Islamic Radicalism Among Youths Continues

Photo: Jihadis were split over the violent tactics of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, whose death in 2006 made headlines worldwide (here, in Pakistan). Many jihadi youths turned against Zarqawi’s spiritual adviser, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, for criticizing some of Zarqawi’s methods such as indiscriminate suicide bombs. Ali Imam/Reuters/File

Jihadi Dispute Points To Deeper Radicalism Among Youths -- Christian Science Monitor

A leading jihadi theologian – and adviser to the late leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq – is under fire for ‘moderating’ his views.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - In yet another fissure within radical Islamist networks, one of the world's most influential jihadi theologians is coming under fire from some former followers for allegedly moderating his views – a claim he denies.

The attacks on Jordanian cleric Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, who was spiritual adviser for the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, are significant because of Mr. Maqdisi's longtime stature as a revered spiritual mentor who legitimizes violence with his religious interpretations of Islamic sacred texts.

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My Comment: Like all extremists groups .... Nazis, Pol Pot Communists, KKK, the IRA, etc.... there will always be a subgroup that is even more extremist. We are now seeing it in the Islamic/Jihadist movement. While they are only a few in number, their radicalism makes them very very dangerous. How they become neutralized is probably the priority for most security and military organizations in the world today.