Digital Phablet

Tag: extremism

  • US labels three Muslim Brotherhood branches as global terrorists

    US labels three Muslim Brotherhood branches as global terrorists

    On Tuesday, the U.S. designated the Egyptian, Lebanese, and Jordanian branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as global terrorists, citing their alleged support for Palestinian resistance group Hamas. This action, which was officially initiated last November, will impose sanctions on one of the Middle East’s oldest and most influential Islamist organizations.

    The Treasury Department classified these branches as specially designated global terrorists, accusing them of backing or promoting violent acts against Israel and U.S. allies. In a statement, the department remarked, “While the Muslim Brotherhood chapters claim to be legitimate civic organizations, they secretly and passionately endorse terrorist groups like Hamas.”

    Egypt’s foreign ministry praised the move, calling it a “significant step that underscores the seriousness of the organization and its extremist ideology, which poses a direct threat to regional and international security and stability.” Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Muslim Brotherhood branch, known as Jama’a Islamiya, dismissed the decision as a political and administrative choice by the United States, asserting it has no “legal effect within Lebanon.”

    The Muslim Brotherhood’s rise in Egypt was marked by its victory in the country’s first free presidential election in 2012, but it was ousted a year later following mass protests and a subsequent crackdown by authorities. Since then, the organization has faced intense scrutiny and suppression from Egyptian authorities.

  • Police hold ‘tactical’ shooting drills in countryside near Bondi

    Police hold ‘tactical’ shooting drills in countryside near Bondi

    Two individuals linked to last week’s deadly mass shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach trained for the attack in rural areas, according to court documents filed Monday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to enacting stricter laws targeting hate speech and extremism.

    Sajid Akram and Naveed are accused of attacking a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 fatalities—the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly thirty years. Court papers reveal the suspects practiced with firearms in what is believed to be the New South Wales countryside prior to the incident. Photos show them firing shotguns and moving in what authorities described as a tactical manner.

    In October, the suspects recorded a video condemning “Zionists,” sitting in front of a Daesh flag and explaining their motivations. Furthermore, just days before the attack, the suspects went on a nighttime reconnaissance trip to Bondi Beach.

    Australia marked one week since the shooting by observing a minute of silence at 6:47 pm local time. Albanese announced his intention to introduce legislation punishing hate preaching more severely, emphasizing national resilience: “We won’t allow terrorists inspired by Daesh to divide us. We will get through this together.” He expressed regret for the attack and assured efforts to protect Jewish Australians’ rights to practice their faith, educate their children, and participate fully in society.

    The federal government has proposed sweeping reforms to firearm regulations and hate speech laws, alongside a review of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Last week, Albanese revealed a nationwide gun buyback program—the largest since 1996, when Australia implemented strict firearm controls after the Port Arthur massacre that claimed 35 lives.

    Additionally, New South Wales held special parliamentary sessions Monday to pass what officials called the “toughest firearm laws in the country.” Premier Chris Minns stated, “The world has changed since Sunday’s terrorist act. We wish we could rewind time, but our focus is on preventing future tragedies.” The new legislation limits gun ownership to four firearms per person, or ten for certain groups like farmers, with over 1.1 million guns already registered statewide.

    The reforms will also ban displaying “terrorist symbols,” including the Daesh flag found in a vehicle linked to one of the accused shooters. Authorities will have expanded powers to restrict protests for up to three months after a terrorism-related event.

    Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed during the assault; he entered Australia on a visa in 1998 from India. His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian citizen, was transferred from hospital to jail Monday. Minns announced plans to consider tighter hate speech laws next year, including bans on phrases like “globalize the intifada.”

  • US Justice Dept Removes Extremism Study from Website

    US Justice Dept Removes Extremism Study from Website

    A study on far-right extremist violence in the United States has been quietly removed from the Justice Department’s website, AFP confirmed Tuesday. The research, conducted by the National Institute of Justice, indicated that far-right groups are predominantly responsible for fatal attacks within the country. The findings revealed that, since 1990, far-right extremists have committed significantly more ideologically motivated homicides than those linked to far-left or radical extremist groups.

    This conclusion contrasts sharply with remarks from senior Trump administration officials about the threat posed by left-wing extremism, especially in the wake of last week’s assassination of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The DOJ did not respond to inquiries about why the paper, titled “What NIJ research tells us about domestic terrorism,” was removed shortly after the deadly shooting in Utah on September 10.

    Archived versions of the Office of Justice Programmes website, captured by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, show that the article was accessible on September 11 but was no longer available by the next afternoon, as reported by independent outlet 404 Media. An author cited in the study declined to comment on its removal when reached by AFP.

    Other research on the threat of far-right extremism remains publicly available on the department’s website. On Monday, the White House announced plans to target an alleged left-wing “domestic terror movement,” sparking concerns that such efforts could be used to suppress political dissent. While federal law enforcement actively investigates domestic terrorism, the U.S. does not maintain a list of designated “domestic terrorist organizations.”

  • Honor Him Properly, or Face the Consequences

    Honor Him Properly, or Face the Consequences

    After Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, GOP leaders issued a warning: show respect in mourning or face serious repercussions.
    Over recent days, both Democratic and Republican leaders universally condemned Kirk’s murder. Kirk was a prominent conservative activist, age 31, known for his outspoken right-wing stance and combative debating style within Trump circles.

    There have been organized online campaigns, mainly led by Republicans, aimed at targeting Kirk’s critics.
    At least 15 individuals—including journalists, academics, and teachers—have been suspended or terminated from their positions due to discussions about Kirk’s death found on the internet. For instance, a junior employee at Nasdaq was dismissed over her social media posts related to Kirk.

    Additionally, some critics faced intense online harassment and mass calls to their workplaces demanding firings, reflecting a surge of right-wing anger following the incident.
    Certain GOP figures have advocated for more extreme actions—proposing to deport critics, sue them into poverty, or ban them from social media entirely.
    Laura Loomer, a conspiracy theorist and close Trump ally, warned, “If you’re sick enough to celebrate his death, prepare to jeopardize your entire career.” She and others are organizing campaigns on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to publicly shame Kirk’s detractors.

    Congressman Clay Higgins stated on X that anyone “celebrating” Kirk’s murder should be “banned from all platforms forever.” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau expressed his disgust over social media users praising or trivializing the event, instructing officials to take appropriate action.

    This crackdown on disrespect for Kirk contrasts sharply with past instances where some of the same figures—Kirk included—mocked victims of political violence.
    For example, Higgins posted a mocking photo of Paul Pelosi after he was assaulted with a hammer at his San Francisco home in 2022, though he later removed the post. Loomer falsely claimed Pelosi’s attacker and Paul Pelosi were lovers, calling the attack a “booty call gone wrong.” Kirk, in a televised statement shortly after the attack, expressed a humorous wish for the attacker’s release from jail, suggesting, “Someone should go bail him out.”

    Neither Loomer nor Higgins responded to requests for comment.

    A new website, “Expose Charlie’s Murderers,” has been set up, listing 41 individuals it claims supported political violence online. The site states it is processing over 20,000 submissions.
    Screenshots and comments posted there reveal some users joked about Kirk’s death or expressed glee, with phrases like “He got what he deserved” or “karma’s a bitch.” Others, however, criticized the far-right figure while explicitly condemning violence.
    Some postings merely pointed out that Kirk—a known opponent of gun control—had been shot, referencing his own 2023 remarks where he described some gun deaths as “worth it,” citing the Second Amendment.

    One individual noted that their employer had received threatening calls demanding their firing, prompting them to avoid the office in the coming days.
    “I do not condone Charlie Kirk’s murder,” they told Reuters anonymously, “but it’s ironic considering his longstanding opposition to gun restrictions.”

    Reuters could not determine who runs the site, as they did not respond to questions about ownership or methodology. The hosting platform, Squarespace, also did not comment.

    Jay Childers, a communications professor at the University of Kansas, said this situation reflects a longstanding pattern where government officials and political elites attempt to control discourse and suppress dissent.
    “While this isn’t entirely new, the internet’s accessibility makes it easier for many people to become targets of attempts to regulate political speech,” he explained.

  • Experts warn of escalating violence after Kirk’s killing

    Experts warn of escalating violence after Kirk’s killing

    The killing of right-wing influencer and commentator Charlie Kirk signals a significant escalation in the rise of political violence across the United States. Many experts warn that this incident could deepen an already divided nation, potentially spurring further unrest.

    “This is deeply disturbing and frightening, yet not entirely unexpected,” explained Mike Jensen, a researcher at the University of Maryland, which has been monitoring political violence since 1970 through a dedicated terrorism database.

    In the first half of this year, the U.S. saw around 150 politically motivated attacks, almost doubling the number from the same period last year, Jensen noted. “We’re in a very dangerous situation that could quickly spiral into widespread civil unrest if we don’t intervene,” he added. “This incident could act as a catalyst that triggers more violence.”

    Domestic terrorism specialists attribute this surge to a confluence of issues: economic instability, fears over changing racial and ethnic dynamics, and increasingly heated political rhetoric. Traditional ideological conflicts—once largely centered on policy disagreements—have transformed into more personal and visceral animosity, fueled further by social media, conspiracy theories, and individual grievances.

    Last year, Reuters documented at least 300 cases of political violence across the U.S. between the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the 2024 presidential election, marking the most persistent spike in such incidents since the 1970s.

    “Acts of extreme political violence are becoming more commonplace,” said Jon Lewis, a researcher at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. “The shooting of Charlie Kirk highlights a broader, more dangerous trend: violence driven by factors beyond specific ideologies or motives.”

    Experts emphasize that the cycle of retaliation and avoidance of initiating violence complicates efforts to prevent further incidents. “People are hesitant to be the first to resort to violence but are more willing to retaliate once it begins,” said Lilliana Mason, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University.

    Kirk, a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump and founder of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA, was giving a speech to about 3,000 people at Utah Valley University when gunfire erupted, causing chaos as he was knocked to the ground and attendees scrambled for safety.

    As of Wednesday evening, authorities had not publicly identified a suspect. FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned that an unidentified individual had been detained and then released for questioning.

    Kirk, age 31, played a pivotal role in rallying young Americans to support Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement through social media. Trump himself praised Kirk following his death, stating, “No one understood or connected with America’s youth better than Charlie.” House Speaker Mike Johnson said there has been a surge of lawmakers demanding increased security in response to the shooting.

    Earlier last year, Trump endured two assassination attempts, one resulting in the shooter’s death, and another involving an individual armed with a rifle near a golf course where Trump was present; that trial is currently in progress. Additionally, two other violent attacks by right-wing extremists—one in Minnesota where a nationalist killed a Democratic lawmaker and her husband, and another at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta—shook the nation.

    Since the start of 2025, at least 21 individuals have died in politically motivated violence, including an attack early on New Year’s Day in New Orleans where an assailant expressed loyalty to ISIS.

    In Texas, in July, a group of at least 11 militants targeted an immigration detention center, throwing fireworks, spray-painting “traitor” and “ICE Pig,” and shooting a police officer in the neck, injuring him.

    Since taking office again, Trump has reduced efforts to combat domestic extremism, redirecting resources to immigration enforcement and citing border security as the main threat.

    Jensen warns that the outlook remains bleak. “This administration has brought significant changes to the country in just eight months—some positive, some negative. The opposition and supporters are increasingly acting out against each other, creating a vicious cycle that could lead to an even darker period in our nation’s history.”

  • Singapore Holds Teen Suspected of Plotting Attack on Muslims

    Singapore Holds Teen Suspected of Plotting Attack on Muslims

    Indonesian anti-terror police outside a building during a raid in Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia, on August 5, 2016. Photo taken by Antara Foto. — Reuters

    • 17-year-old male apprehended in March, according to ISD.
    • Suspect identified as an ‘East Asian Supremacist’.
    • “This boy aimed to kill at least 100 Muslims,” states the minister.

    A teenager from Singapore has been detained for allegedly plotting to murder numerous Muslims outside various mosques, according to a statement from the Internal Security Department (ISD) of the city-state released on Wednesday.

    The 17-year-old was arrested in March and had idolized white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, who infamously killed worshippers at mosques in New Zealand in 2019, calling him a “hero.”

    The ISD revealed that the teen identified himself as an “East Asian Supremacist” and had chosen five mosques across Singapore as targets for his attacks planned for after Friday prayers.

    “His intention was to kill at least 100 Muslims, aiming to surpass the number Tarrant killed. He also had plans to live-stream his assaults,” Minister of Home Affairs K. Shanmugam informed reporters.

    “At the time of his arrest, he was making various attempts to acquire a firearm. He openly stated to ISD that if he had obtained a gun, he would have executed his plans.”

    The teenager had communicated online with an 18-year-old named Nick Lee, who was apprehended in December for similar intentions.

    In recent years, Singapore, known for its multiculturalism, has seen a rise in arrests involving young individuals who were detained due to plans to commit violence after being exposed to extremist material online.

    In 2024, authorities arrested another teenage boy who was allegedly planning a stabbing attack inspired by the Daesh group in a busy suburb.

    In the same announcement on Wednesday, the ISD also mentioned that a 15-year-old girl had been placed under restrictions in February, preventing her from traveling or accessing the internet without approval from the ISD director.

    It was alleged that between July 2023 and December 2024, the girl engaged in at least eight short-term online romantic relationships with supporters of the Daesh group based overseas.

    “She pledged allegiance to a Daesh chatbot,” Shanmugam stated. “She aspired to fight and die for Daesh, looked up flights to Syria, and contemplated how to save money for her travel plans.”

    The minister expressed concern over the escalating trend of radicalism and extremism among youth influenced by the internet.

    The ISD noted that “self-radicalization can occur extremely rapidly,” stating, “In the case of the 15-year-old, it took only a matter of weeks.” The department urged the public to remain alert for warning signs.