• Home
  • About RSIS
    • Introduction
    • Building the Foundations
    • Welcome Message
    • Board of Governors
    • Staff Profiles
      • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
      • Dean’s Office
      • Management
      • Distinguished Fellows
      • Faculty and Research
      • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
      • Visiting Fellows
      • Adjunct Fellows
      • Administrative Staff
    • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
    • RSIS Endowment Fund
    • Endowed Professorships
    • Career Opportunities
    • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
    • Research Centres
      • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
      • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
      • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
      • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
      • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
    • Research Programmes
      • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
      • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
    • Research @ RSIS
    • Other Programmes
      • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP)
  • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Programmes Office
    • Overview
    • MSc (Asian Studies)
    • MSc (International Political Economy)
    • MSc (International Relations)
    • MSc (Strategic Studies)
    • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
    • PhD Programme
    • Exchange Partners and Programmes
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Assistance
    • Information Sessions
    • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
    • Alumni
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
    • SRP Executive Programme
    • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
    • RSIS Publications
      • Annual Reviews
      • Books
      • Bulletins and Newsletters
      • Commentaries
      • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
      • Commemorative / Event Reports
      • IDSS Paper
      • Interreligious Relations
      • Monographs
      • NTS Insight
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • RSIS Publications for the Year
    • Glossary of Abbreviations
    • External Publications
      • Authored Books
      • Journal Articles
      • Edited Books
      • Chapters in Edited Books
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • Op-Eds
      • External Publications for the Year
    • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Cohesive Societies
    • Great Powers
    • Sustainable Security
    • Other Resource Pages
    • Media Highlights
    • News Releases
    • Speeches
    • Vidcast Channel
    • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsis.sg
Linkedin
instagram instagram rsis.sg
RSS
  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Research @ RSIS
      • Other Programmes
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
      • How to Apply
      • Financial Assistance
      • Information Sessions
      • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      • Alumni
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      • SRP Executive Programme
      • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      • RSIS Publications
        • Annual Reviews
        • Books
        • Bulletins and Newsletters
        • Commentaries
        • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
        • Commemorative / Event Reports
        • IDSS Paper
        • Interreligious Relations
        • Monographs
        • NTS Insight
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • RSIS Publications for the Year
      • Glossary of Abbreviations
      • External Publications
        • Authored Books
        • Journal Articles
        • Edited Books
        • Chapters in Edited Books
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • Op-Eds
        • External Publications for the Year
      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      • COVID-19 Resources
      • Cohesive Societies
      • Great Powers
      • Sustainable Security
      • Other Resource Pages
      • Media Highlights
      • News Releases
      • Speeches
      • Vidcast Channel
      • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • instagram instagram rsis.sg
Connect

Getting to RSIS

Map

Address

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

View location on Google maps Click here for directions to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
    RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
    instagram instagram rsis.sg
      RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    RSIS Intranet

    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
    Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University

    Skip to content

     
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses (CTTA) – Volume 9, Issue 02
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Commentaries
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • IDSS Paper
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers
    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses (CTTA) – Volume 9, Issue 02
    Nodirbek Soliev, Muhammad Saiful Alam Shah Bin Sudiman, V.Arianti, Sylvia Windya Laksmi

    01 February 2017

    download pdf
    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due recognition to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Mr Yang Razali Kassim, Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected]

    Volume 9, Issue 02 (February 2017): ‘‘Terrorism: The Threat Persists’

    The numerous terrorist attacks in 2016 persisted into the New Year with a deadly attack on the very first day of 2017; 39 people were killed and 70 injured in a mass shooting in an Istanbul nightclub. Numerous terrorist attacks followed, mostly in the Middle East, Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Many of the attacks, which took the form of suicide car bombings and shootings, were carried out or claimed by the ‘Islamic State’ (IS) terrorist group. Other militant groups involved included Boko Haram, Al Shabaab and the Taliban (in Afghanistan).

    Al Qaeda militants have also been active. An affiliate of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al Mourabitoun, claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide car bombing attack at an army camp in Mali on 18 January killing at least 77 people and injuring over 110. In Yemen, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) killed and injured over a dozen Yemeni soldiers on 3 January. Al Qaeda has also stepped up its propaganda effort, releasing statements by IS leader Ayman al-Zawahiri calling for attacks against the US, saying that it was a “top priority” target. Reflecting the internecine warfare within the global jihadi movement, Zawahiri also denounced IS propaganda campaign against Al-Qaeda and eulogised a number of Al Qaeda ‘martyrs’.

    The next few months will be crucial for IS as coalition forces stepped up its campaign to recapture Mosul and Raqqa and dismantle its so-called caliphate. So far, eastern Mosul has been liberated although the battle ahead for western Mosul is predicted to be challenging. US President Donald Trump, inaugurated on 20 January, has vowed to work with other countries including Russia to crush IS and eradicate terrorism. Meanwhile, Russia and Turkey have started joint operations against IS near the Syrian town of Al-Bab. These, and other developments on the ground such as the loss of IS-held territories, top IS leaders, fighters and sources of funds will determine IS’ future in Iraq and Syria and the directions it will take in the coming months.

    IS is expected to expand the ‘battlefield’ to the West and elsewhere, and consolidate and expand its many wilayats (provinces) and enclaves outside the Levant, stretching from Western Africa to Southeast Asia. The articles in this month’s issue deal with IS militants in and beyond Southeast Asia, IS’ exploitation of religion, rising Uyghur militancy and terrorism financing.

    V Arianti focuses on a key IS ideologue and ‘commander’ in Indonesia, Aman Abdurrahman, leader of Jamaah Ansharud Daulah (JAD) who is behind bars. The US has recently designated JAD as a terrorist organisation and imposed sanctions on Aman Abdurrahman who has provided ideological and spiritual leadership to IS supporters in Indonesia since 2013, and is alleged to have been behind the January 2016 Jakarta attacks which killed 8 people. She discusses how Aman Abduhrrahman succeeded in spreading radical ideology and unifying pro-IS groups, and his connections with IS in Syria.

    Md Saiful Alam Shah Bin Sudiman explores the ‘Islamic State’ (IS) terrorist group’s exploitation of Islamic precedents to falsely argue that hijra (emigration) to IS-held territories and wilayats is obligatory and an act of worship. The writer draws attention to IS’ cold calculated strategy of fomenting inter-religious discord and creating a ‘hostile’ environment in Europe to ‘encourage’ Muslims there to emigrate. He recommends steps European governments and Muslim communities should take to maintain social cohesion and inter-religious harmony, and counter IS false narratives and propaganda.

    Nodirbek Soliev looks at the growing militancy of disaffected Xinjiang Uyghurs, their recruitment by IS and Al Qaeda, their movement into Southeast Asia and the risk of such Uyghurs linking up with existing militant groups in the region. The writer also highlights the need to achieve long-lasting stability in Xinjiang by developing comprehensive counter-radicalisation and community engagement strategies, relying less on hard power and more on winning “hearts and minds” of its Uyghur minority community.

    The use of new payment methods to make illicit cross-border money transfers has reignited concerns about the lack of regulation in regards to such payment methods and the misuse of such channels by terrorists to fund their activities. Sylvia Windya Laksmi highlights the abuse of modern payment methods over the Internet and outlines three challenges faced by the Indonesian authorities in particular, based on the existing frameworks in place. She offers four policy recommendations to tackle the problems associated with combating terrorism financing.

    Categories: Commentaries / Conflict and Stability / Terrorism Studies

    Last updated on 06/02/2017

    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due recognition to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Mr Yang Razali Kassim, Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected]

    Volume 9, Issue 02 (February 2017): ‘‘Terrorism: The Threat Persists’

    The numerous terrorist attacks in 2016 persisted into the New Year with a deadly attack on the very first day of 2017; 39 people were killed and 70 injured in a mass shooting in an Istanbul nightclub. Numerous terrorist attacks followed, mostly in the Middle East, Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Many of the attacks, which took the form of suicide car bombings and shootings, were carried out or claimed by the ‘Islamic State’ (IS) terrorist group. Other militant groups involved included Boko Haram, Al Shabaab and the Taliban (in Afghanistan).

    Al Qaeda militants have also been active. An affiliate of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al Mourabitoun, claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide car bombing attack at an army camp in Mali on 18 January killing at least 77 people and injuring over 110. In Yemen, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) killed and injured over a dozen Yemeni soldiers on 3 January. Al Qaeda has also stepped up its propaganda effort, releasing statements by IS leader Ayman al-Zawahiri calling for attacks against the US, saying that it was a “top priority” target. Reflecting the internecine warfare within the global jihadi movement, Zawahiri also denounced IS propaganda campaign against Al-Qaeda and eulogised a number of Al Qaeda ‘martyrs’.

    The next few months will be crucial for IS as coalition forces stepped up its campaign to recapture Mosul and Raqqa and dismantle its so-called caliphate. So far, eastern Mosul has been liberated although the battle ahead for western Mosul is predicted to be challenging. US President Donald Trump, inaugurated on 20 January, has vowed to work with other countries including Russia to crush IS and eradicate terrorism. Meanwhile, Russia and Turkey have started joint operations against IS near the Syrian town of Al-Bab. These, and other developments on the ground such as the loss of IS-held territories, top IS leaders, fighters and sources of funds will determine IS’ future in Iraq and Syria and the directions it will take in the coming months.

    IS is expected to expand the ‘battlefield’ to the West and elsewhere, and consolidate and expand its many wilayats (provinces) and enclaves outside the Levant, stretching from Western Africa to Southeast Asia. The articles in this month’s issue deal with IS militants in and beyond Southeast Asia, IS’ exploitation of religion, rising Uyghur militancy and terrorism financing.

    V Arianti focuses on a key IS ideologue and ‘commander’ in Indonesia, Aman Abdurrahman, leader of Jamaah Ansharud Daulah (JAD) who is behind bars. The US has recently designated JAD as a terrorist organisation and imposed sanctions on Aman Abdurrahman who has provided ideological and spiritual leadership to IS supporters in Indonesia since 2013, and is alleged to have been behind the January 2016 Jakarta attacks which killed 8 people. She discusses how Aman Abduhrrahman succeeded in spreading radical ideology and unifying pro-IS groups, and his connections with IS in Syria.

    Md Saiful Alam Shah Bin Sudiman explores the ‘Islamic State’ (IS) terrorist group’s exploitation of Islamic precedents to falsely argue that hijra (emigration) to IS-held territories and wilayats is obligatory and an act of worship. The writer draws attention to IS’ cold calculated strategy of fomenting inter-religious discord and creating a ‘hostile’ environment in Europe to ‘encourage’ Muslims there to emigrate. He recommends steps European governments and Muslim communities should take to maintain social cohesion and inter-religious harmony, and counter IS false narratives and propaganda.

    Nodirbek Soliev looks at the growing militancy of disaffected Xinjiang Uyghurs, their recruitment by IS and Al Qaeda, their movement into Southeast Asia and the risk of such Uyghurs linking up with existing militant groups in the region. The writer also highlights the need to achieve long-lasting stability in Xinjiang by developing comprehensive counter-radicalisation and community engagement strategies, relying less on hard power and more on winning “hearts and minds” of its Uyghur minority community.

    The use of new payment methods to make illicit cross-border money transfers has reignited concerns about the lack of regulation in regards to such payment methods and the misuse of such channels by terrorists to fund their activities. Sylvia Windya Laksmi highlights the abuse of modern payment methods over the Internet and outlines three challenges faced by the Indonesian authorities in particular, based on the existing frameworks in place. She offers four policy recommendations to tackle the problems associated with combating terrorism financing.

    Categories: Commentaries / Conflict and Stability / Terrorism Studies

    Last updated on 06/02/2017

    Back to top

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
    OK
    Latest Book
    Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses (CTTA) – Volume 9, Issue 02

    Volume 9, Issue 02 (February 2017): '‘Terrorism: The Threat Persists'

    The numerous terrorist attacks in 2016 persisted into the New Year with a ...
    more info