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Eye on Extremism
September 22, 2021
Bloomberg: Afghanistan Aftermath’s Risk Of Terrorism Cited By Senate Panel
“Senators pressed top U.S. national security officials Tuesday about the country’s vulnerability to terrorism from the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan and from the thousands of evacuees arriving in the U.S. “These recent events have put a heightened foreign terrorist threat top-of-mind,” Senator Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican, said at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. FBI Director Christopher Wray said the bureau is working with state and local agencies to “get in front of any radicalization” of Afghan evacuees in the U.S., relying on more than 200 joint terrorism task forces to monitor potential threats. “We’re putting a heavy focus on community outreach as the evacuees settle here in the United States,” Wray said. Defending the ongoing vetting of Afghan evacuees, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said “we continue to screen and vet individuals seeking to arrive in the United States.” “We have not relaxed our vigilance over the years,” Mayorkas added. More than 60,000 people have been brought into the U.S. from Afghanistan so far, Mayorkas said. About 7% are U.S. citizens, 6% are lawful permanent residents and 3% are Afghans who have received special immigrant visas, Mayorkas said. The rest are vulnerable individuals and those whose applications haven’t yet been approved, he said.”
Reuters: New Zealand Steps Closer To Tighter Terrorism Laws After Supermarket Knife Attack
“New Zealand's parliament took a step closer on Tuesday to making it easier to arrest and prosecute terrorists planning attacks, just weeks after an Islamic State-inspired assault by a knife-wielding assailant wounded seven people at a supermarket. The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill passed its second reading in parliament with the ruling Labour Party and the main opposition National Party voting in favour, while smaller parties like the Greens opposed it. The bill, an amendment to the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act and other related laws, will be enacted once it clears a third reading. The government said the legislation addresses a major gap in the law by criminalising planning or preparation for a terrorist act. Enforcement agencies have long recommended the change. The new law also gives police the ability to apply warrantless powers of entry, search, and surveillance to stop the planning and preparation of a terrorist act and criminalises weapons training or combat training for terrorist purposes. Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said the legislation brings New Zealand in line with laws in countries like Australia, Britain and Canada. “This is a change which bring us into line with laws in other countries and strengthens our laws to fight the changing nature of terrorism where we are seeing more threats from lone actors rather than terrorist organisations,” Faafoi said in a statement.”
United States
Reuters: Pharma Companies Defend Dismissal Of Terror Case At D.C. Circuit Hearing
“Major pharmaceutical companies urged a Washington, D.C., federal appeals court on Tuesday to uphold the dismissal of claims that their medical-goods contracts with Iraq's health ministry helped finance terror activity in the country that injured or killed American service members between 2005 and 2011. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard oral arguments for nearly two hours over whether the drug companies, represented at the hearing by Kannon Shanmugam of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, can be held liable under the federal Anti-Terrorism Act for certain deliveries of drugs and medical equipment. Tuesday's hearing raised questions about how and where courts can draw a line around the Anti-Terrorism Act to protect humanitarian aid that benefits people in distressed areas plagued by terror activity. Last year, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., ruled for named defendant AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and other companies, concluding the plaintiffs had not made a viable “aiding and abetting” claim under the Anti-Terrorism Act.”
Newsweek: Islamic Terrorists Or Chinese Dissidents? U.S. Grapples With Uyghur Dilemma
“President Joe Biden and his administration are grappling with a new foreign policy dilemma: how to deal with Uyghur separatists seeking to take on the People's Republic of China and establish an independent Islamic state in the northwestern Xinjiang region at a time when Washington is also increasing pressure on Beijing. The U.S. stance for the last two decades since the “war on terror” was declared after 9/11 has been to view groups such as Uyghurs factions as enemy actors, due to their reported links to Al-Qaeda. One such organization, a Uyghur separatist group known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), was added to the Terrorist Exclusion List, a Patriot Act measure designed to disallow suspected militant group members from entering the United States. Over the course of the past 20 years, however, Washington's foreign policy priorities have shifted dramatically, a change marked most notably by Biden's military exit from Afghanistan. That exit was set in motion by Donald Trump, whose focus throughout his tenure in office was on another national foe, China. In addition to confronting Beijing on trade, political unrest in Hong Kong and tensions over Taiwan, the Trump administration endorsed allegations that China was conducting a “genocide” in Xinjiang, the northwestern province that is home to the Uyghurs.”
Afghanistan
Reuters: Taliban Say No Al Qaeda Or ISIS In Afghanistan
“Afghanistan's Taliban rulers said on Tuesday there was no evidence of Islamic State or al Qaeda militants being in the country, days after Islamic State claimed responsibility for bomb attacks in the eastern city of Jalalabad. Since toppling the Western-backed government in Kabul last month, the Taliban have faced pressure from the international community to renounce ties with al Qaeda, the group behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. At the same time, they have had to deal with a series of attacks claimed by an affiliate of Islamic State, with which they have been in conflict for several years over a mix of economic and ideological disputes. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected accusations that al Qaeda maintained a presence in Afghanistan and repeated pledges that there would be no attacks on third countries from Afghanistan from militant movements. “We do not see anyone in Afghanistan who has anything to do with al Qaeda,” he told a news conference in Kabul. “We are committed to the fact that, from Afghanistan, there will not be any danger to any country.” The Taliban were ousted from power by U.S.-led forces in 2001 for refusing to hand over al Qaeda leaders responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks.”
Reuters: Exclusive: Taliban Names Afghan U.N. Envoy, Asks To Speak To World Leaders
“The Taliban have asked to address world leaders at the United Nations in New York this week and nominated their Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan's U.N. ambassador, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made the request in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday. Muttaqi asked to speak during the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly, which finishes on Monday. Guterres' spokesperson, Farhan Haq, confirmed Muttaqi's letter. The move sets up a showdown with Ghulam Isaczai, the U.N. ambassador in New York representing Afghanistan's government ousted last month by the Taliban. Haq said the rival requests for Afghanistan's U.N. seat had been sent to a nine-member credentials committee, whose members include the United States, China and Russia. The committee is unlikely to meet on the issue before Monday, so it is doubtful that the Taliban foreign minister will address the world body. Eventual U.N. acceptance of the ambassador of the Taliban would be an important step in the hardline Islamist group's bid for international recognition, which could help unlock badly needed funds for the cash-strapped Afghan economy.”
Lebanon
Politico: Hezbollah’s Grip On Lebanon Is Weakening. Here’s How Washington Can Help.
“In a televised speech last week, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah outlined a detailed plan for how a U.S.-sanctioned militia will send tankers of U.S.-sanctioned fuel to be distributed by a U.S.-sanctioned company. Hezbollah is planning to use a subsidiary firm to sell Iranian fuel in Lebanon amid severe shortages of fuel and diesel. This violation of U.S. sanctions could trigger penalties on Lebanon, which is already buckling under a historic economic crisis. Yet Lebanon’s brand-new government did not say a word. Not a single minister from the new governing coalition — formed earlier this month after over a year with no government — commented on how the country would address Hezbollah’s defiant and arguably illegal plan. Hezbollah, long designated a terrorist organization by the United States, has been effectively running Lebanon for years. The group maintains a marriage of convenience with the country’s political class: Both sides benefit from a status quo in which political elites are protected and Hezbollah can continue regular violence against Israel and regional warfare on behalf of Iran, while ordinary Lebanese people suffer. None of this is surprising. But what is surprising is that Hezbollah’s iron grip on Lebanon’s politics and economy is starting to loosen — which gives the Biden administration a chance to change an approach that’s long been failing.”
The National: Lebanon's Public Prosecutor Demands Answers Over Hezbollah Blast Probe Threats
“Lebanon's public prosecutor called on the judge leading the investigation into last year's explosion at Beirut port to clarify allegations that a senior Hezbollah official threatened proceedings. Ghassan Ouidat took to Twitter to ask judge Tarek Bitar to respond in writing to allegations that he had been threatened by Hezbollah security chief Wafiq Safa. The requested followed a local media reported that Mr Safa had threatened to remove the judge from the investigation, claiming Hezbollah was “fed up” with it. Also on Tuesday, dates were set for the questioning of several former ministers and MPs after some of them failed to show up for inquiry sessions as part of the investigation into the explosion, which killed more than 200 people on August 4. Mr Bitar summoned former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil for September 30 and former agriculture minister Ghazi Zeaiter and former Interior Minister Nouhad Al Machnouk on October 1. The three have claimed to hold parliamentary immunity throughout the investigation. But under Lebanese law, the immunity does not apply between the confirmation of a government and the start of the parliamentary term. Parliament will resume on October 19 after the new government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati was confirmed on Monday.”
Africa
Voice Of America: Nine Chad Villagers Killed In Jihadist Assault
“Nine people have died in an attack on a village in the Lake Chad area that is plagued by violence led by jihadist groups, a local governor and an NGO said Tuesday. The region borders Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon, and fighters from Boko Haram and a rival splinter group, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), have used it for years as a haven from which to attack troops and civilians. “Elements from Boko Haram attacked Kadjigoroum and killed nine people and set fire to the village” on Sunday night, regional governor Mahamat Fadoul Mackaye told Agence France-Presse by telephone. Chadian authorities use the Boko Haram label to refer to both militant groups. The head of a local NGO confirmed the attack and death toll at the village, asking not to be identified. In August, 26 soldiers died in a Boko Haram raid on marshy Lake Chad's Tchoukou Telia island, about 190 kilometers (120 miles) north of the capital, N'Djamena. In March 2020, 100 Chadian troops died in an attack on the lake's Bohoma peninsula, prompting an offensive the following month led by Chad's then-President Idriss Deby Itno. After pursuing the militants deep into Niger and Nigeria, Deby said there was “not a single jihadist anywhere” on the Chadian side of the lake region.”
All Africa: Mozambique: Defence Minister Unaware Of Landmine Use By Isis Terrorists
“Mozambican Defence Minister Jaime Neto said on Monday in Maputo that he was not aware of the use of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by ISIS terrorists in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Answering a question posed by AIM, on the sidelines of the launch of the National Armed Forces commemorative week, Neto declared that he was not yet aware, but if the terrorists are now resorting to landmines and IEDs it is a matter of great concern. “I know nothing about the use of landmines by the bandits, but if they are really doing so, you know what such a move represents,” he stated. He added that if ISIS terrorists are adopting the use of such explosive devices, it is a serious material breach of the international treaties that Mozambique has ratified. “If they are using landmines, first, we have to know where they come from and who is supplying them,” he stressed. According to a report in Monday's issue of the South African daily “Business Day”, forces of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) mission in Mozambique (Samim) are facing a new and deadly threat of landmines and IEDs.”
France
Arab News: French Court Lengthens Jihadist’s Sentence On Appeal
“A French appeal court on Tuesday increased an extremist’s sentence for his senior role with Daesh group in Syria from 30 years to life in prison. Frenchman Tyler Vilus had already been convicted for his work with the Daesh group there between 2013 and 2015. On appeal, the court also ordered that the 31-year-old serve a minimum of 22 years in jail. He was deemed a “major risk” to re-offend and still denied some of the charges. Vilus led the “Al-MuHajjireen” (the immigrants) brigade, a squadron that tortured and carried out summary executions. He was deported to France after being arrested at an Istanbul airport with a Swiss passport in July 2015 en route to Europe to carry out an attack. His mother, dubbed “Mama Jihad” in the French press, traveled three times to Syria in support of her son and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in June 2017 for her “unfailing commitment” to jihad. Among the charges, Vilus was found guilty of taking part in the public execution of two blindfolded prisoners, which was filmed for a propaganda video. Vilus stood, head bowed, behind a glass screen to hear the verdict after an eight-day hearing under tight security in central Paris.”
Technology
“Epik long has been the favorite Internet company of the far-right, providing domain services to QAnon theorists, Proud Boys and other instigators of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol — allowing them to broadcast hateful messages from behind a veil of anonymity. But that veil abruptly vanished last week when a huge breach by the hacker group Anonymous dumped into public view more than 150 gigabytes of previously private data — including user names, passwords and other identifying information of Epik’s customers. Extremism researchers and political opponents have treated the leak as a Rosetta Stone to the far-right, helping them to decode who has been doing what with whom over several years. Initial revelations have spilled out steadily across Twitter since news of the hack broke last week, often under the hashtag #epikfail, but those studying the material say they will need months and perhaps years to dig through all of it. “It’s massive. It may be the biggest domain-style leak I’ve seen and, as an extremism researcher, it’s certainly the most interesting,” said Megan Squire, a computer science professor at Elon University who studies right-wing extremism. “It’s an embarrassment of riches — stress on the embarrassment.”
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