Internet Spreading Dangerous Ideology?

In Wake Of U.K. Terror Raids, Internet Fostering New Distrust Between Generations Of Muslims

(CBS)  Written for CBSNews.com by London field producer Steve Berriman.

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The terror raids in Birmingham Wednesday have prompted much anger among the area’s Asian community. But they have also made local mosque leaders question the source of the rise in Islamic fundamentalism among Britain’s young Muslims.

Shabir Hussain, the imam of a mosque near one of the homes stormed by anti-terror police, believes that the dangerous ideology of radical Islam is coming not from a small number of imams sowing anti-western sentiment at secret meetings, but from the Internet.

"The children are not learning from the mosques, not learning from the parents,” he said. “Young kids, they see the news and see the Internet. They think, ‘something's happening in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Palestine, in Kashmir, and Muslims are oppressed everywhere and some injustice is happening in the world.’”

The personal — and some might say secretive — nature of Internet use could be creating a sense of paranoia that is being felt inside the homes of British Muslims.

"Something is happening in the house,” Mr Hussain said. “Father is looking at son, 'What are you looking at on the Internet? What are you watching on the TV? Where are you going? Who are your friends?’ These kinds of things are already happening."

A London based producer who monitors daily a range of jihadi Web sites for CBS News, believes there is a host of factors contributing to the groundswell of anger evident among many young Muslims in Britain.

"They've lost a sense of belonging. Integration doesn't work. There's the recent spate of arrests,” he said.

But it could be the easy access to militant Islamic websites that is increasing and channeling this anger.

CBS News' producer said that young British Muslims are “more politicized than others their age, simply because of their background” and that some seek the unsanitized view of the world offered by the Internet, a view that many feel is lacking in more mainstream news.

"There's no barrier between the youngsters and what occurs in the world in terms of conflict," he said. “You go into a website at random and put in ‘beheading clips’ and you will find them, starting from Daniel Pearl in Pakistan to Ken Bigley in Iraq.”

The alleged plot by the nine terrorist suspects arrested yesterday to kidnap a serving British Muslim soldier, behead him and broadcast the footage on the web is chillingly similar to the media-savvy tactics employed by jihadist groups in Iraq.

The fighters who construct these Islamist websites have even taken to calling themselves "electronic mujahideen."

"Every operation they make, there's a camera filming it and then it's posted on the Internet," the producer said. "There's messages from al Qaeda, and now they're going on Arab satellite channels and American security centers.”

[schi1911]

The internet may be partly to blame, but for anyone whose seen "Undercover Mosque", it is clear that even the so-called "moderate" mosques promote intolerance and hate toward western culture and democracy.

[pdun1]

9/11 Was an Inside Job!

[fizzie319]

Great...

Another excuse to start censoring America's internet ...

[reel-crazy]

I'm sick of the categorization of the varied ethnicities within home countries. If you don't like where you live, the languages, and their ideologies, go back to where you came from. It's that freaking simple. There's the door and don't let it hit you in your blindside (politely) on the way out....

The net has absolutely nothing to do with someone's instilled religous beliefs or thirst for knowledge of it either... everyone has the power to make up their own minds and act accordingly. Just do it in your own homeland and maybe we can all finally get along.

[mbievtea]

Hey, it is STILL UP TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY to address the situation. If imam's are going to "pass the buck" to the internet, then it is STILL UP TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY to explain to its children that the oppression -- their words not mine -- is coming from Muslim's themselves. In other words, Muslim's are murdering Muslim's by the thousands all in the name of defending whether they are true believers or modified believers. The fact of the matter is that ISLAM IS AN OPPRESSIVE FORM OF IDEOLOGY AND RELIGION!!! The sooner the Muslim community accepts that ... the sooner they can move forward teaching that tolerance is the only way of peace and ISLAM BETTER FIND A WAY OF BEING TOLERANT or it is doomed to its fate.

[jimibear]

"Something is happening in the house,%u201D Mr Hussain said. %u201CFather is looking at son, 'What are you looking at on the Internet? What are you watching on the TV? Where are you going? Who are your friends?%u2019 These kinds of things are already happening."

OK, and? They describe it as "distrust and paranoia". I call it "basic parental supervision".

"I'm sick of the categorization of the varied ethnicities within home countries. If you don't like where you live, the languages, and their ideologies, go back to where you came from. It's that freaking simple. There's the door and don't let it hit you in your blindside (politely) on the way out...."

And I agree with this, ReelCrazy. I moved to the US from Britain, and nobody serves me warm bear and tea and crumpets on demand. I don't expect it. OK, that's a mild and silly example, but as you say, when you move to a country, the country should not change to accomodate you, and you should not isolate yourself from the population as a whole.

That's why I hate this "hyphenated American" rubbish, and why I think there should be no special accomodation at all for Spanish speakers. Every other immigrant group has had to learn the language of the country. Suck it up and fit in, or get out, quite simply.

[passerby2]

if only it was that simple that everyone has the power to make up their own minds, but the fact is that there are people who don't have a mind of their own and they're easily influenced. i say get rid of all religions and focus our efforts on science and HUMAN responsibilities. People living by other peoples word from text claiming to be from a mystical "god" is ridiculous, like little children be led by the piper.

[jimibear]

And this "blame the media" business is so much happy *********. If it's not rap music making people do drugs and rape, or movies making people behave violently, it's the internet turning them into terrorists. What a weak cop-out.

No. TV, the movies, music and the internet did not make you an a$$hole. You did, and you deserve to be treated accordingly. If you are a young person unsupervised by your family and thus doing these things, then they too deserve punishment.

Britain has had a policy of letting in more or less anyone from former British possessions in the East to the UK, with no meaningful restrictions and no requirement that they make any attempt to integrate. Now this is biting them in the a$$.

If you have the "right" to be in a country, you also have the responsibility to conform to that country's culture and rules. If you like the culture of your own country better, then stay there. The price of the benefits of a western lifestyle is that you conform to the rules of western living.

Take that towel off your head, wipe that dot off your forehead, take a bath and brush your teeth. Oh, and don't try to kill us.

We don't ask for much.

[j-whitman]

Reel crazy,,, Some of our people (yuk) like our 700 club radical Christians abuse the net for spewing thier radical hate of other religions that does nothing but twist this crazy war into some concept that it's Gods word to attack Islam - It only fans the fire of radical responses, & will give us another Bush in 08.

[bluestardad]

The government must clamp down on improper thoughts!

[jimibear]

Exactly right, Passerby. Religion is a crutch for weak minds and God is an imaginary friend for grownups.

[bluestardad]

I got one Better than even more ridiculous than this article!

On CSPAN General Casey Jr. just told Senator Warner of the Senate Armed Services Committee that he was not aware of any War Gaming for the New Iraqi Surge Plan! He was unaware if the plan had even been tried on Paper! This General is suppose to be the General in Charge of the Iraq War! General Casey is under consideration for the Chief of Staff of the Army and he is not aware if the Iraq Surge Plan we are debating had ever been War Gamed to determine plausibility, probability of Success, or any type of Course of Action Analysis has been done to determine a possible acceptable outcome! He should be drummed from the service as this is total dereliction of Duty. To Send 21,000 more troops to a war where the plan had never been analyzed for success to his knowledge is Criminal Negligence! Who would send a soldier in to war plan without ever War Gaming the Scenario first?

[jimibear]

"The government must clamp down on improper thoughts!
Posted by bluestardad at 01:23 PM : Feb 01, 2007
+ report this comment"

Yep, that's the way this is heading. How long do you think we will be able to keep posting here? it's free speech, and that's not allowed in Bush's America.

hey, Mr. President? You're a KKKunt. Just thought I'd say that while I still could.

[passerby2]

And what is this bu*ll sh*t about making the law of islam the supreme law of the land? Those radicals coming to other peoples country and wanting to make their law the supreme law. Bullsh*it

[reel-crazy]

I wish I could afford to buy these T-Shirts for all...perhaps even modify old 'Sam' with a 'Crowning' touch...

http://www.cafepress.com/rightwingstuff/740650

Chuckles

[bigwhtpony]

You infidels will all pay!

Sincerely,

Achmed bin Cous-Cous

[Renegade.Rivers]

One one side we have the Muslim radicals saying, "either your for use, or your against us, and death and destruction to everyone that don't believe the way we do." On the other we have Shrub, and his dedicated followers saying, "either your for use, or your against us, and death and destruction to everyone that don't believe the way we do." Neither side is right, and both are guilty of bringing about world unrest. Until we can find ways to peaceful ways to live together, we will never stop the hate, and destruction that is now tearing our world apart. Unfortunately, most of this is brought about by radical religious leaders, who are so narrow minded that they have lost touch with the real world.

Don't blame the internet, blame the radicals who are disseminating this garbage.

[three-o-six]

Sure pdun1 -- and you believe in santa clause and the good tooth fairy as well i presume

[mnelsonix]

Islamists, like other religionists, believe they have the one true conduit to God. Everyone else is damned. Christians will try to convert you, and so will Muslims. The difference is that Christians are tolerant of non Christian beliefs. The Muslim is not. Do not think for a minute that a %u201Cmoderate Muslim%u201D is moderate. If you are not a Muslim, you are an infidel and deserve death. A %u201Cmoderate Muslim%u201D is a Muslim without the opportunity to cut your head off. If Islam uses the internet to glean knowledge of western ways of life, they will eventually use this knowledge as power. With power, heads will roll%u2026Unless Islam goes thru a reformation, as did Christianity. May all your heads stay attached.

[reel-crazy]

And here, all along, I thought he was a loving and caring God... I must have wasted my time going to Sunday school as a kid, but they didn't have the net for me to learn the radical way of Good Orderly Direction from others then!!!

[three-o-six]

Peace is a pipe dream -- War is reality

[three-o-six]

Allah and Satan are one in the same

[beehive21-2009]

The holy guys are,and shall continue to be Brain washed Nuke em nuke now.

[three-o-six]

Nuke Iran

[reel-crazy]

I'm betting the people at that link I posted earlier are now wondering why their sales have quadrupled today... must have been God's will

[three-o-six]

Islam is a lie -- Mohamad was duped by the devil!!

[mnelsonix]

Mohamad was duped by the Devil. That's funny. He was into young girls and he even stole his son's wife. Maybe he was duped.

[three-o-six]

Satan came to "Kill and Destroy" -- Sounds like islam

[jimibear]

Religion is at the heart of most of the ills of humanity.

[jimibear]

There is no God, there is no Allah, there is no Satan.

There is only personal choice and responsibility, and religion tries constantly to avoid responsibility subvert choice.

Religion is inhumane.

[three-o-six]

Man's own self centeredness is at the root of the ills of humanity (I include myself in that catagory)

[three-o-six]

If there is no God then there is no right or wrong!! There is nothing wrong with me killing whoever i consider to be my enemy?

[three-o-six]

If survival of the fittest is all there is then you had better be buying guns and ammo!

[passerby2]

there is the law of man!

[passerby2]

that's why we all agree to a set of laws inorder for us to live peacefully together.

[three-o-six]

And what is the basis for "the law of man" if ther is no right or wrong??

[three-o-six]

Have we been able to achieve peacr?? No Peace is a pipe dream. War is reality

[three-o-six]

Why would i wan't peace if i could use War to dominate you??

[passerby2]

that's because there are religious people always trying to force their ideas onto everyone else!

[three-o-six]

In Hitler's "the law of man" allowed for the killing of Jews

[passerby2]

three-o-six are you a little seventh grader, still confused about yourself?

[three-o-six]

If there is no basis for right and wrong then anything can be lawful -- the killing of liberials maybe?

[jimibear]

Here's a quote from Paul Harris, founder of Rotary International:

"The road to war is a well-paved highway. The road to peace is still a wilderness."

Very true, and very sad.

And three-oh-6, the answer to your question "Why would i wan't peace if i could use War to dominate you??" is "Hopefully because you aren't an a$$hole." If you want to use violence to dominate others, then you are indeed an a$$hole, and a bully to boot.

And this:

"If there is no God then there is no right or wrong!! There is nothing wrong with me killing whoever i consider to be my enemy?
Posted by three-o-six at 02:10 PM : Feb 01, 2007
+ report this comment"

is exactly wrong. Right and wrong exist independently of God. All religion does is promise a (fictional) system of rewards and punishments, based on the assumption that people can't decide right from wrong for themselves and act accordingly. People can; it's crutches like religion that provide them excuses not to.

[three-o-six]

I'm not confused -- I know the evil in my heart -- are you aware of your's??

[three-o-six]

Most people are selfish *** holes if they have the curage to face up to it -- So I take no offence at you pegging me as one

[three-o-six]

jimibear

let me ask you this -- what do you base right and wrong on?? In nature interspecies killing goes on all the time -- who exactly says that it is wrong to kill???

[tuckerndfw]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....


He sounds like every extremist religious fanatic who ever lived.


Jew, Christian and Muslim extremist fanatics ALL claim it isn't their violently fanatic doctrine. The "passover" is a celebration of slaughtering inocent children in Egypt.

The bible is a terrorist handbook and justifies murdering people in the "name of God."

Anyone who claims otherwise is either ignorant of the bible or a liar. Perhaps both.

This imam is obviously a liar. Which is typical for Jewish, Christian and Muslim "holy men." Most of the revered (mythological) figures in the bible were murderers, liars and thieves. So, why should modern day "holy men" be different from their chosen heroes?

The bible should be banned in all forms if we are going to ban something that causes hate & violence.

[three-o-six]

I like hate and violence and i do not need the bible to teach it to me!!

[three-o-six]

So ban the bible if you must - if you want to trust the religion of "the suvival of the fittest" the again you had better buy guns and ammo

[jimibear]

"And what is the basis for "the law of man" if ther is no right or wrong??
Posted by three-o-six at 02:17 PM : Feb 01, 2007
+ report this comment"

You said there was no right or wrong, not anyone else. The basis for the law of man should be what is "good for the tribe", which are a lot of the things the Bible advocates, actually: don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, etc. Throwing God in just muddles the issue; people then don't think about right and wrong, but just call it "God's will" and it takes away personal respisibility and thought. And because it discourages thought, people can use religion as an excuse for all manner of evil.