Religious extremism and radicalisation of Muslims in Malaysia: the Malay ties with the Mujahidin, al Qaeda and ISIS

Jaafar, Muhammad Izzuddin and Akhmetova, Elmira (2020) Religious extremism and radicalisation of Muslims in Malaysia: the Malay ties with the Mujahidin, al Qaeda and ISIS. Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS), 5 (1). pp. 104-123. ISSN 0127-9319 E-ISSN 0127-9386

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Abstract

This study discusses the reasons behind the rise of religious extremism in Malaysia within the framework of international politics and the world order by highlighting the ties of Malay Muslims with the Mujahidin, Al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) over the last four decades. For that purpose, a qualitative analytical approach is used, Referencing secondary sources such as academic journal articles and scholarly books. In understanding the situation, online newspaper articles were also considered as secondary sources to extract the data to understand the destructive situation in Malaysia, which has gradually become a fertile ground for the sowing of radical ideas. The paper highlights that since the 1970s, religious extremism and radicalism have intensified due to the Cold War politics, the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and, later, foreign invasions of Muslim nation-states, giving rise to many local religious extremist groups with their relations to international extremist groups. Analysis of the secondary sources reveals the existence of a radical understanding of Islam by a substantial portion of the population, thus suggesting that the authorities should pay attention to extremist influences on the moderate nature of social relations in multi-ethnic and multi-religious Malaysia. At the same time, the paper argues that this negative transformation cannot be explained by external factors alone, as the internal factors have played an important role in the radicalisation of Malay society. The paper concludes with several practical recommendations such as improvisation of religious education that emphasises on peaceful cohesion, and discontinuation of foreign intervention policies and over generalisations. These recommendations are to regulate the escalation of extremism and radical understanding of Islam in Malaysia, which considerably threatens national security and citizens’ wellbeing.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	7311/78409
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Al Qaeda, ISIS, Islamic radicalism in Malaysia, mujahidin, religious extremism
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP173.44 Human Rights In Islam B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP188.16 Wasatiyyah. Moderation In Islam J Political Science > JC Political theory > JC49 Islam and Politics J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia > JQ1758 Public Administration -Religious Aspects - Islam J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia > JQ719 Elections in Malaysia J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of History & Civilization
Depositing User:	Dr Elmira Akhmetova
Date Deposited:	21 Feb 2020 08:55
Last Modified:	08 May 2020 22:23
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/78409

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