INS3003 Final Wahhabism to Militant Jihadism
Saudi connections to extremism
The support extremist groups such as muslim brotherhood who prior to the 70s was definitely extremist (now recognized political group), supported Hamas before 9/11, supported Taliban; supporting fellow conservatives or extremists with politics and power-play in region (Saudi focus off self-support instability in other nations)
Who was Sauuid Qutb?
(1907-66) Egyptian leader of muslim brotherhood in jail because of assassination attempt on Egypt's leader Nasser and then executed for it
What was Saudi's major grievance
1st Gulf War (Iraq and Kuwait- Iraq invades Kuwait- we had relations with Kuwait for Oil so the US got involved
Who was Omar Rahman?
Bling Sheik-behind 1st attack on World Trade Center
US gets involved in Saudi Arabia
Concerned about our own oil, so allowed US military to set up base and launch attack from Saudi
What is Wahhabism?
Conservative teachings, alliance with the Saub Family
Alliance with Saub family
Early 1740s, contact made with Wahhab and Saub family; Saubs asking Wahhas's support for political rise and they would impose his conservative reforms in their land (THIS formed the 1st something empire)
Wahhabism itself is not
Extreme, but the extremist element has come out of it and flourished in it
Osama bin Laden called for downfall of Saudi leadership-->
Government stripped him of citizenship in 1994; 1996 he declared war on US (weird because not on any individual) condemned leaders with friendly US relations
What war changed our relationships?
Gulf war
Sauuid Qutb and the US
He was government official, college educated, writer, and no initial dislike for the US, came to study in 1948 in the US, disliked everything he saw and experienced here, disliked capitalism, consumerism, rights, music, brought back these thoughts to Egypt
What were the two types of reform in Islam?
Internal (fundamentalism); in response to the west
Double-edged sword for Saudis-Wahhabism
It is required for domestic support, if back is turned on it, then the people are alienated- MUST sport it and its institutions such as the schools-some preach and teach extremism- some outright encourage militant jihadism- supporting Wahhabism=supporting extremism as well
Opposition to nation-state system
Makes Sayyid Qutb unique; not only to preach extremism; saw it as one of the worst things in the Middle East because it fractured the Ummah, it was unnatural, there were artificial borders
Qutb radical extremism against the US
Merged conservatism with extremism, found enemies in leaders who has friendships with the US (especially Ataturk) called for attack on those corrupting Islam
Osama Bin Laden took extremism literally and carried out what?
Militant Jihadism which flourished in Saudi Arabia. It led the US to talk with leaders to monitor better (we didn't believe Saudi leaders were behind this, no blanket condemnation of Saudis)
Iraq
Most Arab countries were not too unhappy with our attack on Hussein or liberating Kuwait but extremists were unhappy with us camping out on Saudi soil
Who began Wahhabism?
Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab
Who was "Ataurk"?
Mustafa Kemal
Did Wahhab preach extremism?
No, Ottomans said his teachings were extreme and he was forced to flee from Arabian peninsula and found refuge in central Asia
Sayyid Qutb teachings
Radical fundamentalism, opposition to the west and western friendly leaders, notable followers (Omar Rahman and Osama Bin Laden) Opposition to the nation-state system
What did Wahhabism call for?
Read Quaran yourself, Muslims should follow Muhammad's simple life and social practices of his time, showed rejection of fundamentalism/conservative ways,
What were he Madrassas?
Religious schools-teaching Wahhabism)
Wahhabism to Jihadism
Saudi connections to extremism; the double edged sword for the saudis; Sayyid Qutb (1907-66)
Who was the catalyst of the transition from Wahhabism to Jihadism?
Sayyis Qutb
The Madrassas did what for today's world?
Shaped Saudi Arabia into what it is today
What was the goal of Osama Bin Laden?
Solution was to create revolutionary Vanguard to destroy nation-state sytemem and the Wahhabist elites who controlled them--> attacking with international terrorism, his followers carried this our with militant Jihadism
This conservative Wahhabism has led to what?
Split personality of Saudi leaders and princes and realty and oil and wealth; their actions do not follow teachings- have relationship with Wahhab; not consistent with the rest of countries rejected modernity but focus on simple life of Mohammad not lavish life of oil kings
Who is known for Jihadism?
Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Madrasas, Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas
Saudi Arabia most conservative country
Women cannot drive there because "science study" said if women could drive the divorce rate would incase, virgins wouldn't exist, and homosexuality would increase
Who was Osama Bin Laden?
behind 9/11; 15 of 19 terrorists in 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia
