How Saudi petrodollars fuel rise of Salafism

[xchrom]

http://www.france24.com/en/20120929-how-saudi-arabia-petrodollars-finance-salafist-winter-islamism-wahhabism-egypt



Since the 2011 Arab revolts, a loose network of underground zealots has evolved into a potent and highly vocal force. Behind the remarkable rise of Salafism lies the world’s leading producer of oil – and extremist Islam: Saudi Arabia.

When protesters incensed by an anti-Muslim video scaled the walls of the US embassy in Cairo on September 11, tearing down the Stars and Stripes, a black flag could be seen floating above the battered compound. From Sanaa, in Yemen, to Libya’s Benghazi, the same black banner, emblem of the Salafists, soon became a ubiquitous sight as anti-US protests spread like wildfire across the Arab world. The 2011 Arab uprisings have served the Salafists well. With the old dictators gone, a once subterranean network of hardliners has sprung into prominence – funded by a wealthy Gulf patron locked in a post-Arab Spring rivalry with a fellow Gulf monarchy.

The ‘predecessors’

A puritanical branch of Islam, Salafism advocates a strict, literalist interpretation of the Koran and a return to the practices of the “Salaf” (the predecessors), as the Prophet Mohammed and his disciples are known. While Salafist groups can differ widely, from the peaceful, quietist kind to the more violent clusters, it is the latter who have attracted most attention in recent months.

In Libya and Mali, radical Salafists have been busy destroying ancient shrines built by more moderate groups, such as Sufi Muslims. Fellow extremists in Tunisia have tried to silence secular media and destroy “heretical” artwork. And the presence of Salafist fighting units in Syria has been largely documented. Less well known is who is paying for all this – and why.

[JCMach1]

1. This deserves a kick because it is stating the truth about the 500lb gorilla in the foreign

affairs china shop...

Saudi Arabia is the single biggest threat to peace in the world today.

[riderinthestorm]

2. This same article came up yesterday (and sank like a stone). Its too important to drop however

An excellent article.

I even had a chance to link to your excellent OP from a couple of weeks ago...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021441057

[xchrom]

3. +1

[Arctic Dave]

4. No, the US is the biggest threat to world peace.

Saudi Arabia is embolded because we will do anything for them, including overthrowing other governments, as long as they keep selling us oil and stay on the Petrodollar.



And a big kick, also.

[riderinthestorm]

5. Well clearly this is a conversation DU doesn't really want to have

Its always weird to me how these types of threads drop like a stone on DU....

Anyway, another futile pm kick for an important article with some thoughtful points.