Author(s): Dragan Simeunović
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: December 31, 2018
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 19-20/2018
DOI:
Abstract
The paper analyzes, by using content analysis and historical-comparative
methods, the causes of the emergence and development of Islamistic extremism and
compares the state of affairs regarding the presence and the tendency of further growth
of Islamistic extremism in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo,
Macedonia and Serbia. This means practically identifying the inspirers and those who
spread extreme Islamistic ideas, their activities, international sponsors and contacts,
their active contribution to global jihad, as well as assessing the abilities of above-
mentioned Western Balkan societies to defend themselves against this growing danger
threatening not only the lives and the property of their citizens, but also their democratic
constitutional order. The research has revealed a significant strengthening of the
number of Wahhabi believers, the increase of their aggressiveness, the violent takeover
of the existing and the building of a large number of new mosques, which are out of
control of official Islamic communities in these societies, also the construction of dozens
of Wahhabi settlements, where sharia law is applied, not the laws of the home state. The
return of their financiers contributed to the intensification of religious propaganda and
to the increasing of affection for Wahhabi ideas among the local Muslim population,
which resulted in the departure around a thousand fighters from the Balkans to join the
terrorist organizations in the Middle East battlefields. Confronting the rising Islamistic
extremism in the Western Balkans is blocked by: lack of real and quality prevention,
inexperience and poor results in the deradicalization of extremists, and in some areas,
the lack of political will. All of the above, mentioned together implies not only intensive
cooperation between the police and other security structures of the West Balkan and the
surroundings countries, but also the urgent help of adequate institutions of the
International community.
Keywords: Islamistic extremism; Western Balkans; terrorism; Wahhabism;
ISIL.
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