(New York Times) Bernard Haykel - Growing splits among jihadis are beginning to undermine the theological and legal justifications for suicide bombing and the emerging schism is taking its toll on the jihadi movement. Many jihadis believe too many Muslims are being killed in Iraq, eroding global support for the jihadi cause. There are strong indications that the suicide attacks are turning many Muslims against the jihadis altogether. To be sure, the alternatives that critics recommend are no less violent. Rather, many of the movement's dissidents suggest that jihadis diminish their efforts in Iraq and revert to spectacular attacks in the West, like those that took place on Sept. 11. The writer is an associate professor of Islamic Studies at New York University.
2005-10-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive