Islamism Digest a publication of CFSOT

The Centre for the Study of Terrorism (CFSOT) provides unique insights into the global trends in Islamic resurgence,
democratisation, terrorism and extremism by delivering an impartial, accurate and authoritative service. It provides these
through its unique access to rare and highly important primary sources in the Muslim World and beyond.

Islamism Digest is a monthly publication of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism (CFSOT) on Study of Terrorism and War
on Terror featuring articles on Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Turkey, Saudi, Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah,
9/11 and many more.

Islamism Digest a Monthly magazine of CFSOT on Study of Terrorism and War on Terror featuring articles on Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Turkey, Saudi, Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah and 9/11.

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January 2009 issue of Islamism Digest is now available online.

In this issue :

As you read this column the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is going from catastrophic to beyond imagination.
Israel’s latest assault on the Gaza Strip is unprecedented since the so-called Six-Day War of
June 1967. But as previous decades – the last two in particular – have shown the more force Israel uses
the more numerous and determined its enemies become. The Israelis may be able to destroy
infrastructure and eliminate key leaders and fighters, but new and better leaders, fighters and other actors
emerge to replace fallen ones and continue the struggle against the Israeli occupation.

The lead article of this issue of Islamism Digest argues that Israel’s ferocious assault on Gaza – and its thinly
disguised aim of destroying Hamas – spells the definitive end of the existing so-called “two-state”
solution. A negotiated settlement to the Palestinian- Israeli conflict is beyond reach for the foreseeable
future. This may be alarmist but we are confident the passage of time will prove Islamism Digest right.
Israel’s ferocious onslaught on the densely populated Gaza Strip and its killing and maiming of thousands
of non-combatants will most certainly create a new generation of Palestinian resistance. By killing 1,000
people in Gaza Israel has most likely created 10,000 effective and determined enemies. Moreover, Hamas –
and specifically the Islamist movement’s discourse – will strengthen.

We also present an interview with Dr. Daud Abdullah, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Muslim Council
of Britain and chair of the Gaza Crisis Coalition which is behind the mass demonstrations and campaigns in
Britain against the Israeli assault on Gaza. Beyond Gaza, we have a contribution by Murad Batal Al-
Shishani on the myopic strategic and political vision of the stewards of the so-called War on Terrorism.
Al-Shishani, a highly respected terrorism analyst, provides a critical analysis of the War on Terrorism
and argues for better understanding of Arab societies.

In this issue we continue to develop the theme on “alternative” terrorism lists. This month Islamism
Digest looks at two issues in particular that should be tackled head on by any alternative global list, namely
the resistance/terrorism dichotomy and emerging security threats in the 21st century.

December 2008 issue of Islamism Digest is now available online.

In this issue:

Terrorism Lists: Questioning the Underlying Intelligence

The United States Government likes to project an image of impeccable legality and exhaustive research regarding
its procedures of terrorist designation and proscription. But insofar as identifying individuals with terrorist ties are
concerned nothing could be further from the truth, as a close scrutiny of the terrorism designation process reveals.
Indeed, as of 31 November 2008 the U.S. Government maintains nearly 1,100,000 names on its central terrorism
database run by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Nearly 20,000 names are added to the NCTC's
database every month, meaning effectively that the U.S. identifies 20,000 new terrorists on a monthly basis. The
obvious absurdity of this process reinforces Islamism Digest's oft-repeated argument that the United States must
be divested of the privilege to impose its counter-terrorism norms and criteria on the rest of the world.

Islamophobia: A Terrorist Act

One of the most under-reported developments connected with the terrorism debate since 9/11 is the rise of
Islamophobia in the West. Islamism Digest presents and critiques existing definitions of this term in an effort to
understand its real nature and implications. While any religion's belief system (and the practices of its adherents)
should be put forward for debate, the discussion surrounding the role of Islam and Muslims in the West is heavily
biased towards slander, misrepresentation and stereotyping. Islamism Digest presents strong arguments in favour of
designating Islamophobia as a form of terrorism and argues that in a world where adherents of all faiths and ideologies
are coming into ever greater physical contact, this form of terrorism will have far-reaching consequences for all.

Islamophobia in the UK: An Interview with Salma Yaqoob

As the leader and former vice-chair of Respect - The Unity Coalition Party Salma Yaqoob is arguably the most
important female Muslim political activist in the UK. In this frank interview she presents her views on a wide range of
subjects, including Islamophobia and the role of the media and Government in fuelling negative perceptions of Islam
and Muslims in the United Kingdom.

On the Islamic Definition of Terrorism: By Dr. Bashir Rahma

Bashir Rahma is the Deputy Secretary-General of Sudan's Popular Congress party and a leading veteran Islamic
activist in that country. Islamism Digests presents an edited version of Dr. Rahma's paper to CFSOT's Third Annual
Conference in October 2008.