MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

Addressing Radical Thinking and Violent Extremism"

Mr. Ahmeddahir Hussein OSMAN

Advisor on International Relations,

Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs, Federal Republic of Somalia, Ambassador of Peace of EML, Ambassador International parliament for peace and safety, East Africa. 

The issues discussed here echo the challenges faced by the Somali authorities. During and after the Somalian civil war, which started in 1991, extremist movements claiming their belonging to Islam have proliferated. The most prominent one is Al-Shabab, linked with Al-Qaida, which remains very active, and who is fighting the Somali government but also foreign ones, such as Kenya. The Somalian government as well as the African Union are cooperating to eradicate the movement, both physically and ideologically. As such, the Somalian government has a long experience in the field of counter-terrorism. It has acquired a relevant knowledge of the tactics and strategies of the movement, for example in the way in which it radicalizes and recruits the youth. Of course, they take profit from the weak economy and target people living in a very precarious socio-economic situations and with mental disorder too. Al-Shabab mobilizes ideologies that clearly misinterpret Islam, and establish a dichotomy between them, who allegedly represent the righteous Islam, and the Somali authorities, depicted as infidels. They push their recruits to kill those working for the government, promising them a reward in heaven. This is why the Somali government is aware that a physical army is not sufficient to fight Al-Shabab and any extremist group. It must win the hearts and minds of the community. This is why it has started to focus on the teaching of the Quran in schools, to counter the ideology and the wrong teaching of the extremists. Actually, Al-Qaida and Al-Shabab have been able to spread their ideology in numerous Quranic schools. In government schools, shari’ah should be adequately explained, and awareness of the variety of interpretative methods and trends should be raised. 

Three months ago, Al Shabab released a video accusing the Somalian government, the European Union, and the US of being infidels and enemy of Islam. The Somalian authorities are actually elaborating an adequate reply to this video in a letter. Numerous Islamic scholars are currently working with the Ministries, providing answers to the points raised by Al Shabaab in the video. The Somalian community understands better the misuse of Islam by Al-Shabaab. 

However, the mobilization of Muslim scholars against Islamic extremism should be more intense and more structured in international networks of cooperation. Muslim scholars and imams all around the world should unite and highlight the fact that Al-Qaida or other such movements are absolutely not part of Islam. We should not even call them “Islamists”, but find another name or category to name them, to prevent anyone from thinking that they have any religious legitimacy, relevance or connection to Islam. It could be an adequate way to cut the roots of pseudo-religious extremism. 

Beyond the fight against such extremist movements, the Somalian authorities should also work further in protecting the rights of religious minorities, and demonstrate more support in their favor. There is indeed a small Christian community in Somalia which is quite vulnerable. We have to insist on the fact that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)has never encouraged anyone to kill or fight people out of situations of defense in aggression wars. The core concept and meaning of Islam are peace. We must remind that when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) went to Medina, his rule was based on peaceful coexistence between Muslims, Jews, and the Christians, which is the exact contrary of what is taught and practiced by Al-Shabab and Al-Qaida, which instead call for violent jihad against the alleged infidels. So, we need to go back to our genuine history and restore the knowledge of Islam, and to think about how people could live together peacefully.