the
past year — namely, Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and the
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) — are now reportedly
coordinating their operations. The emerging cooperation between
jihadist fighters so far appears to be centered more on de-escalating
tensions, rather than actually merging their efforts. But the worrying
development nonetheless could empower the two groups to wreak even
more havoc in the already unstable region and expand their influence
across even greater swaths of Africa. JNIM and ISGS initially operated
out of central Mali and northern Burkina Faso. Over the past year,
increasingly violent and frequent militant attacks have begun
affecting the Mali-Niger border area and southern parts of Burkina
Faso. Over the past year, more than 2,600 people have been killed and
more than a half-million have been displaced in Burkina Faso alone.
The surge of jihadist violence is also increasingly encroaching on
countries in coastal West Africa. Benin has seen two militant-related
incidents along its northern border, including the abduction of two
French tourists and an attack on a police post.”
Atlantic
Council: Removing Sudan’s Terrorism Designation: Proceeding With
Caution
“No aspect of US policy towards Sudan has garnered more scrutiny,
from both inside and outside the country, than Sudan’s continued
designation on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list. To many,
the listing is seen as a vestige of US policy towards the previous
authoritarian regime—which was overthrown in a democratic uprising
last year and replaced by a civilian-led transitional council—and of a
long-past era when Sudan was an active belligerent in the spread of
political Islam across the region. Sudan’s continued SST listing
stands out to its critics as an anachronism and a symbol of
Washington’s own lethargy in updating its policy toward Khartoum. But
the issue itself—whether Sudan should remain on the list and what
would be required to remove it—is vastly complicated. To the chagrin
of many Sudanese, far more than a stroke of President Trump’s pen is
needed to secure Sudan’s removal. Rather, the process involves an
interlocking network of legislative processes, legal rulings,
financial settlements, intelligence assessments, and, most of all,
politics, to unwind this ultimate tool in America’s sanctions arsenal.
This paper ultimately argues that the costs of inaction likely
outweigh the benefits, but its main purpose is to outline and explain
the network of complicating procedural and political factors that make
this such a thorny issue to resolve with any expediency.”
United Kingdom
Daily
Mail: Far Right Terrorist Who Became A Muslim Extremist And Befriended
Streatham Knifeman Sudesh Amman While In Prison Has Release Postponed
'Because He's High Risk To The Public' In First Case Of Its
Kind
“A far right terrorist who became a Muslim extremist and befriended
the Streatham knifeman behind bars has had his release postponed in
the first case of its kind since a spate of attacks by former inmates.
The 'model' prisoner who befriended Streatham knifeman Sudesh Amman
whilst in prison was previously handed a detention and training order
for terrorism offences. He had reached the point in his sentence where
he should have gained automatic release but it was believed he was
still a threat. Prison officials said they received intelligence that
the inmate known as X, poses a 'high risk to the public' if he were to
be released as he believes in extremist Islamic ideology. There are
also fears that he could have learned tricks from other prisoners to
escape detection from the authorities. Guards were concerned when he
left his job inside to pray for his friend Sudesh Amman when he was
shot dead after stabbing people in south London in February. It is
said he appeared upset by the death and 'did not believe him to be a
bad person.’”
France
ABC
News: French Judges Order Charges Against 20 In 2015 Paris
Attacks
“French judges investigating the 2015 Islamic State attacks that
left 130 people dead in Paris have ordered charges against 20 people,
including a Belgian accused of masterminding the attacks who was held
for years in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq before being freed and returned
home. Three of the group, including the alleged mastermind, Oussama
Atar, are believed to have died in the group's final months of
fighting in Iraq and Syria. Also accused is the only survivor of the
Paris cell, Salah Abdeslam, who was arrested near his home in Brussels
after months on the run. Abdeslam's brother, Brahim, blew himself up
in Paris. Of the 20, 11 are jailed, three are under house arrest and
six face international arrest warrants. All are charged with terrorism
offenses. Atar is charged as the leader. The Nov. 13, 2015, attacks
were linked to March 2016 bombings in Brussels.”
Europe
Forbes:
Russia Continues To Conflate Freedom Of Religion Or Belief And
Extremism
“On March 4, 2020, Ms. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, the UN Special
Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, presented her new
report on human rights impact of policies and practices aimed at
preventing and countering violent extremism. In the report, the
Special Rapporteur stressed that any laws based on the broad concept
of extremism cannot be seen as human rights compliant. She emphasized
that: “The category of ‘extremist’ crimes is particularly vague and
problematic. Absent the qualifier of ‘violent extremism conducive to
terrorism’, the term remains broad and overly vague and may encroach
on human rights in profound and far-reaching ways… The term
‘extremism’ has no purchase in binding international legal standards
and, when operative as a criminal legal category, is irreconcilable
with the principle of legal certainty; it is therefore per se
incompatible with the exercise of certain fundamental human rights.”
The Special Rapporteur further added that “legislation that
criminalizes ‘extremist’ thought, belief and content or ‘hate speech’
on the basis that it is a precursor to terrorism, because it is often
used as a placeholder for silencing non-established or minority
religious groups or non-majority opinions.”
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