Prof. dr Darko Trifunović: Radicalization of Islamic process in South East Europe

7/30/2019 Prof. dr Darko Trifunovi: Radicalization of Islamic process in South East Europe

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Darko Trifunovic

Islamic Radicalization Processes in South East EuropeCase Study: Bosnia

Dr. Darko Trifunovic

Introduction

Hundreds of Islamic Wahhabi fighters, who fought alongside Bosnian Muslim forcesduring the war, remained in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Many of them married local womenand established Islamic organizations. Foreign Islamic fighters are important but not

only one segment of Radical Islamist PUZLE in Bosnia. The key elements of anIslamic Radicalization process according to the Bosnian experience are as follows:

1. Presence of mujaheddin;2. Presence of so-called "humanitarian organizations;3. Presence of state sponsors of terrorism;4. Presence of terrorist organizations;5. Manipulation of religion for terrorist purposes.

Fast Islamic radicalization transformed nature of the threat from external to internal,which entailed a shift in counter-terrorism practices from a military to a judicialresponse. Do we call today terrorism and terrorist by their real names? Well-trainedmilitary units and formations of Islamic Radicals we call today terrorists instead of, forexample, Army of Jihad etc. Be it rapid orslow, Islamic Radicalization of theexisting Muslim population results in new motivation and with new goals as it isdescribed by notorious Al Qaeda 2010 Plan. The threats have become very visiblewithin the state borders, even though the mainstream perception until now has beenthat War is somewhere far away. The Bosnian example shows the process andresults of rapid radicalization. Wahhabis serve as a key factor of IslamicRadicalization in Bosnia. This ideology is relatively new in Europe and was brought toBosnia by foreign Muslim fighters (or Mujaheddin) who fought on the side of local

Muslims in the country's bloody 1992-1995 war. Many Mujaheddin acquired Bosniancitizenship and remained in the country after the war, operating terrorist trainingcamps in Bosnia and indoctrinating local youths. While the police has been fairlyactive in countering the threat, there seems to be no political will to do more. TheDirector of Bosnias State Security Agency (OSA), Almir Dzuvo, said that there aremore than 3000 potentially dangerous individuals related to international terrorismand that most of the potential terrorists were local people known to police, while onlythree percent were foreigners; Dzuvo also mentioned that most potential terroristswere followers of the fundamentalist Salafite Islamic movement, also known asWahabism, which originated in Saudi Arabia[1]. IN the last several years, IslamicRadicalization of existing Muslim population has progressed from mere ideological

indoctrination to serial violent attacks throughout Bosnia.


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From light to heavy crimes.

The process of radicalization was consolidated the creation of so-called Sharia(Wahabbi) Police. In 2009, members of Sharia Police were openly attacking couplesin love and insisting on Bosnian Muslim girls and women being covered, according to

Islamic rules and traditions. From crimes against public order and safety to theterrorism and murders, Sharia Police and other Wahhabi elements have beeninvolved in a number of alarming incidents in Bosnia, some of which are presentedbelow[2]:

1. "An operation codenamed "the Light" that involves all police forces of Bosnia andHerzegovina. Bosnias law enforcement and various other agencies officers launchedon February 2010, a major raid on the village of Gornja Maoca which is claimed to bea home to followers of the "radical Wahabbi" branch of Islam, targeting people whomauthorities "suspect of destabilizing the country". The operation in northern Bosnia by600 police officers is the largest since the end of the country's 1992-95 war. The

activities are carried out with an aim to locate and prosecute individuals suspected ofundermining the territorial integrity and constitutional order and inciting ethnic, racialor religious hatred and intolerance. Some foreign Islamic fighters or Mujaheddin, whostayed on after fighting alongside Bosnian Muslims against Serbs and Croats in thewar, formed their own community in the village. They were joined by some localfollowers of the "Wahabbi" branch. On the end of 2009 a Bosnian court indicted agroup of radical Muslims on charges of "terrorism" and arms trafficking. Theindictment stated they purchased and possessed weapons, explosives and variousproducts suitable for making improvised explosive devices. Police also found videorecordings of people being trained in the use of arms and combat activities to carryout an attack[3].

2. Bugojno attack. Haris auevi from Bugojno, commonly known as Oks,confessed to having detonated a bomb that damaged the Bugojno police stationJune 27, 2010. While attempting to escape, he also threw a grenade at policeofficers. The powerful bomb, hidden in a car parked just in front of the station,exploded at dawn, causing considerable destruction. Officer Tarik Ljubuki (41) diedat the scene, and Officer Edina Hindi (26) was severely injured. Four other policesustained non-life threatening injuries. Local media speculated that the bombing wasthe work of organized crime, but subsequent investigation points toward the radicalWahhabi movement. Later that day, Federal police arrested six suspects and

detained a seventh - Naser Palislamovic - two days later in Sarajevo. Police nowbelieve Palislamovic organized the attack. All the suspects are members of theradical Wahhabi movement - a Saudi-based and financed order following a strictinterpretation of Islam - while most of them are already known to security agenciesfor their militant and intolerant behavior[4].

3. Bosnia Shopping Centre Blast, One man was killed (malls security guard) andthree people injured when an explosive device went off in a shopping centre in thecentral Bosnian town of Vitez, October 10, 2008. Explosive device was thrown or itwas placed there before and then activated[5].

4. Funeral of former Wahhabi leader Jusuf Barcic[6]. Over 3000 followers of the


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radical Wahhabi current of Islam had come to the northeast Bosnian town of Tuzla(May, 2007) to bury their leader Jusuf Barcic, who had recently died in a trafficaccident. The coffin in front of the mosque was draped in a green cloth. Men withlong beards chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great). As press photographers tried tophotograph the scene, they were first cursed and then beaten.

Religious fundamentalism is on the rise in Bosnia-Herzegovina. There had notpreviously been any mass demonstration of this size. But the local media have forsome time now noted a marked increase in the activities of the Wahhabi sect, whichcounts al-Qaida founder Osama Bin Laden among its adherents.

5. Careva (Emperor) mosque incident[7], Jusuf Barcic and a group of his followerswanted to enter the venerable Careva mosque in downtown Sarajevo (February,2007), in order to perform the Wahhabi prayer rites. For the first time in the over 500year history of the mosque, the Imam had to lock the doors. Only the arrival of thepolice could prevent clashes between Barcic's followers and followers of the

indigenous Bosnian form of Islam. Several months before Careve mosque incidentanother occurred. There had been a massive brawl in the town of Kalesija after theWahhabis occupied the local mosque there and chased off the Imam. It appears,however, that Barcic was not the organizer of the incidents in Sarajevo and Kalesija.Instead, new information shows that a man always seen close to Barcic, KarrayKamel bin Ali, is the mastermind behind the recent incidents. Kamel bin Ali, alias AbuHamza, is Tunisian born, but has Bosnian citizenship. He and Barcic shared prisontime together, and he was released several months ago. Wartime commander of themujahideen unit in Bosnia, Abu Hamza became known to the Bosnian public after hemurdered Egyptian Hisham Diab, alias Abu Velid, in 1997 in the central Bosnian cityof Zenica. After managing to evade arrest for three years, Abu Hamza was finallybrought down in Germany in 2000 and deported to Bosnia, where he was sentencedto seven years in prison. An investigation into the case, however, showed that thereal Hisham Diab was still alive and an active member of an organization called "NewJihad" and a former close associate of the radical Egyptian cleric Omar Abdel-Rahman, who is serving a life sentence for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.The identity of the person Abu Hamza killed in Zenica remains unknown[8]. Physicalconflicts between traditional Bosnian Muslims and Wahabbi have also become morecommon. The media have reported fights in mosques across Bosnia, in Banovici,Cazin, Kladanj, Kalesija, Sarajevo and other towns and cities[9].

6. RS police arrest suspected Wahhabi associates. Republika Srpska (RS) police hasarrested five people suspected of ties to the radical Islam Wahhabi movement. TheRS Interior Ministry confirmed the arrests (August 12th 2010) and said they weremade based on illegal weapons possession. The suspects were detained inKozarska Dubica and Novi Grad[10].

7. Foiled terror attack by Mirsad Bektasevic (Maximus) group. Swede MirsadBektasevic (born in Serbia, Bosnian Muslim with Swedish and Serbian citizenship -,Denmark based Turk Abdulkabir Cesur and Bosnian Bajro Ikanovic were arrested inSarajevo for planning a terror attack on Western targets in Sarajevo or otherEuropean countries. Bektasevic and Cesur came to Bosnia in autumn 2005 to plan

the attack and they, together with Ikanovic (who was Bektasevics supplier ofexplosives to be used in terror attack) were arrested in October and December 2005


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in Sarajevo suburbs of Butmir and Hadzici. Police confiscated explosives, weapons,videos, an explosive belt and other military equipment. They also arrested SenadHasanovic and Asim Bajric for possession of weapons and explosives. The videotapefound in Baktasevics apartment showed masked men asking for Gods forgivenessfor the sacrifice they are about to make. The investigation proved that Bektasevic and

Abdulkabir were the ones on the video wearing face masks. All involved wereMuslims. In their confessions they said that they wanted to warn Bosnian andWestern European authorities about Muslims suffering in Iraq and Afghanistan andto warn Bosnian government to withdraw its soldiers from Iraq. The alleged networkwas most likely plotting an attack on the European Forces (EUFOR) base inSarajevo, located just 100 m from the house where two main suspects were arrested.Bektasevic has been in phone contact with a man later arrested in Denmark onsuspicion of terrorist activities. Bektasevic used a codename Maximus. Four youngMuslims in Denmark were arrested shortly after the Sarajevo arrests in a case thatwas said to be connected. They have been released due to the lack of evidence. TheDanish group was under surveillance for 2 years after they met with radical Islamist

cleric in London. The cleric was Omar Bakri Muhammed the leader of now-disbandedradical Islamist group al-Mujahiroon. The four had ties to the men arrested inSarajevo, and were charged with helping provide weapons and explosives toBektasevic and Cesur for the planned attack. Another three people in England werearrested in connection with the case and released on bail. It was Bosnian first-everIslamic terror case[11].

8.The murder of a Croatian familyIn December 2002, Muamer Topalovic murdered afamily of Croatian returnees (a father and his two daughters; son was seriouslyinjured during the attack) in Kostajnica near Konjic in BiH. They were gunned down intheir home on the Christmas eve. Topalovic confessed that he committed the murderfor religious reasons - that he was doing the will of Allah. The victims were membersof a Catholic family who returned a few years ago to their home after living outsidethe country as war-refugees. In his confession Topalovic said that he belonged toAIO and Jamiet el-Furkan. Jamiet al-Furkan (which was closed down on December31, 2002) is an Islamic charity organization that was directly sponsored by SaudiArabia. Both organizations denied that Topalovic was their member, but theyconceded that he might have attended few of their lectures or courses. Otherincidents of verbal and physical attacks of Catholic Croats from Muslims werereported. Topalovic was allegedly under ideology of Wahabbi groups, which extendsintolerance also to non-Muslims[12].

Saudi Arabia as major threat in Process of Radicalization of Bosnian Muslims

Saudi Arabia is a major threat in Process of Radicalization of Bosnian Muslimsaccording to the Bosnian Muslim prominent journalist, Mr.Senad Pecanin. In hisinterview given to the World Tribune[13] following the Rand Corp. conference inDoha, Mr.Pecanin stated: Saudis are helping to finance a Muslim presence inBosnia with multiple links to Al Qaeda ideology and Saudi Arabia has helped form aWahabi-style Islamic community in Bosnia. The Saudi effort has combined massivefunding with the infiltration of thousands of operatives, most of whom have married

Bosnian women. After the civil war, mujahideen fighters stayed and married Bosnianwomen. They started Wahabism. They have physically attacked people in mosques.


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They are trying to impose a ban on alcohol. All this is sponsored by Saudi Arabia.Saudis have distributed money and deployed operatives throughout Bosnia andMiddle East. Most of the Saudi operatives married Bosnian women and merged intosociety. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has co-opted the Islamic clergy in the centralEuropean state. Wahabism, which began in the 18th Century in Saudi Arabia, has

been termed the ideological basis for Al Qaedas offensive against the West. TheWahabi strain of Sunni Islam preaches intolerance and rejects the rights of women.Never before in Bosnia have we seen women moving about in the hijab [Islamicheaddress]. Saudis pressured Bosnian widows of those killed in the civil war in the1990s to convert to Wahabi Islam. He said anybody who converted received $50 permonth. Al Qaeda agents have been operating in Bosnia. Bosnia embassy in Viennahas been selling passports to Al Qaeda operatives while senior officials werepocketing money from Saudi Arabia and other Muslim states. A lot of money providedby the Muslim countries ended up in the pockets of people like politicians," Pecaninsaid.

Conclusion

All in all, many sources concerning the Bosnian Muslim radicalization show that thethreat is not only present, but evolving to a great extent. More specifically, theWahhabi groups seem to enjoy both domestic and international support in order torecruit new adherents and finance their existing campaigns and followers.Furthermore, the Bosnian Diaspora in neighboring regions such as the Sandzak inSerbia or in Vienna, Austria, correlates to a level of threat that endangersinternational stability. This raises serious questions as to whether internationalIslamist terrorism and organized crime networks are involved in the continuing spreadof Wahhabi ideology with the purpose of destabilizing the region to their benefit.

The spread of strict and conservative version of Islam further expands the influenceof certain Middle Eastern states in the Balkans, thus creating a safe haven in thatregion from where Europe as a whole can be affected. This is amplified by theongoing radicalization of the Muslim youth in most EU countries.

Due to the fact that EU accession process for Bosnia is already underway, along withthe visa liberalization regime, the current period poses considerable challenges forthe European security architecture. Much research indicates that the manyeducational establishments in Bosnia are being directed by radicals, who are to

blame for the expansion of radical ideals among the Bosnian youth, which in turnfacilitates recruitment. The youngsters are more in tune with modern media outlets,such as the internet and are greatly involved with radical-minded NGOs. Thereforethe radicalization processes in Bosnia will continue to increase, unless steadfastproposals and actions are taken to prevent this from happening.

The peculiar and sensitive situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina that resulted fromwars and ethnic frictions and the heavy involvement of international actors, hasopened the gates for Radical Muslim influences from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran.Since the volatile international political climate is prone to upheavals currently andalready the involvement of Mujahedeens in the ;90s is well documented and

understood, it is very likely that these Muslim powers will use Bosnia throughradicalism for their political aims and affect stability in the Balkan and in European as


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a whole. It is of great importance that the issue of Islamic radicalism in Bosnia, will bewell-understood and presented in the international community. Bosnia plays asignificant role in the evolving patterns of international Islamist terrorism andinternational organized crime.Thorough understanding of this subject is sine qua non for any individual or

organization responsible for analysis or policy making in the fields of counter-terrorism and security.

Notes:[1] Number of members of radical movements on increase: There are 3,000 potentialterrorists in BiH,European Union Police Mission, PPIO Daily Media Summary, 13 July2010 http://www.eupmbih.eu/Detail.aspx?ID=1451&TabID=5

[2]Nasilne Vehabije opet napadaju : Serijatska policija pucala na mladi par kodmostara, Blin Magazin, Srijeda | 14.07.2010.http://banjalukain.com/hronika/~s-erijatska_policija_pucala_na_mladi_par_kod_mostara

[3] Bosnian troops surrounded Gornja Maoca village proclaiming it as 'Wahhabi',Publication time: 2 February 2010,http://www.kavkaz.org.uk/eng/content/2010/02/02/11352.shtml

[4] 'Terrorist Attack' in Bosnia Kills One, Injures Six, Sarajevo | 27 June 2010 |,BalkanInsight, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/29061/

[5] One Dead in Bosnia Shopping Centre Blast, 10 October 2008 |, BalkanInsight,http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/13892/

[6] Balkans: Wahabis seen as growing regional threat,http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=1.0.1086621768

[7] Radical Islam versus the moderates, Update No: 118 - (29/03/07),http://www.newnations.com/archive/2007/April/ba.html

[8] The Ringleaders of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Wahhabi Movement, Publication:Terrorism Focus Volume: 4 Issue: 6, by Anes Alic(http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1048)

[9] Emissaries of Militant Islam Make Headway in Bosnia, 22 March 2007 | Source:BIRNNidara Ahmetaevi,http://www6.b92.net/eng/insight/opinions.php?yyyy=2007&mm=03&nav_id=40280

[10] Uhapseno pet Vehabija, Banjaluka 13. 08. 2010

http://www.pressonline.rs/sr/vesti/republika_srpska/story/129253/Uhap%C5%A1eno+pet+vehabija!.html


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[11] Mirsad Bektasevic indictment by Court of Bosnia, NEFA Foundation.http://nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/Bektasevic_Indictment.pdf

[12] Suspicious Islamic Missionaries: Active Islamic Youth, By Ena Latin, Southeast

European Times in Sarajevo, 30 June 2003.http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/articles/2003/06/030630-ENA-001[13]Saudis tied to domineering Wahabi presence in Bosnia, Special To WorldTribune.Com, Tueday, March 27, 2007,http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/07/front2454186.207638889.html

Prof. dr Darko Trifunović: Radicalization of Islamic process in South East Europe

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