Austere brand of Islam on rise in Europe, stirring concerns


A Muslim woman walks by a poster for French magazine Marianne reading "Radical Islam Accomplice", on the Champs Elysees in Paris. Its imams preach austere piety, its tenets demand strict separation of sexes _ and some of its most radical adherents are heeding the call of jihad. Salafism, an Islamic movement based on a literal reading of the Quran, is on the rise in France, Germany and Britain, security officials say, with Salafis sharply increasing their influence in mosques and on the streets.

PARIS (AP) Its imams preach austere piety, its tenets demand strict separation of sexes and some of its most radical adherents are heeding the call of jihad. Salafism, an Islamic movement based on a literal reading of the Quran, is on the rise in France, Germany and Britain, security officials say, with Salafis sharply increasing their influence in mosques and on the streets.

The trend worries European authorities, who see Salafism as one of the inspirational forces for young Europeans heading to Syria or Iraq to do battle for the Islamic State group. Experts, however, point out that the vast majority of Salafis are peace-loving.

In Germany, there are currently about 7,000 Salafis in the country � nearly double the 3,800 estimated four years ago, the Interior Ministry said last month. About 100 French mosques are now controlled by Salafis, a small number compared to the more than 2,000 Muslim houses of worship, but more than double the number four years ago, a senior security official told The Associated Press. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. France does not do head-counts by religious practices or origins.
n Britain the numbers are on the rise, too. Seven percent of Britain's 1,740 mosques are run by Salafis, according to Mehmood Naqshbandi, an expert on Britain's Muslims and counter-extremism adviser to the British government who keeps a database of the various currents of Islam in Britain. He says those numbers are steadily growing, especially among young people and that a quarter to half of British Muslims under 30 "accept some parts or all of the Salafi theology."

Experts say Salafis in France have been waging a campaign of stealth to take over mosques. First they develop a following, then begin criticizing the imam in order to win control over the faithful, security officials and moderate Muslims say. Youth and converts to Islam are considered the most vulnerable to such messages.

Experts of Islam divide Salafis into three groups: the traditional brand of "quietists" who eschew politics; those who become politicized; and the hardcore worshippers who follow the call of jihad. Today, Salafism has become a buzzword for danger. In Germany, authorities consider all Salafis as extremists, and security officials in Europe believe there is a direct line from the peaceful version to the version that embraces jihad and risks tempting the fragile into fanaticism.

Critics say police often infringe upon the freedom of worship in their mission to monitor Salafi extremists. "It would be naive to think there is never a risk," said Samir Amghar, a specialist on Salafism. But to consider that every sign of ultraconservative Islam presents a danger "risks stigmatizing a large majority of Muslims."

We are going to see very soon how the open borders Europeans are going to deal with the violence that's coming from the immigrants that refuse to assimilate.

Maybe we can see how they deal with it as we'll have the same problem here too.

We already have an assimilation problem. You can't force people to behave and act civilized when they don't understand what that means.

Its ok for the west who rejected peaceful christianity. Anything that would stop pervertions like same s*x marria is welcomed. Anybody who rejects the God of peace MUST accept the god of war

The God of War is here and in Europe..

The disciples will never accept the liberal societies.

Eventually when their numbers are large enough the wrath will be brought.

I'm very dismayed, that the Europeans,
failed to remember their own history.

Right now, I'm curious as to where to
place my wager, as to which European
nation, will be the first to be
declared an "islamic state".

They are so pussified and have spent the last 60 years sucking off our **** for their security that it won't take much for them to capitulate.

Right now, my money is on Holland.

A little bit off the subject. But the woman in the pic, I hope she was paid well to stand there looking at the poster.. because she may , very well of put her life in jeopardy.
If she was even aware, that the photo was taken, & sent all over the world.

I know, she should have worn a Burka, but at least she didn't draw a cartoon of mohammad.