Saudi Columnist: Jihadist Salafist Ideology is Like Nazism :: Understanding Islam

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October 17, 2005

Saudi Columnist: Jihadist Salafist Ideology is Like Nazism

"I am one of those who believe strongly that our clerics, students, and preachers shoulder most of the responsibility for the war against terrorism, especially since terrorism today exploits religion under the pretext of 'Allah said' and 'The Prophet said.'" - Muhammad bin 'Abd Al-Latif Aal Al-Sheikh (July 2005)

Looking back to July 2005 in two articles by Saudi columnist Muhammad bin 'Abd Al-Latif Aal Al-Sheikh, published in the Saudi daily Al-Jazirah, in which he attacked the ideology of the Al-Salafiyya Al-Jihadiyya movement, so stereotypical of Islamic fundamentalism - we gain insight as to how the ideology of this movement was similar to, or even worse than, the Nazi ideology, and that it should be dealt accordingly. His message is that militant Islam is a fascist animal, that must be defeated, and the message is from a Muslim to other Muslims.

"Putting an end to terrorism is only possible by putting an end to the ideology that plants it in our society. A security solution is not sufficient, though it is certainly required... He [Al-Maqdisi] preaches takfir [accusing other Muslims of apostasy] and terrorism out of purely political motives - out of an understanding, an inner conviction, premeditation and planning... Al-Salafiyya Al-Jihadiyya... should be dealt with exactly as the Europeans dealt with the Nazis, and as our forefathers dealt with the ideology of the Khawarij.

"In my opinion, the ideology of Al-Salafiyya Al-Jihadiyya is very similar to Nazism in terms of its causes and reasons. If the economic depression and the state of frustration that befell the world in 1930 were a cause for the spread of murderous Nazism, it may be said that the economic and cultural setback that has befallen the Arab and Muslim countries and the frustration suffered by Muslims today are also the primary cause for this murderous ideology [i.e., that of Al-Salafiyya Al-Jihadiyya].These [circumstances] allow it to surface and to find followers and supporters among the Muslims. In addition, both ideologies share hatred of the other and [the goal of] eliminating through his physical extermination - and they have many other common denominators as well."

"Why Aren't We Fighting the Religious Scholars, Theoreticians, and Preachers of Terrorism like Criminals, Murderers, and Robbers?"