Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 10, No. 3 (September 2006) 1
MIDDLE EAST SALAFISM’S INFLUENCE AND
RADICALIZATION OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN EUROPE
Juan José Escobar Stemmann*
This article discusses the Salafi ideology behind the recent terror attacks in Europe, including
the Madrid (March 2004) and London bombings (July 2005) and the role of such attacks in the
radicalization process among certain sectors of Europe’s Muslim communities.
The Madrid terrorist bombings in March
2004 and the London attacks in July 2005
showed that Europe is no longer just a
logistics base or shelter for international
terrorism but has instead become one of its
main battlegrounds. Jihadi ideology, in
particular the proselytizing conducted by
radical preachers, has led to the emergence
of groups
capable of
carrying out
independent terrorist attacks in Europe.
What type of ideology lies behind these
attacks? What role does it play in the
process of radicalization of certain sectors
in Europe’s Muslim communities?
SALAFISM AS A METHOD
Jihadi ideology is based today on what is
commonly
known
as
Salafism,
an
ambiguous concept that has served to
designate various and very different
movements throughout the years. The term
is derived from the word salaf, which
means “to precede.” In Islamic vocabulary,
it is used to describe the followers of al
salaf al salih, the virtuous fathers of the
faith who were the companions of the
Prophet. The group includes the first three
generations of Muslims.1 Since they learned
Islam directly from the Prophet, they
understood the true meaning of the religion.
Salafis aim to eradicate the impurities
introduced during centuries of religious
practice. Interpretations not based on the
original sources of the religion are viewed
as distortions that lead Muslims to stray
from the path of God. Salafis have
constructed a method (manhaj) to help the
search
for
religious
truth.
It
is
a
methodology