Europe is experiencing a surge in religious extremism
By: M. Sharifi
The rise of religious extremism is one of our most pressing issues. Some scholars define the term "extremism" broadly as a commitment to radical behaviours. Extremism is described as religious devotion to radical and extreme beliefs and actions, including brutality, excessive violence, and hostility, within the context of religion.The ultimate goal of religious extremism is to seize political power, and the means to that end are the promotion of religious hatred and the exploitation of religious differences. Therefore, extremism endangers national security and the foundation for healthy social development, as it is a radical form of a harmful social action.
It is no secret that the United States supports and finances terrorist organisations wherever it attempts to wield political might in the name of fighting terrorism. Under the false pretext of fighting terrorism, the American administration deployed troops to Afghanistan and Pakistan, set up military bases, and invaded Iraq in 2003. Washington's greatest opportunity to renew its state-sponsored terrorism presented itself with the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine.In fact, the United States has found Ukraine to be a haven for reorganising Takfiri terrorists from around the globe. Through this strategy, the United States and its Western allies seek to create an army of Takfiri militants who will serve as pawns anywhere in the world.
In less than six months, the ISIS network in Afghanistan will be able to jeopardise American and other western interests outside of the nation, according to a statement by a top American general in the Middle East.Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of the United States Central Command, warned of an imminent assault by ISIS. According to Kurilla, ISIS' offshoot in Afghanistan (also known as ISIS-Khorasan) is rapidly extending its ability to carry out "external operations" in Europe and Asia.
New details about terrorist strikes in Europe emerged not long after Gen. Kurilla's recent remarks. According to CNN Portugal, at least two individuals were killed when a single assailant armed with a knife stormed the Ismaili Shiite religious centre in Lisbon. Portuguese police reportedly shot the attacker in the leg to disarm him. The perpetrator was allegedly of Afghan origin.
In this regard, news reports also indicate that a terrorist plot against a synagogue in the heart of Athens was foiled. The Athens police statement was quoted by the Greek daily Kathimerin, according to which the suspects had ties to a foreign terrorism group.The two men, reportedly of Pakistani origin, were taken into custody at the Athens police offices. The statement claims that the National Intelligence Agency of Greece and the Greek police anti-terrorism squad collaborated on the arrest with an unnamed foreign intelligence agency.
