Posts by FaizSobhan:
Can IS be stopped?
March 16th, 2015
By Faiz Sobhan.
President Obama correctly stated that the United States cannot ‘play whack-a-mole’ and send its troops to all the countries where the IS emerges
The Islamic State or IS, and until recently known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has stunned and alarmed both governments and people all over the world by its sudden and meteoric rise.
Leaders from around the globe have voiced their fear and concern about the serious danger IS poses to the international community in general and to Iraq and Syria, in particular. The US president, Barack Obama has remarked, and it has become even more apparent in recent months, that the Islamic States’ “extreme ideology poses a medium and long-term threat” to citizens of the United States.
After the fall of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, in June, the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared that he had established the Caliphate and re-branded the group as the “Islamic State.” The New York Times estimates that the group now controls 90,000 square kilometres of land in an area that stretches from Aleppo in Syria to Diyala in Iraq.
Most recently, it captured the al-Tabqa air base in the Raqqa province in Syria, bordering Turkey. IS today has artillery, tanks, fighter planes and other military equipment that it has acquired in various ways. Much of this has been taken over or seized from the Syrian and Iraqi armed forces.
In fact, the IS has been steadily growing for the past few years, right under the nose of the Iraqi government. Unfortunately, Iraq’s former prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, was too busy developing his own myopic agenda for Iraq, and supporting his fellow Shiite constituency, at the expense of the interests of the Sunni population.
As a result large sections of the Sunni community have been forced to pledge their support to the Islamic State in the large swathes of land they have captured thus far. Additionally, the Syrian civil war has helped to make the IS stronger and larger than any other rebel group involved in the conflict.
The appeal of the IS has rapidly gone global. Young men from all over the world are flocking to join its ranks in Iraq and Syria. This has sent shock waves all over the world, particularly in the United States and Europe, since many of those joining the IS are citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom and several European countries.
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 of its fighters are said to be of European origin. It is however unclear the actual number of fighters the IS has in Iraq and Syria. In Iraq alone, the IS is estimated to have more than 15,000 fighters together with militias allied to them. In Syria, they are thought to have at least 6,000 to 8,000 fighters.
Al-Baghdadi, who emerged as the leader of the IS in 2010, can today assume the credit for making the IS the world’s most dangerous terrorist organisation. Al-Baghdadi, in comparison to his old friend and mentor, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who headed al-Qaeda in Iraq until he was killed by US forces in 2006, is considered a far more intelligent, and pragmatic individual.
Unlike Zarqawi, al-Baghdadi is also said to be highly educated and has a PhD in Islamic theology. A large part of his strength lies in the support he has secured from a group of old Baath Party officials who served under Saddam Hussein.
The IS is estimated to be the richest and most powerful terrorist group in the world today. Defeating them or degrading their strength will be a formidable task for any country. After the capture of Mosul, the IS looted the central bank of $429m (500bn Iraqi dinars) in cash. In addition, the group generates income from collecting taxes from the local areas under its control and reportedly sells 40,000 barrels of oil a day.
Furthermore, millions of dollars in donation have come from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf States in the past few years. Due to their large resources in the areas under their control, the IS has continued to pay local workers and even offers social security benefits. The group’s earnings are estimated at $1-$4m a day. It is believed that IS today controls more than $2bn.
In the short-term, the following options may be required in order to contain the IS:
Military option
While the US air strikes have temporarily checked the advance of IS forces in Iraq, it is evident that air strikes alone can only serve as a short-term measure. While the IS fighters have acquired a number of sophisticated weaponry, including its recent capture of SA-16 MANPADS at the al-Tabqa air base in Raqqab, they are not as well-trained or fully equipped as the US, European or some other military forces in the region. However, recent events have shown that IS forces are highly motivated and will not be easy to defeat.
Support to Sunni tribes
Iraq’s new Shi’ite Prime Minister, Haidar al-Abadi would need to repair much of the damage done by his predecessor and bridge the ever-expanding gap between the Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq. What has been viewed as a positive development by many observers is the fact that several Sunni tribes have stated that they are willing to negotiate with Prime Minister al-Abadi. It is evident though that if the IS is to be weakened and eventually defeated, Shiites and Sunnis need to come to terms and agree to work together.
Bolstering allied forces
US President Obama correctly stated that the United States cannot “play whack-a-mole” and send its troops to all the countries where the IS emerges. The United States and its partners can instead help to bolster their allies in the region such as Turkey and Jordan, especially the Iraqi armed forces, to enable them to effectively confront the forces of the IS.
Diplomacy
The United States and its European allies, fully aware of the threat from the IS, need to turn to their partners in the Middle East to get their full support and help. This means persuading those countries that have been funding the IS to stop channelling funds to the group. Those states would also need to pledge their support of reaching out to their contacts and networks in Iraq and Syria to try and work together to stop the onslaught of the terror group. The sharing of any intelligence between these countries will also play a critical role in the fight against the IS.
The role of the international community
In the final analysis, the IS can only be contained and ultimately defeated if the United States and their allies have the absolute resolve and political will necessary to vanquish this extremely violent and dangerous group. While it is positive news that the United States has begun surveillance flights over Syria which may be a prelude to air strikes, it has tough decisions to make in the coming weeks and months including whether to work with the Assad regime; an idea not particularly favoured by Obama and members of his administration. Equally important will be the role played by Iran, Russia and China. The United States will need to reassess its policies towards all these countries in the larger interest of forging a global coalition.
The need for an effective counter radicalisation policy
However, a major factor that could help to erode the strength of the IS will be for the Sunni tribes in Iraq and Syria to withdraw their support for IS, which will then lose a major source of its lifeblood and potentially decline over time. Equally important for the international community will be to develop an effective counter radicalisation policy. Central to such a policy will be to ensure that Muslims whether in the United States, Europe, in OIC member states, or indeed all over the world, do not become extremists and militants, who then end up not simply rallying to the cause of the IS but actually join its ranks as fighters.
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Our secret weapon against extremism
December 8th, 2013
By Faiz Sobhan.
Since the late 1990s, Bangladesh has witnessed an increase in militancy and violent extremism that has exposed women to greater threats than before. Such kinds of extremism prevent women from being emancipated economically and socially.
In Bangladesh, a number of Islamist extremist groups believe women should not have a prominent role in society. Earlier this year, Hefazat brought out two massive rallies of tens of thousands of supporters in Dhaka. It released a 13-point demand including calls for a ban on “free mixing” of men and women in public, the ending of what they term “shameless behaviour and dresses” and declaring Ahmadiyyas as “non-Muslims”.
Moreover, for the past several years, Islamic extremists in Bangladesh have issued fatwas as a major tool with which to tread on women’s rights in Bangladesh, as part of their attempt to spread their ideology.
Despite the High Court making clear that fatwas have no legal status in Bangladesh and directing authorities concerned to take punitive action against people involved in enforcing fatwas against women, Islamic clerics are still presiding over self proclaimed courts that use Sharia Law to issue fatwas to deal with crimes such as rape and domestic matters such as extra-marital relationships. This practice continues to prevail in remote villages where government agencies, including the police, do not have immediate access.
Between 2000 and 2011, at least 500 fatwas have reportedly been issued accusing women of adultery. Most of these women were from rural areas, where their crimes were determined by influential local leaders and mullahs who assumed the role of both judge and jury-based on their own interpretation of Islam. Often such unofficial tribunals have been found handing out extra-judicial punishments.
In Bangladesh, women’s groups and civil society are actively working at increasing economic empowerment for women as a bulwark against the negative messaging of extremist and violent extremist groups.
After the rally by the Hefazat in Dhaka on April 6, there was an immediate and strong response by a group of 68 NGOs working on women’s empowerment, human rights and development. They agreed to form a Social Resistance Committee (SAC) to counter what they believed was an attempt by extremists to turn Bangladesh into a “Taliban-style pariah state with the policy of subjugating women.”
In July, a video posted on Youtube and Facebook showed the Hefazat leader, Sheikh Allama Shafi, calling for women to be deprived of their freedom, as well as education and employment. Among other things he said of girls, and I quote, “You spend thousands of takas to send her to school, high school, college. Allow her to study until the fourth grade. This is all she needs, to keep the household accounts after she gets married.”
Women therefore have a vital role at the forefront of not only national but regional or international efforts as well, to counter extremism.
The UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was a important step towards international recognition of the importance of gender in effective conflict management and in post-conflict stabilisation. Last year, the Security Council supported the UN Secretary-General’s pledge “to promote the active engagement of women’s organisations in peacemaking and peacebuilding.”
In Bangladesh there has been a long history of struggle for women’s emancipation including the active role of women in the war of independence in 1971. Over the years, Bangladesh has introduced various laws and regulations to safeguard women’s rights but much more needs to be done in this regard.
Bangladesh was one of the earlier signatories of the Convention of Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Laws enacted to increase protection include the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act introduced in 2000 and the Acid Crimes Prevention Act 2002. In 2011, Bangladesh’s Cabinet agreed on a National Policy for Women’s Development.
However, women not only in Bangladesh, but around South Asia, continue to face discrimination, exclusion and injustice and are victims of violence. This is why women’s organisations need to be much more pro-active in advocacy programmes and implement a series of measures so as to safeguard women’s rights to protect them from all forms of extremism.
Ultimately, there are a number of factors that serve as drivers of violent extremism in Bangladesh and elsewhere in South Asia. Although social injustice or being marginalised can to some extent explain the process of violent extremism, such factors alone cannot explain the phenomena.
In every case it is essential that strong measures be taken by women and civil society organisations to successfully counter the menace of extremism, whether violent or non-violent. This can be achieved by underscoring the vital role women have to play in society, as well as, by creating better opportunities for women to more participate fully in their country
– See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/op-ed/2013/sep/21/our-secret-weapon-against-extremism#sthash.82bTYXax.dpuf
Since the late 1990s, Bangladesh has witnessed an increase in militancy and violent extremism that has exposed women to greater threats than before. Such kinds of extremism prevent women from being emancipated economically and socially.
In Bangladesh, a number of Islamist extremist groups believe women should not have a prominent role in society. Earlier this year, Hefazat brought out two massive rallies of tens of thousands of supporters in Dhaka. It released a 13-point demand including calls for a ban on “free mixing” of men and women in public, the ending of what they term “shameless behaviour and dresses” and declaring Ahmadiyyas as “non-Muslims”.
Moreover, for the past several years, Islamic extremists in Bangladesh have issued fatwas as a major tool with which to tread on women’s rights in Bangladesh, as part of their attempt to spread their ideology.
Despite the High Court making clear that fatwas have no legal status in Bangladesh and directing authorities concerned to take punitive action against people involved in enforcing fatwas against women, Islamic clerics are still presiding over self proclaimed courts that use Sharia Law to issue fatwas to deal with crimes such as rape and domestic matters such as extra-marital relationships. This practice continues to prevail in remote villages where government agencies, including the police, do not have immediate access.
Between 2000 and 2011, at least 500 fatwas have reportedly been issued accusing women of adultery. Most of these women were from rural areas, where their crimes were determined by influential local leaders and mullahs who assumed the role of both judge and jury-based on their own interpretation of Islam. Often such unofficial tribunals have been found handing out extra-judicial punishments.
In Bangladesh, women’s groups and civil society are actively working at increasing economic empowerment for women as a bulwark against the negative messaging of extremist and violent extremist groups.
After the rally by the Hefazat in Dhaka on April 6, there was an immediate and strong response by a group of 68 NGOs working on women’s empowerment, human rights and development. They agreed to form a Social Resistance Committee (SAC) to counter what they believed was an attempt by extremists to turn Bangladesh into a “Taliban-style pariah state with the policy of subjugating women.”
In July, a video posted on Youtube and Facebook showed the Hefazat leader, Sheikh Allama Shafi, calling for women to be deprived of their freedom, as well as education and employment. Among other things he said of girls, and I quote, “You spend thousands of takas to send her to school, high school, college. Allow her to study until the fourth grade. This is all she needs, to keep the household accounts after she gets married.”
Women therefore have a vital role at the forefront of not only national but regional or international efforts as well, to counter extremism.
The UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was a important step towards international recognition of the importance of gender in effective conflict management and in post-conflict stabilisation. Last year, the Security Council supported the UN Secretary-General’s pledge “to promote the active engagement of women’s organisations in peacemaking and peacebuilding.”
In Bangladesh there has been a long history of struggle for women’s emancipation including the active role of women in the war of independence in 1971. Over the years, Bangladesh has introduced various laws and regulations to safeguard women’s rights but much more needs to be done in this regard.
Bangladesh was one of the earlier signatories of the Convention of Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Laws enacted to increase protection include the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act introduced in 2000 and the Acid Crimes Prevention Act 2002. In 2011, Bangladesh’s Cabinet agreed on a National Policy for Women’s Development.
However, women not only in Bangladesh, but around South Asia, continue to face discrimination, exclusion and injustice and are victims of violence. This is why women’s organisations need to be much more pro-active in advocacy programmes and implement a series of measures so as to safeguard women’s rights to protect them from all forms of extremism.
Ultimately, there are a number of factors that serve as drivers of violent extremism in Bangladesh and elsewhere in South Asia. Although social injustice or being marginalised can to some extent explain the process of violent extremism, such factors alone cannot explain the phenomena.
In every case it is essential that strong measures be taken by women and civil society organisations to successfully counter the menace of extremism, whether violent or non-violent. This can be achieved by underscoring the vital role women have to play in society, as well as, by creating better opportunities for women to more participate fully in their country
– See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/op-ed/2013/sep/21/our-secret-weapon-against-extremism#sthash.82bTYXax.dpuf
Countering violent extremism in Bangladesh
June 9th, 2013
By Faiz Sobhan.
The Strategy to counter violent extremism has to be unique to the situation of Bangladesh
The recent horrific killing of Lee Rigby, a British soldier, in London by two Islamic extremists has once again highlighted the growing international problem of violent extremism, whether it is religious, right-wing or some other form.
Since assuming office nearly four and a half years ago, the Awami League-led government has made countering violent extremism one of its priority concerns and has demonstrated a strong commitment to tackling the threat. Sheikh Hasina, has continually stressed that her government has zero-tolerance towards terrorism and would never allow terrorists any space to operate in Bangladesh.
In recent years, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have launched a vigorous drive against suspected extremists, leading to regular arrests and disruption of any possible violent extremist plots. The combined efforts of government agencies such as the Bangladesh Police, the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Directorate General Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and the National Security Intelligence (NSI) have all played a valuable role in countering violent extremism. The government has also enacted strong legislation to combat terrorism. Both the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 and the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009 were updated last year to make them more robust and bring them in line with international standards.
In April 2009, the government also formed a 17-member “National Committee on Militancy Resistance and Prevention,” headed by the state minister for home affairs and comprising of relevant ministries and security agencies, to tackle extremism and mobilise public opinion against extremist activities. The government also formed an eight-member “National Committee for Intelligence Coordination,” in July 2009, with the prime minister as chairperson, to co-ordinate the intelligence activities of different agencies. The committee would also be charged with improving the campaign against extremism through exchanges between law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The government also introduced a strong National Education Policy in 2010, highlighting the need for reforming of the madrasa curriculum, where unregulated madrasas have developed their own curriculum. The government has also recognised the need for developing a strong awareness campaign and as a result has issued guidelines to 114,000 schools, madrasas and universities to warn students about dangers of religious militancy. In addition, the government plans to introduce anti-extremism chapters in academic text books.
The Bangladesh government has made a concerted effort to eliminate violent extremism nationally and beyond its borders. It has established cooperative links with a number of foreign governments in order to address the issue both regionally and internationally. With limited capacity and means, and a fraction of the resources of developed and some developing countries, this is a notable achievement in a Muslim-majority nation with a growing population of over 160 million people, and the third largest Muslim population in the world.
The overall success of Bangladesh in countering violent extremism can be attributed to factors such as the abomination of terrorism in a society where the vast majority of Bangladeshis are religiously tolerant; where democratic traditions are fairly firmly established; and where women’s empowerment and their voice in society has become increasingly important. However, the threat of violent extremism from a number of extremist groups remains real. With reports of increasing extremism, the concerned security authorities have to maintain a constant vigil, on local as well as transnational groups, who wish to operate covertly in the region.
With extremism being a prime national security concern, Bangladesh needs to continue its strong drive against countering extremism with soft power approaches in counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation of extremists. This can be achieved by employing a number of strategic tools to generate greater awareness in society regarding extremism. Such an anti-extremism campaign should include billboard posters and infomercials on mass media outlets including radio and television, as well as cinemas. In addition, there needs to be a regular series of religious sermons in mosques, community centers and other venues to counter the fatalistic ideology of violent extremism. Measures should also be undertaken to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society former extremists who are incarcerated. Here, lessons can be offered by respected Islamic scholars and psychologists to former extremists to modify their way of thinking by highlighting the irreligious aspects of espousing and using violence to meet their objectives. Other crucial measures could be the inclusion of using family members in providing support and care to former extremists.
The strategy to counter violent extremism and win hearts and minds has to be unique and relevant to the dynamics of religious, societal and cultural customs and traditions of Bangladesh. Those strategies to counter violent extremism that have been tried in other parts of the world may not necessarily work in this country, but lessons could be learnt from what has worked and we can endeavor to apply them in the context of Bangladesh. In the end, there should be a comprehensive religious, social and benevolent approach to countering violent extremism by government as well as non-government actors. It is equally important to try and comprehend the pathways to and from violent extremism. Success in countering violent extremism cannot be expected overnight, but much can be achieved over the course of time through unwavering commitment and fortitude of whichever government is in charge.
Faiz Sobhan is research director, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.