{Originally posted on author’s site, FirstOne Through}
The rise of Islamic extremism is not new. It is not a surprise. The mission of jihadists has been clearly broadcast for years:
HAMAS
The Hamas Charter was drafted in 1988. It mentions the word “jihad” 36 times in the charter. Its enemy is spelled out clearly: Jews.
“In order to face the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from raising the banner of Jihad.”
“Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it”
Jew/s/ish is mentioned 12 times in its charter. “Zion/ism/ist” is mentioned 20 times.
Hamas was democratically elected by the Palestinian people in 2006 to carry out a war against the Jews and to destroy Israel. The attacks against Israel in the summer of 2014 were a consistent part of its mission.
Al QAEDA
Al Qaeda did not suddenly appear on 9/11/2001. In 1998, it stated its goal of killing all Americans:
“we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims: The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies — civilians and military – is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it”
Al Qaeda has not backed down on its pledge while the US has enlisted the world support to defeat the group.
BOKO HARAM
The kidnapping of over 200 Christian girls in Nigeria in April 2014 shocked the world. Boko Haram made no secret of its targeted enemy a few years earlier: Christians.
“The Nigerian state and Christians are our enemies and we will be launching attacks on the Nigerian state and its security apparatus as well as churches until we achieve our goal of establishing an Islamic state in place of the secular state.”
The world has tweeted its support to bring back the girls and has provided support to find the attackers.
Many extremist groups continue to operate around the MENA region: Al-Shabaab, ISIS and Khorasan are only a few. Their aims are clear. Their path is jihad. Only the name of the infidel changes based on where the jihadists operate.
What is the world reaction to each of these extremist groups? Is the global community clear in its response?
A few years ago, the United Nations established an anti-terrorism unit. Its directive has noble goals for combating terrorism such as stopping the flow of funds and people to these groups. However, the committee has not been clear about who the terrorists are, as it only mentions Al-Qaeda and the Taliban as terrorist groups. These other jihadists could thereby escape sanctions.
Jihad is Jihad. Terrorism is Terrorism. The world must unite to stop it. The goal must be clear and unequivocal.
The Jihadists are.
