Taking Stock: Where Are We in the Struggle Against Radical Islam?

What has changed in the last 10 years?

As you might know very well by now, my work covers issues related to the truth claims of Islam and its political implications. This includes the implications of the doctrine of Islamic supremacy and the inferiority of non-believers. After more than 10 years doing this, it is good to take a moment to reflect on where we are at in the struggle against political Islam. My first book ‘Questioning Islam’ came out in 2014.

Much has changed since then, although much is the same as well. Perhaps the biggest change is the ISIS is no longer a noticeable presence on the ground in the Middle East. What has not changed is that we still see almost daily attacks based on the teachings of ‘the religion of peace' somewhere in the world. Overall, I think we have reasons to be both hopeful and concerned. With this article, I want to explain the reasons behind both responses. Since I am an eternal optimist, I will begin by focusing on the positive side of the ledger.

The fall of ISIS and Its Consequences. Ten years ago, vast swathes of the Middle East were under ISIS's control. The ‘Islamic State' ruled over millions of people and had a significant following all over the Muslim world and in the west. The fact that ISIS is no longer in power is obviously great news for those who lived under their rule. Beyond this, their actions, including publicizing atrocities, caused many in the Muslim community to question their commitment to Islam. ISIS was skilled at justifying their actions with chapter and verse from the Quran and Islamic traditions. This led many to ask, "If this is true Islam, do I really want to be part of it?" So, ironically, while ISIS and other radical groups prided themselves on projecting strength, they may have ended up weakening Islam itself. There are many testimonies from people who left Islam, who state that being confronted with ‘holy atrocities' was the spark that launched their journey away from the faith.

Islam is Bleeding Adherents: More people are turning away from Islam now than ever before. This is a trend that barely existed three decades ago. There used to be a perception that Islam was immune to apostasy, but this has changed. We are seeing people turn their backs on Islam in large numbers, with many converting to Christianity or rejecting any form of faith altogether. An example of this is the growth of the Christian Church in the Islamic Republic Iran. There has also been a groundswell in online groups catering to the needs of ex-Muslims, many of whom turned to atheism of agnosticism. It’s still too early to call this a mass movement, but the trend is significant. Apostasy from Islam not only impacts those directly involved, but it also sends a strong message to the rest of the Muslim community that there is life beyond Islam.

Growing Awareness of the Dangers of Islamic Ideology. In addition, the recognition of the dangers posed by radical Islamist ideology is growing. The October 7th attacks by Hamas followed the pattern of earlier Islamist groups. Many people now see the extent of the threat posed by groups like Hamas, which is deeply motivated by its religious ideology Hamas is the ‘Islamic Resistance Movement’ after all! Hamas leaders have even said they would fight Jews whether or not Israel existed. Add to this the fact that attacks inspired by Islam just keep coming. They are happening in very different parts of the world and the only thing that binds them together is that they are the response of Muslim believers to the teachings on the Qur'an and hadiths. All of this makes the ‘Islam is a religion of peace' line ever more threadbare, with more and more people recognising the threat posed to radical adherence to the teachings of Muhammad.

The items listed above can all be viewed as very positive from a non-Muslim perspective. There are, however, other realities that should give cause for concern. These include the following:

Demographic Realities. Islam doesn't grow primarily through conversion but through high birth rates. Muslim societies, including some of the most conservative and radical (e.g. those in Afghanistan, Yemen and Northern Nigeria), are experiencing much faster population growth than the rest of the world. In fact, many non-Muslim societies are deep into negative birth rates. So, Islam is likely to continue growing as a percentage of the global population. Add to this that in many non-Muslim countries (especially in the West), Muslim communities are also growing rapidly, very often driven by sky-high levels of migration levels facilitated by lax immigration policies. Many traditionally non-Muslim societies now have sizable Muslim minorities, in some cases substantial enough to control entire towns and cities. This has led to the creation of "no-go zones," where non-Muslims feel unwelcome, and in extreme cases, they have become hotbeds of radicalism.

Political Support for Islam. Many political leaders, especially in the West, continue to provide cover for Islam, including its more radical elements, in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is exceedingly difficult to challenge Islamic encroachment without being labelled a bigot or being or even being threatened under ‘hate speech' legislation. Many progressives view Islam as a useful ally in furthering their political goals and are willing to overlook some of its exceedingly regressive aspects. This alliance is showing signs of strain, particularly over issues like gender identity and LGBTQ rights, but for now, it seems to be holding. This is largely due to the last factor, namely hatred for Israel and the Jewish people.

Pro-Palestinian Activism as a Cover for Radical Islam. Unfortunately hatred of Israel and the Jewish people are deeply embedded in certain sectors of society. Despite clear evidence of Hamas's extremist ideology, campaigns of support for Hamas continue around the world. Many view Hamas through the lens of a virtuous anti-colonial movement, even though it is a straightforward Islamic resistance group with ideology similar to that of ISIS. This ongoing support strengthens political Islam in the west, even as Arab leaders are increasingly distancing themselves from Hamas.

In conclusion, while there are reasons to be hopeful, there are also significant challenges ahead. Demographic realities, the growth of Muslim communities in traditionally non-Muslim countries, and political support for Islam are concerning trends. I have always maintained that to effectively confront political Islam, we must challenge the truth claims of Islam itself. To put it as bluntly as I can: When someone ceases to believe in Islam, that’s one less person we need to be worried about in terms of obeying the Qur'an's call for violence against unbelievers. For my part it means that my work to undermine the truth claims of Islam will continue unabated.

For more on how the truth-claims of Islam can be effectively challenged, please see: ‘Questioning Islam - Tough Questions and Honest Answers About the Muslim Religion’.

Kind regards,

Peter

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