_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Report Information from ProQuest

February 10 2015 13:17
_______________________________________________________________

10 February 2015

ProQuest

Tabla de contenido
1. Islamist sect using Spain to spread jihad in Latin America - paper..............................................................

Bibliografa........................................................................................................................................................ 4

10 February 2015

ii

ProQuest

Documento 1 de 1

Islamist sect using Spain to spread jihad in Latin America - paper

Enlace de documentos de ProQuest
Resumen (Abstract): The Islamist movement Tabligh e Jama'at, which preaches the most radical interpretation
of Islam and in which many people have found a source of inspiration for practicing jihad, is using Spain as a
platform to spread jihadism in Latin America. Every year, dozens of Tabligh's "missionaries" (da'is) cross the
Atlantic Ocean to preach - mainly in Panama, Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela - the return to the original
principles of Islam to clear it from Western contamination.
A report by Athena Intelligence, the prestigious advanced research network on insurgency and terrorism,
warned that "despite its alleged peaceful and apolitical nature, the Tabligh e Jama'at's activities might be
indirectly used (and, in fact, have been frequently used) by jihadists." "The indoctrination by Tabligh," the report
added, "conveys a view of the world that, in practice, might serve as an anteroom to the jihadist ideology: a will
to return to the original principles of Islam, primacy of the Muslim identity over any other sort of identity,
preeminence of intra-Islamic solidarity, separation from non-Muslims, and distrust towards the West."
"The fraudulent instrumentalization of the Tabligh members' trips by the jihadists is likely to happen." That is to
say, Islamist terrorists "might attempt to pass themselves off as Tabligh e Jama'at members so as not to raise
suspicions during their trips."
Enlaces: Buscar en Linceo +
Texto completo: Text of report by Spanish newspaper ABC website, on 28 April
[Report by Javier Pagola: "Most Radical Islamism Expanding Towards Latin America From Spain"]
The Islamist movement Tabligh e Jama'at, which preaches the most radical interpretation of Islam and in which
many people have found a source of inspiration for practicing jihad, is using Spain as a platform to spread
jihadism in Latin America. Every year, dozens of Tabligh's "missionaries" (da'is) cross the Atlantic Ocean to
preach - mainly in Panama, Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela - the return to the original principles of Islam to
clear it from Western contamination.
The arrival to Spain of the Tabligh (Congregation To Spread Islam) movement was first noticed in the mid1980s, but it has noticeably increased its number of followers in recent years, coinciding with the increase in the
number of immigrants coming from Islamic countries, especially from Pakistan and the Maghreb. In fact, its
preaching has led Tabligh to spread throughout Spain in a very short time. It already has a strong presence in
Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Andalucia, Ceuta, and Melilla, although it has also started to settle in La Rioja,
Navarra, and Extremadura.
Since it consolidated its presence in Spain, the government has noticed that the Tabligh movement has entered
a new stage by spreading to various Latin American countries, taking Spain as a point of departure. At present,
its missionaries are travelling to certain Argentine, Brazilian, and Panamanian cities that already have large
Muslim populations, which are breeding grounds for spreading its Islamist discourse.
Brazil has the largest Muslim population - which is mainly gathered in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasilia in Latin America. Argentina is another country chosen by Tabligh to spread its message. In fact, the arrival of
some 30 Egyptians and Pakistanis belonging to this movement was noticed in 2004. Recently, a Tabligh
delegation has visited Chavez's Venezuela.
However, the presence of Tabligh "missionaries" from Spain has also started to be noticed in countries like
Chile and Mexico, especially in the controversial region of Chiapas. The arrival to Latin America of preachers
who leave from Spain facilitates the work of this radical Islamic sect's representatives, and not only because
they arouse less suspicion than those who arrive from Arab countries, but because, after their time in Spain,
they start to speak Spanish fluently.
10 February 2015

Page 1 of 4

ProQuest

Periodic Trips
Those responsible for the Tabligh e Jama'at community plan and organize these trips in the meetings
(mashura) that they hold periodically. They take into account that the members of this movement have 40 days
a year at their disposal to travel. Each trip lasts three days.
The organizers of these trips choose as their destinations cities, towns, and villages with Muslim populations
and even sympathizers committed to the Tabligh. The sympathizers facilitate the "missionaries'" work and
provide them with accommodation, which, on some occasions, is a mosque. A situation has arisen in which,
after a three-day stay, the entire population was converted to Islam by Tabligh preachers, although it is true that
this has happened in very small villages. But it is still symbolic.
To preach in these Central and Latin American countries, the Tabligh "missionaries" have found the poverty of
the places they visit to be a breeding ground. On some occasions, they present themselves as real NGOs
rendering social services, a different kind of support, and easing the local population's problems. That is why
they are logically welcomed by people with uncertain futures. These large pockets of poverty make these
countries vulnerable to the spreading of radical discourses.
A report by Athena Intelligence, the prestigious advanced research network on insurgency and terrorism,
warned that "despite its alleged peaceful and apolitical nature, the Tabligh e Jama'at's activities might be
indirectly used (and, in fact, have been frequently used) by jihadists." "The indoctrination by Tabligh," the report
added, "conveys a view of the world that, in practice, might serve as an anteroom to the jihadist ideology: a will
to return to the original principles of Islam, primacy of the Muslim identity over any other sort of identity,
preeminence of intra-Islamic solidarity, separation from non-Muslims, and distrust towards the West."
Anteroom to Jihad
Furthermore, the report warns of the risk entailed by "the extended trips of the Tabligh followers to Muslimmajority countries, especially to Pakistan, to deepen their religious knowledge might lead some of them to
establish contact with jihadist recruiting networks."
"The fraudulent instrumentalization of the Tabligh members' trips by the jihadists is likely to happen." That is to
say, Islamist terrorists "might attempt to pass themselves off as Tabligh e Jama'at members so as not to raise
suspicions during their trips."
For example, the Athena Intelligence report recalls that the Abu Dahdah network, which was dismantled in
November 2001, used the Tabligh's network to recruit sympathizers, such as Moroccans Amer Azizi, Khaled
Zeimi, and Mustapha al-Maymouni. The first of them went to the training camps in Afghanistan and when he
returned, he became one of the main network's scouts. For his part, Al-Maymouni is currently imprisoned in
Morocco for his participation in the Casablanca attacks. Zeimi formed part of Al-Maymouni's jihadist cell, and in
2004 he was caught by surprise close to the Trillo nuclear plant with a camera, and he was incapable of
explaining what he was doing there.
Madrid train bomber Serhane Ben Abdelmajid, alias "The Tunisian," frequented the Tabligh community in
Madrid. Moroccan Aziz al-Bakri, who died fighting in Iraq in April 2003, was also related to this sect.
Mohammed Srifi Nali, who was arrested in December 2005 within the framework of the operation "The Union,"
also belonged to the Tabligh community and intended to recruit other members of this sect in Malaga and
Seville.
Credit: ABC website, Madrid, in Spanish 28 Apr 08
Empresa/organizacin: Nombre: American Broadcasting Cos; Ticker: ABC; NAICS: 513112, 511120, 513120;
DUNS: 00-697-9819;
Ttulo: Islamist sect using Spain to spread jihad in Latin America - paper
Autor: Anonymous

10 February 2015

Page 2 of 4

ProQuest

Ttulo de publicacin: BBC Monitoring Americas

Ao de publicacin: 2008
Fecha de publicacin: Apr 30, 2008
Lugar y fecha de origen: LATAM
Editorial: BBC Worldwide Limited
Lugar de publicacin: London
Pas de publicacin: United Kingdom
Materia de publicacin: Business And Economics, Political Science
Tipo de fuente: Wire Feeds
Idioma de la publicacin: English
Tipo de documento: News
ID del documento de ProQuest: 460159792
URL del documento: http://search.proquest.com/docview/460159792?accountid=14609
Copyright: ABC website, Madrid, in Spanish 28 Apr 08/BBC Monitoring/(c) BBC
ltima actualizacin: 2010-07-01
Base de datos: ABI/INFORM Complete

10 February 2015

Page 3 of 4

ProQuest

Bibliografa
Citation style: APA 6th - American Psychological Association, 6th Edition
Islamist sect using spain to spread jihad in latin america - paper. (2008, Apr 30). BBC Monitoring Americas
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/460159792?accountid=14609

_______________________________________________________________
Contactar con ProQuest

Copyright 2015 ProQuest LLC. Reservados todos los derechos. - Trminos y condiciones

10 February 2015

Page 4 of 4

ProQuest