Location:
Fondazione Bruno Kessler | Aula Piccola | Via S. Croce, 77 – 38122 Trento
Speakers:
Mahfoud Ali Zoui and Layachi Zemmouri, Visiting doctoral students and lecturers, University of Guelma (Algeria)
Abstract:
The rise of violent extremism associated with Islam is perceived as one of the major challenges to global security, and particularly to stability in Muslim-majority countries, in the new millennium. The interest in studying this phenomenon has also increased dramatically among academics from an interdisciplinary perspective. The bulk of the existing studies, however, tackled radicalization among Muslim youth in Europe and America. Comprehensive research studies on radicalization in Muslim-majority countries remain scant. While stressing the fact that the root causes of violent extremism of groups like ISIS and Al-Qaida may not be of religious nature and that these groups hide under the umbrella of religion just because, historically, it proved to be the most effective tool of mobilization especially when it came to political and armed conflicts, It is, nevertheless, of great importance to shed light on the religious concepts used by extremists to justify their violence and to recruit more militants. The paper, hence, scrutinizes the main ideological concepts on which these groups base their ideology. Three principal concepts prevail in the literature of Takfiri extremist groups becoming the pillars of their ideology. These are: the concept of Jihad, the concept of Al Wala’ wal Bara’ (translated as ‘Loyalty and Disavowal’ ) and the concepts of Dal Elislam and Dar Elharb (based on dividing the world into two camps, House of Islam and House of War).
By exploring innovative technics of interpretation by violent extremists associated with Islam, the seminar contributes to Centre’s mission of exploring the interaction of religion and innovation.
Speakers Biography:
Mahfoud Ali Zoui is an assistant professor of civilization at 8 Mai 1945-Guelma University, Algeria. He is the author of many papers including: “Freedom of Expression and the Right to Offend: Western Vs. Islamic Perspectives” and , “Media Discourse and Intolerance of Muslim Post -9/11 Visibility in the West: the British Context”. His research areas of interest include faith minorities and intercivilizational dialogue, political Islam, radicalization, religion and violence, and multiculturalism.
Zemmouri Layachi is an assistant professor of language and civilization at the department of English, 8 Mai 1945-Guelma University, Algeria. He is the author of: “Winning Hearts and Shaping Minds: The American Cultural Diplomacy towards Arabs and Muslims after 9/11. U.S-Algerian Exchange Programs as a Case Study” and “NGOs in Africa: a Vehicle to Promote Human Rights”. His research interests involve: cultures and civilizations, cultural exchange, inter/multiculturalism, and TEFL.
Contacts:
segreteria.isr@fbk.eu
