“Bashar Abdo had just returned home last month after four years in the Syrian
military when a mob of neighbors and others armed with guns and knives swarmed
his family’s front door and accused him of being a thug for the ousted regime.
His sisters and sister-in-law tried to block the crowd as he hid. But people
stormed in and found Mr. Abdo, 22, in the kitchen. They stabbed him before
dragging him outside, even as his sister, Marwa, clung to him. There, he was
shot. The account, shared by Mr. Abdo’s family, was confirmed by local police
in the northwestern city of Idlib. Video footage widely shared on Syrian social
media and verified by The New York Times captured the gruesome scene that
followed: As Ms. Abdo gripped his lifeless body, neighbors continued to kick
him.”











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Eye on Extremism



January 17, 2025



**NOTE: Eye On Extremism media monitoring will be suspended on Monday, January
20th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It will resume Tuesday,
January 21st.**



The New York Times: Many Syrians Want Justice For Regime Crimes. Others Want
Revenge.
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“Bashar Abdo had just returned home last month after four years in the Syrian
military when a mob of neighbors and others armed with guns and knives swarmed
his family’s front door and accused him of being a thug for the ousted regime.
His sisters and sister-in-law tried to block the crowd as he hid. But people
stormed in and found Mr. Abdo, 22, in the kitchen. They stabbed him before
dragging him outside, even as his sister, Marwa, clung to him. There, he was
shot. The account, shared by Mr. Abdo’s family, was confirmed by local police
in the northwestern city of Idlib. Video footage widely shared on Syrian social
media and verified by The New York Times captured the gruesome scene that
followed: As Ms. Abdo gripped his lifeless body, neighbors continued to kick
him.”



Reuters: Iraq Wants Iran-Backed Factions To Lay Down Weapons, Foreign Minister
Says
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“Iraq is trying to convince powerful armed factions in the country that have
fought U.S. forces and fired rockets and drones at Israel to lay down their
weapons or join official security forces, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said.
The push comes with a backdrop of seismic shifts in the Middle East that have
seen Iran's armed allies in Gaza and Lebanon heavily degraded and Syria's
government overthrown by rebels. The incoming U.S. Trump administration
promises to pile more pressure on Tehran, which has long backed a number of
political parties and an array of armed factions in Iraq. Some Baghdad
officials are concerned the status quo there may be upended next, but Hussein
played this down in an interview with Reuters during an official visit to
London.”




Recent CEP Press Releases

*
Extremist Content Online: ISIS Propaganda Allegedly Helped Inspire New Orleans
Attacker
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Antisemitic Violence Instigated by Pro-Palestinian Protestors in Amsterdam
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*
Statement on the Death of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar
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One Year After October 7
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CEP Report: Civilian Counterterrorism Militias Take Action, Introduce New
Challenges To Combatting Violent Extremism In Africa
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CEP Mentions



DW: Gaza Ceasefire: Israel Says Hamas Blocking Deal
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“... Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project,
has told DW that the ceasefire deal is "a victory" for the hostages and
Palestinian civilians in Gaza. However, Schindler said the Hamas command and
control structure, and its tunnel network, had been severely degraded. Every
month or week Hamas leaders wait for a ceasefire will only make them weaker, he
said. "For Hamas, this deal really is the recognition that they have nothing
more to gain by prolonging this conflict," he said. However, he said that Hamas
was in a position to rebuild itself. "Outside Gaza and outside the Palestinian
territories, the Hamas infrastructure is pretty much untouched," Schindler
said, mentioning the organization's leadership and money.”



Daily Mail: The 'Paradise' Next To Auschwitz: MailOnline Is Given Exclusive
Tour Of Nazi Rudolf Höss' Real-Life Zone Of Interest Home - And Is Shown
Chilling Secrets That Are Still Being Discovered Within
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“The house at 88 Legionow Street is imposing and ugly on the outside, but
functional and spacious within. With temperatures below freezing and snow thick
on the ground, visitors really notice the blast of warm air coming from the
radiators when they walk through the door. It is what Nazi mass murderer Rudolf
Höss would have felt after a day of 'work' just a few hundred feet away at the
most notorious factory of death in history… The property is set to be turned
into a weapon for good after being bought by the US-based Counter Extremism
Project, who will transform it into a key pillar of their bid to combat
radicalisation and violence.”



CNN: The Family Home Next To Auschwitz Is Opening Its Doors To The World
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“... Since Auschwitz was liberated in January 1945, the house at 88 Legionow
Street had been in the private hands of a Polish family. But last year it was
acquired by the Counter Extremism Project, a New York-based NGO that has sought
to combat extremism since 2014. Within days, this building – a potent symbol of
how the Holocaust was orchestrated and a major character in the Oscar-winning
movie “The Zone of Interest” – will open its door to visitors in a brand-new
form. “The idea behind the project is to create something that doesn’t exist, a
global center to fight extremism in the house of one of the historically worst
extremists and anti-semites that ever existed,” Hans Jakob Schindler, the
senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, told CNN.



The Guardian: Role Of US Servicemen In Acts Of Extremist Violence Under
Scrutiny
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“After the two men who carried out stateside terror attacks on New Year’s Day
were revealed to be veterans of the “war on terror”, public scrutiny about the
role of American servicemen in such incidents came into focus. The New Orleans
attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, was a 13-year veteran of the US army, while
the Las Vegas suicide bomber was an active-duty Green Beret… “In a few cases,
they have attracted individuals serving in the armed forces,” said Joshua
Fisher Birch, a terrorism analyst at the New York-based Counter Extremism
Project. “The perpetrator of the 2009 Fort Hood Shooting, where a US army
psychiatrist killed 13 people and wounded 32 others, had communicated with
al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki.””



Polityka: Rudolf Höss's House At Auschwitz Wall Sold. Anti-Hate Center To Be
Established
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“The villa of the former commandant of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration
camp, Rudolf Höss, has been purchased by the American non-governmental
organization Counter Extremism Project and will be open to visitors in a few
days. The amount for which the building was purchased from private owners is
not known. In an interview with the New York Times, a lawyer for the Counter
Extremism Project (CEP) only stated that it was "significantly greater" than
the market value of the house, which was estimated at about $120,000, or about
PLN 500,000. The building has been undergoing renovation in recent weeks, as
the new owners wanted to restore the interiors as much as possible to the
condition they had during World War II , when the Höss family lived there from
1941 to 1944. In addition, the interiors were furnished with period items,
including German newspapers and a coffee mug with the SS emblem.”



Tagesspiegel: Is Israel Paying Too High A Price For The Hostage Deal?: “Hamas
Wants To Free The Tough Guys, The Murderers”
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“Mr. Schindler, the hostage deal has barely been announced and there is
already a dispute between Hamas and Israel. What else could cause the agreement
to fail? “Hamas wants to decide alone who will be released from Israeli prisons
in return for the release of the hostages. Israel cannot agree to that.” What
speaks against it?“ No government would allow itself to be dictated to as to
which prisoners it would release and which it would not. If there is no
agreement on this issue, an agreement could still fail. But I do not expect
that to happen. The outcome of the negotiations is basically a given…”
Hans-Jakob Schindler is Senior Director of the international Counter Extremism
Project and heads its office in Berlin.”



United States



Fox News: American Radicalized By ISIS Expressed 'Excitement' About Traveling
Overseas To Support Terrorist Group: FBI
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“A North Carolina man is charged with providing material support to ISIS
after he allegedly made plans to travel to Morocco in December 2024 to join the
foreign terrorist organization (FTO), according to federal court documents.
Alexander Justin White, 29, of Durham, allegedly used social media — primarily
Facebook and encrypted messaging apps (EMAs) — to "make posts about supporting
ISIS and jihad" and communicate with other ISIS supporters about wanting to
join the FTO. In those communications, White, using the pseudonym "Sulaiman
Al-Amriki," unknowingly had online conversations with an undercover FBI agent,
authorities said.”



Reuters: U.S. General Wants To Revive Training Of Syrians Fighting Islamic
State
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"A top U.S. general has asked for permission to resurrect an effort to train
Syrian opposition fighters for battles against Islamic State militants, but on
a smaller scale than a previous programme that failed and was scrapped last
year. General Lloyd Austin, the head of Central Command, which oversees U.S.
forces in the Middle East, told a Senate hearing on Tuesday that unlike the
previous effort, which sought to recruit and train entire units of fighters
outside the country to redeploy into Syria, the new programme would focus on
shorter-term training of smaller groups. "As we reintroduce those people back
into the fight, they will be able to enable the larger groups that they’re a
part of," Austin said.”



Reuters: Pakistani Al Qaeda Suspect Goes On Trial In U.S. For Bomb Plot Charges

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“A Pakistan-born man went on trial on Wednesday on U.S. charges that he took
part in an al Qaeda plot to carry out bombing attacks in the United States and
Europe in 2008 and 2009. Jury selection began in federal court in Brooklyn, New
York, for the trial of Abid Naseer, 28, who was extradited in 2013 from Britain
to face U.S. charges that he was involved in one of three al Qaeda cells
planning attacks in England, Norway and the United States. One of the cells
that Naseer did not belong to but was part of the conspiracy had plotted to
bomb the New York City subway system, prosecutors said. Two men, Najibullah
Zazi and Zarein Ahmedzay, have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the New
York plot, and a third, Adis Medunjanin, was convicted at trial and sentenced
in 2012 to life in prison.”



Syria



Associated Press: Syria’s New Administration Condemns Israeli Incursions After
Strike In Southern Syria Killed Three
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“Officials in Syria’s new de facto government hardened their tone Thursday
against Israel’s incursions into Syrian territory after an Israeli strike
killed three people and wounded five others in the south of the country.
“Israel advanced into the buffer zone under the pretext of the presence of
Iranian militias, but this excuse no longer holds after Damascus was
liberated,” Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of Syria’s new administration and formerly
known as Mohammad al-Jolani, said at a press conference in the Syrian capital.
For decades, the Syrian-Israeli border remained largely quiet under a 1974
Disengagement Agreement, which established a U.N.-patrolled demilitarized
buffer zone between the two countries after a war they fought the year before.”



Iraq



Voice Of America: VOA Kurdish: Iraqi, Kurdish Forces Conduct Joint Operation
Against IS
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“Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government security forces launched a joint
operation in the Gharaw Palkana area of Khurmatu district, a known Islamic
State stronghold connecting several provinces. The operation involved ground
forces and airstrikes targeting ISIS positions, with heavy explosions reported.
Officials emphasized the strategic importance of disrupting ISIS movements and
logistics in this region.”



Yemen



Bloomberg: Houthis Signal Pause On Red Sea Ship Attacks After Gaza Truce
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“The Yemen-based Houthis signaled a pause in their months-long attacks on
commercial ships following a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. In his
first comments since the Gaza truce accord was announced on Wednesday, Houthi
leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi said that the group would follow the agreement,
suggesting a halt in its campaign on vessels and on Israel. Still, he left the
door open for resuming the attacks, which would likely mean shipping firms will
remain very cautious of returning to the Red Sea. “We will continue to follow
the stages of implementing the agreement,” Al-Houthi said in a speech Thursday.
“Any Israeli breach, massacre, or siege — we will be immediately ready to
provide military support to Palestinians.””



Associated Press: Mysterious Airstrip Appears On A Yemeni Island As Houthi
Rebel Attacks Threaten Region
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“A mysterious airstrip being built on a remote island in Yemen is nearing
completion, satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show, one of
several built in a nation mired in a stalemated war threatening to reignite.
The airstrip on Abd al-Kuri Island, which rises out of the Indian Ocean near
the mouth of the Gulf of Aden, could provide a key landing zone for military
operations patrolling that waterway. That could be useful as commercial
shipping through the Gulf and Red Sea — a key route for cargo and energy
shipments heading to Europe — has halved under attacks by Yemen’s
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The area also has seen weapons smuggling from
Iran to the rebels.”



Middle East



The Guardian: Islamist Groups In Middle East Will Emerge From Gaza War Weakened

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“The ceasefire due to come into force on Sunday, barring a major last-minute
problem, will cement massive and rapid changes across the Middle East and may
seal a significant defeat for the Islamist militant groups that have been
powerful actors in the region for years. Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon
and assorted Shia Muslim militia in Iraq and Syria will all emerge from the
conflict considerably weakened. Only the Houthis in Yemen are stronger – though
this may not last. The Islamic State remains a shadow of its former self. For
an organisation like Hamas simply to survive a big conflict is an achievement,
and means Israel has failed to achieve one of its primary war aims.”



The Washington Post: Israeli Cabinet To Vote Friday On Ceasefire, Hostage
Release Deal With Hamas
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“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed by Israel’s negotiation
team that agreements have been reached on a ceasefire and hostage deal with
Hamas, his office said in a statement early Friday local time. Families of the
hostages held by the militant group were also briefed on the agreements.
Netanyahu expressed his appreciation to the team “and all those who assisted,”
the office said. The Israeli prime minister on Thursday accused Hamas of
“reneging” on parts of the agreement, leading to a delay in the Israeli cabinet
meeting scheduled to vote on the deal, which requires approval from both the
cabinet and Israel’s coalition government.”



Egypt



Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Egypt’s Chief Diplomat Urges Israel And Hamas
To Enact Ceasefire ‘Without Any Delay’
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“Egypt’s chief diplomat on Thursday called on Israel and Hamas to implement a
Gaza ceasefire plan “without any delay,” raising pressure on Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the deal. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty
delivered the message at a sensitive time in efforts to end a devastating
15-month conflict. A day after President Joe Biden and other international
mediators announced the ceasefire agreement, Netanyahu was still insisting
there was no deal. However, a pre-dawn statement on Friday appeared to have
cleared the way for the deal to be voted on by Israel’s security cabinet. If
approved Israel said the deal could go into effect on Sunday.”



Nigeria



Associated Press: Nigerian Army Says It Killed 76 Extremists During A Weeklong
Operation In Borno State
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“Nigerian troops killed 76 Islamic militants in the country’s northeast
during operations conducted in various parts of Borno state, the military said
Thursday. The operations took place between Jan. 7 and Jan. 13, Nigerian army
spokesperson Edward Buba said during a news conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s
capital. He added that the military also arrested 72 suspects and rescued eight
hostages kidnapped by the militants. Buba did not provide details about the
extremists’ affiliation but the area of operations has long been plagued by
attacks from the Boko Haram group and its breakaway faction that is loyal to
the Islamic State group. The army spokesperson also did not specify if any
members of the Nigerian military were killed during the operations.”



Russia



Politico: ‘Shameful’ Russia Locks Up Navalny’s Lawyers On Extremism Charges
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"Three lawyers for deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were on
Friday sentenced to prison for “being part of an extremist group,” a Russian
court ruled. Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser and Igor Sergunin, who have been in
pre-trial detention since October 2023, are accused of passing Navalny’s prison
messages to the outside world. The court said that allowed Navalny — who died
in the Arctic Polar Wolf prison colony in February 2024 — to continue his role
as the “leader of the extremist group.” Navalny, thanks to associates outside,
was able to post on social media and file lawsuits over his treatment in
prison. His letters partly served as a basis for the memoir “Patriots,” which
was released late last year.”



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