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Eye on Extremism
February 2, 2022
Reuters: Coups Cheered In West Africa As Islamist Insurgencies Sap Faith In Democracy
“The last time rebellious soldiers attempted to overthrow Burkina Faso's government in 2015, Marcel Tankoano was among thousands of protesters who took to the streets to oust the junta. Within days, loyalist forces had restored the president to power. Last week, Tankoano was on the streets again, this time celebrating the military coup that toppled the country's elected president, Roch Kabore. “Since the 1990s there has been a wave of democracy across West Africa. But that democracy has failed the people,” said Tankoano, a civil society leader, at his home outside the capital Ouagadougou. “We must be clear, we need a military regime.” His change of heart reflects disenchantment across West Africa's Sahel region, where elected governments have failed to contain growing militant violence over the last decade that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions more. Emboldened by popular anger, militaries in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso have taken matters into their own hands, staging four coups in 18 months and reversing democratic gains that had seen the region shed its tag as Africa's “coup belt”. Poverty and corruption have further undermined faith in civilian rulers, worrying international partners including France and the United States who have troops in the region fighting Islamist insurgents and fear greater instability.”
The New York Times: Anders Behring Breivik, Killer In 2011 Norway Massacre, Is Denied Parole
“Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian terrorist who killed 77 people in gun and bomb attacks in 2011, was denied parole on Tuesday by a Norwegian court that said he “appeared devoid of empathy and compassion for the victims of the terror.” Mr. Breivik, 42, who has served 10 years of a 21-year sentence for the attacks, showed no signs that his extremist views had waned during his years of incarceration. When the parole hearing began on Jan. 18, he entered the courtroom and made a Nazi-style salute. He also carried and wore signs emblazoned with racist messages, including one that read “Stop your genocide against our white nations.” Speaking to the judge, Mr. Breivik demanded that he be treated as a prisoner of war. Judge Dag Bjorvik oversaw the parole hearing, which lasted for two weeks and was held at Skien prison for security reasons. Mr. Breivik’s lawyer, Oystein Storrvik, said on Tuesday that they would appeal the verdict, after expressing pessimism at the start of the hearing. “No Norwegian lawyer wants a case to begin with a Hitler salute,” he said in an interview with The Times last month. He said he was not particularly concerned with Mr. Breivik winning his parole, adding that his long-term strategy was to “improve the conditions under which he is sitting” in prison.”
United States
“A California man connected to the “Boogaloo Boys” extremist group was sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday for hoarding homemade ghost guns and a stockpile of ammunition in his Manhattan Airbnb rental. Therkelsen was arrested by the joint FBI-NYPD terrorism task force on Dec. 15, 2020, after cops and agents found two operable and untraceable “ghost guns” in the Airbnb he was staying in on First Ave. in the East Village. The two 9-mm. pistols were made with metal and polymer parts Therkelsen bought on eBay and other websites. Police also found 11 high-capacity magazines, body armor, other gun parts, ammunition, tools for assembly and a T-shirt that said, “kill cops.” Prosecutors said Therkelsen’s California rap sheet meant he couldn’t legally own a gun. A search of his cell phone turned up evidence of his affiliation with the Boogaloo Boys. The “Boogaloo Bois” are a loosely connected group who espouse violent anti-government sentiments, according to the Justice Department. The term “Boogaloo” itself references a supposedly impending second civil war in the United States and is associated with violent uprisings against the government, the DOJ explained.”
Afghanistan
Voice Of America: UN, Rights Groups Demand Taliban Free 2 Afghan Journalists
“The Taliban have arrested two journalists working for a local news channel in Afghanistan, which has seen an increase in assaults on dissent since the Islamist group seized power last August. The arrests come days after two women activists went missing in the capital, Kabul, amid accusations they are being held by the Taliban. Local press freedom advocates alleged Ariana TV reporters Waris Hasrat and Aslam Hijab were picked up by Taliban forces on Monday afternoon while they were leaving office for lunch in the capital. “The reason for the arrest of these reporters is not yet clear,” Free Speech Hub, an independent Afghan group working for press freedom, said in a statement. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) demanded Tuesday the Taliban address the journalists’ detention and make clear the whereabouts of the missing women activists. “Mounting concern about restrictions on media & free expression. UN urges Taliban to make public why they detained these @ArianaNews_ reporters & to respect Afghan's rights,” UNAMA said on Twitter. Taliban officials have not yet commented on the incident. Ariana TV officials said the Taliban “have assured us of comprehensive investigation.”
Voice Of America: With US Away, China Gets Friendly With Afghanistan's Taliban
“It's approaching six months since the Taliban took over the Afghan capital, Kabul, on August 15. And in the months since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, neighboring China has taken a keen interest in the fate of the Central Asian country. The interest, in fact, predated the Taliban takeover. In late July, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a nine-member Taliban delegation met in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. The meeting, some analysts said at the time, underscored Beijing's warming ties with the Islamist group and the Taliban's growing clout on the global stage. In addition, last October, Foreign Minister Wang spoke about China's expectations for Afghanistan's future after he had met with the Taliban interim government representatives in Doha, Qatar, where the two parties “decided to establish a working-level mechanism.” China's expectations, Wang said, include the following: Build a more inclusive political structure in which all ethnic groups and factions play a part; implement more moderate foreign and domestic policies, including the protection of women's rights; “make a clear break with all terrorist forces, including the Islamic State and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement”; and pursue a peaceful foreign policy, especially with neighboring countries.”
Lebanon
“Lebanon will be “another Iran-dominated, corruption-riddled failed state” if critical steps are not taken soon to end government corruption in the country, tackle the economic challenges it is facing and address the “crippling” issue of Hezbollah’s violence. This is the conclusion of a report published on Tuesday by two leading Middle East think tanks based in Washington, the American Task Force on Lebanon and the Middle East Institute. To mark the occasion they hosted a webinar during which panelists discussed ways in which the report’s powerful conclusions might be implemented and order restored to Lebanon. A major part of the discussion focused on the role of Hezbollah, and participants noted that the outcome of the ongoing US negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program could have significant ramifications for Lebanon. Paul Salem, the president of the Middle East Institute, said Lebanon faces many challenges, including the failure to eliminate sectarianism over the past 31 years, but that a greater challenge is the continuing presence and power of Hezbollah as a non-state actor with allegiance to Iran.”
Egypt
Al Monitor: Attacks Raise Fears Of Islamic State Resurgence In Sinai
“Local security analysts warn against a possible resurgence by the Islamic State (IS) in the Sinai Peninsula, in the wake of a string of attacks on army troops, Bedouins and tribal figures in the northeastern Egyptian territory. Five army troops, including an officer, sergeant and three conscripts, were killed in the northern Sinai town of Baer al-Abd Jan. 25, when an explosive device, planted by IS operatives, went off, during an army combing operation in the town. The incident came only hours after IS militants kidnapped six people from the town and fled, according to tribal sources. Northern Sinai, the main hotspot of IS activities in Egypt, has been relatively calm for several weeks. Nevertheless, the latest attack and kidnappings give rise to fears that they might be part of a regional reawakening of the organization, one that has so far been noticed in Syria, Iraq and Libya. “We are witnessing a comeback by IS in several regional hotspots, after the organization succeeded in regrouping,” Ehab Youssef, a retired police general, told Al-Monitor. “This comeback can embolden the local IS branch into more attacks in the coming period.” On Jan. 20, militants affiliated with IS attacked a major prison complex run by Syria's Kurds in northeastern Syria to free thousands of IS fighters who were held inside the prison.”
Nigeria
All Africa: Nigeria: Troops, Police Kill 28 Terrorists, Rescue 30 In Sokoto, Zamfara
“Sokoto State police command in its onslaught against bandits, code named “Operation Sahara Storm” has killed 23 bandits in their camps in Illela, Rabah and Goronyo local government areas. This came as the Nigerian Army said its troops conducting “Operation Hadin Kai” in the North East killed five Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during encounters in Yobe and Borno States. In the Sokoto raid, 37 others belonging to the Bello Turji bandit camp were arrested at camps in Bingo, Sangari, Dunawa, Tsamaye, Sakanau, Zangon, Mayel and Gudugudu villages. They were paraded at the command headquarters by the police yesterday. Also paraded before newsmen were 20 others for offences ranging from criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, cattle rustling, culpable homicide and possession of prohibited firearms. Items recovered from the suspected bandits include 32 AK-47 rifles, 2 rocket propeller-gun, one rocket launcher, 1,412 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 1,200 rounds of AA live ammunition, 4 locally made pistol, one beretta pistol, 3 pairs of army camouflage uniforms and 4 operational vehicles.”
“Militants from the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād on Monday mounted roadblocks in some parts of Borno State. Areas, where the checkpoints were mounted by the terror group, include Mile 40, along Maiduguri/Gajaram road and Wajiroko, along Damboa/Biu road. Sources said the insurgents were on the highways “checking on travellers' identity cards to fish out security operatives travelling in mufti.” “They were also issuing tax receipts to defaulters,” another source confirmed. SaharaReporters had in several reports in 2021 reported how ISWAP had been taxing residents of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe State. Sources said failure of the residents to comply with the directive attracted the death penalty. The terrorist group also lifted the ban imposed on fishing and farming activities in the Lake Chad area, three years after chasing people out of the area for allegedly spying for Nigerian troops. It, nevertheless, imposed new taxes and levies in the areas controlled by ISWAP-Boko Haram, to regulate trades and agricultural activities.”
Mali
Al Jazeera: Mali And France, A Timeline Of Mounting Tensions
“Mali’s military-led government has expelled France’s ambassador, the latest sign of mounting tensions between the West African country and its former colonial power. The standoff comes as Western powers say Russian mercenaries working for the controversial Wagner group have been deployed in Mali, a country at the heart of a long-running conflict in the Sahel region, where thousands of French troops are deployed to fight armed groups. On August 18, 2020, a group of Malian soldiers led by Colonel Assimi Goita overthrew elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was facing angry protests over the government’s failure to stem the violence. The coup is seen as a blow to French President Emmanuel Macron, who had supported Keita and sought to improve relations with former colonies in Africa. On March 30, 2021, in a rare criticism of French forces in Mali, United Nations investigators accused the French military of being responsible for the killing of at least 19 civilians at a wedding party in central Mali in an air raid three months before. France denied the findings, saying its forces targeted an “armed terrorist group” and that it had “numerous reservations about the methodology used” in the UN investigation.”
Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Zero Tolerance’: More Than $60m To Combat Violent Extremism
“Australia will pour more than $60 million into countering violent extremism amid an increase in conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns from MPs about their safety following last year’s murder of British MP Sir David Amess. The nation’s security agencies have been raising the alarm about an upturn in “single-issue” violent extremism, citing anti-lockdown protests as an example. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews will on Wednesday announce an additional $61.7 million for Australia’s counter-extremism programs, doubling the funding they’ve received since 2013. Ms Andrews said Australia was a “peaceful, tolerant, and harmonious country, but we cannot be blind to the fact that there are those among us who seek to sow hate, fear, and discord”. “Violent extremists may have a range of ideologies and motivations, but none of them are welcome in this country,” Ms Andrews said. “This government has zero tolerance for anyone threatening the peace and cohesion of our society by trying to use violence to achieve a political, religious, or ideological goal.”
Europe
Radio Free Europe: Court In Russia Rejects Navalny's Request To Cancel His Status Of 'Terrorist'
“A court in Russia's Vladimir region has rejected imprisoned opposition politician Aleksei Navalny’s request to annul his designated status as "a terrorist and extremist." The Petushki district court pronounced its decision on February 1. Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) officials said at the hearing that Navalny was tagged with the status because "he had committed administrative violations of laws and regulations, founded an organization that was recognized as extremist, and because a criminal case had been launched against him on extremism charges." The court's ruling came a week after Russian authorities added Navalny and several of his associates, most of whom are currently outside of Russia because they feared for their safety, to the federal registry of terrorists and extremists. Navalny and his supporters, along with some Western governments, have condemned the moves as politically motivated.”
Southeast Asia
Al Jazeera: Advocacy Group Calls On Sri Lanka To Repeal ‘Anti-Terror’ Law
“The Sri Lankan government must repeal a controversial security act, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said on Tuesday, adding that the proposed reforms by the right-wing government were “woefully inadequate”. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) gives security forces sweeping powers to arrest and imprison suspects. “The PTA as it stands allows for arbitrary and indefinite deprivation of liberty of any individual, group of individuals, association, organisation or body of persons within or outside Sri Lanka suspected of a wide range of ill-defined activities that are considered unlawful under this Act,” the ICJ, which advocates for human rights, said in a statement on Tuesday. The advocacy body said the proposed amendments to the law, such as the reduction of detention period, and allowing a person detained for 12 months to seek bail, still allow for “persons to be deprived of liberty for an entire year without being given the opportunity to be heard before a court of law”. The UN Human Rights Council in September called for an “immediate moratorium” on the use of PTA, and that “a clear timeline be set for its comprehensive review or repeal”. Critics warn the law is being used as a weapon targeting dissidents and minorities in the Buddhist-majority South Asian island nation.”
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