Under The Banner Of Islam

Sunni Islam has played an ambivalent role in Turkey's Kurdish conflict--both as a conflict resolution tool and as a tool of resistance. Under the Banner of Islam uses Turkey as a case study to understand how religious, ethnic, and national identities converge in ethnic conflicts between co-religionists. Gülay Türkmen asks a question that informs the way we understand religiously homogeneous ethnic conflicts today: Is it possible for religion to act as a resolution tool in these often-violent conflicts? In search for answers to this question, in Under the Banner of Islam, Türkmen journeys into the inner circles of religious elites from different backgrounds: non-state-appointed local Kurdish meles, state-appointed Kurdish and Turkish imams, heads of religious NGOs, and members of religious orders. Blending interview data with a detailed historical analysis that goes back as far as the nineteenth century, she argues that the strength of Turkish and Kurdish nationalisms, the symbiotic relationship between Turkey's religious and political fields, the religious elites' varying conceptualizations of religious and ethnic identities, and the recent political developments in the region (particularly in Syria) all contribute to the complex role religion plays in the Kurdish conflict in Turkey. Under the Banner of Islam is a specific story of religion, ethnicity, and nationalism in Turkey's Kurdish conflict, but it also tracks a broader narrative of how ethnic and religious identities are negotiated when resolving conflicts.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, this extraordinary work of investigative journalism takes readers inside America’s isolated Mormon Fundamentalist communities. • Now an acclaimed FX limited series streaming on HULU. “Fantastic.... Right up there with In Cold Blood and The Executioner’s Song.” —San Francisco Chronicle Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God; some 40,000 people still practice polygamy in these communities. At the core of Krakauer’s book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America’s fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief.

This book explores two of the most crucial areas of the war on terror: 1) why some Muslims turn to violent jihad, and 2) that process in the world's most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia. The recent history of terrorism in Indonesia has brought this country into the world spotlight: the Bali night club bombing by Islamists in 2002 was one of the worst terrorist attacks in history. The recent violence following the executions of three of the Bali bombers, together with a number of thwarted bomb plots, demonstrate the continuing danger posed by radicalized violent Islamists in the country. Written by one of Southeast Asias leading counter-terrorism experts, Radical Pathways offers innovative new perspectives on the sources of violent Muslim radicalization and what should be done to counter it.

"This book is a brief introduction to the five fundamental articles of the Islamic faith."--P. [4] of cover.

In the small hours of Monday morning, the 2nd of May 2011, US President Obama announced to the world that Osama bin Laden, head of al-Qaida - the most notorious terrorist group of our time - had been killed in Pakistan by an American special task force.The most sought terrorist in the world is dead, but the ideology of violence that he and his followers have embraced is still alive.It is said that terrorism is as old as history. It has operated under number of names and emerged under a variety of banners. It is a violent act that targets civilians to advance an ideological or political cause. Today terrorism is operating under the cover of Islam.Over the centuries Islam has co-existed and interacted with religions, cultures and civilizations. In general that interaction has produced multicultural colourful societies. So why is Islam now being used as an incubator of violence? What are the foundations of Islam, its message and the way it relates itself to other monotheist religions? What do we really know about Islam? More importantly, what do those young Muslims who kill themselves and devastate the lives of others know about their religion? Are they aware that suicide is considered to be a great sin in Islam? And do they know that killing an innocent soul is an unforgivable crime in Islam? Do they realize that hate preachers are promoting their own anomalous version of Islam?The answers to those questions and more are methodically explored in this book.

"This is an excellent book which will have a major impact on the current debate about the relationship between Islam and politics in Indonesia. Its greatest strength is its innovative characterization of three Indonesian Muslim models of polity, as opposed to the normal two, Islamic state and secular state. Assyaukanie brilliantly delineates a third model, which he calls the Religious Democratic State, in the process greatly clarifying our understanding of the previous models, which he now proposes to label the Islamic Democratic State and the Liberal Democratic State. Another strength of the book is methodological. Each of its arguments is solidly grounded in the thoughts and actions of particular players, Indonesian Muslim thinkers and activists." - Professor William R. Liddle, The Ohio State University, USA

In the small hours of Monday morning, the 2nd of May 2011, US President Obama announced to the world that Osama bin Laden, head of al-Qaida - the most notorious terrorist group of our time - had been killed in Pakistan by an American special task force. The most sought terrorist in the world is dead, but the ideology of violence that he and his followers have embraced is still alive. It is said that terrorism is as old as history. It has operated under number of names and emerged under a variety of banners. It is a violent act that targets civilians to advance an ideological or political cause. Today terrorism is operating under the cover of Islam. Over the centuries Islam has co-existed and interacted with religions, cultures and civilizations. In general that interaction has produced multicultural colourful societies. So why is Islam now being used as an incubator of violence? What are the foundations of Islam, its message and the way it relates itself to other monotheist religions? What do we really know about Islam? More importantly, what do those young Muslims who kill themselves and devastate the lives of others know about their religion? Are they aware that suicide is considered to be a great sin in Islam? And do they know that killing an innocent soul is an unforgivable crime in Islam? Do they realize that hate preachers are promoting their own anomalous version of Islam? The answers to those questions and more are methodically explored in this book.

Indonesia is home to the largest Muslim community in the world. This book provides a perspective about contemporary Islam in Indonesia through discussing two outstanding streams of thought and movements - Islamic modernism and radical Islamic fundamentalism.