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Call for community action against ‘Jihadist extremism’
The discussions examined the evolution of jihadist movements, highlighting Al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, and Hamas.
Panelists in the webinar. / X/@DismantleGJihad
An alliance of Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Shia, and Sunni groups hosted a global webinar in Washington DC titled "Dismantling Global Jihad" on Oct.7, 2024, bringing together participants from various sectors, including government, academia, and civil society to discuss strategies for countering extremism and dismantling jihadist networks.
Oct.7 also marked one year since Hamas’ attack on Israel and the subsequent atrocities faced by Palestinians on the Gaza strip.
The webinar featured four panels of scholars who offered their views on the nature of jihadist ideologies, the role of social media in recruitment, and community engagement in prevention. Prominent voices included David Adesnik, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies; journalist Asra Nomani; Yifa Segal, managing director of Hetz for Israel; and Sam Westrop, director of Islamist Watch at the Middle East Forum.
Their discussions examined the evolution of jihadist movements, highlighting Al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, and Hamas. Scholars like Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi and Romani Shaker explored these groups in detail, while Abhinav Pandya shared insights on South Asian jihadist networks, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Tablighi Jamaat.
Poster of the webinar. / X/@DismantleGJihadPanelists Richa Gautam and Sylvester Okere presented case studies on forced conversions by jihadist groups in Africa and South Asia, warning about jihadist infiltration into mainstream media and civil society. They emphasized the need for a societal response to the rise of decentralized jihadism in these regions.
Experts like Yifa Segal, Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, and David Adesnik highlighted the importance of countering the ideological motivations behind violent jihad. They noted that while jihadist ideologies have deep historical roots, their physical manifestations can be weakened and rendered ineffective through coordinated efforts.
The role of women in preventing radicalization also featured prominently. Yasmene Mohammed, Habiba Marhoon, and Soraya Deen shared their experiences of discrimination in Islamic societies and stressed how Muslim women can contribute to resilience against extremism by challenging religious leadership.
The event concluded with policy recommendations for governments and civil society organizations to enhance counter-extremism strategies. Several experts critiqued what they described as the ‘failure of Western governments to support reformist movements’ within Islamic societies, arguing that this had led to an increase in Islamist violence and a decline in women's rights.
Cliff Smith, who hosted the first two sessions, called the event “a must-watch for policymakers,” while Adelle Nazarian, Communications director for HinduACTion, who hosted later sessions, talked about the importance of collaboration in combating global jihadist threats.
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