Rising right concern for East, West
Experts say fear of threat much higher now than it was in 2001
The rise of Daesh-linked terrorist acts, committed by people from both the East and West, is leading to a corresponding rise in right-wing activity in the West, a development that could result in additional problems for the Middle East, say political analysts in the region.
While analysts said right-wing opinions in the West have been rising for nearly two centuries, they agreed that Daesh terrorism has accelerated the increasing role of right-wing politicians and the surfacing of radical and racists’ statements.
“In the West, generally, and Europe in particular, there are rightest extremists leanings that await any opportunity to use it to serve its political aims, and I believe Daesh has offered such an opportunity,” Marwan Qablan, a fellow at Doha-based Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies, said.
During the past two decades, right-wing parties have been growing in Europe because of local issues and because of the left-wing parties’ “failure”, explained Diaa Rashwan, Director of Cairo-based Al Ahram Strategic Studies Centre.
“But this time, the situation is different,” he told Gulf News.
At present, the fear of threat posed by Daesh in the West is much higher than the fear of threat posed by Al Qaida when it attacked New York and Washington, D.C, in 2001.
“Because Daesh combined two elements: first it took European sons and now they appear in unprecedented appalling scenes on television; [scenes with] excessive brutality. Secondly, there is fear in Europe that these sons will return,” Rashawn said.
Recent attacks launched in the West were carried by either Daesh members or the group’s sympathisers.
The man who is believed to be the mastermind of Paris in early November had joined Daesh and returned to France to launch the terrorist attacks, which killed and injured dozens of people.
After the attacks, the National Front, a far-right party, gained a large share of the votes in the first round of regional elections in early December.
Harsh criticism
And when a couple pledging allegiance to Daesh killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, US presidential candidate Donald Trump called for the “total and complete shutdown” of US borders to Muslims. His statements were met with harsh criticism in several American and European circles.
“European leaders realise the danger of the right-wing [groups] rising … this makes me think should our Arab and Muslim leaders sit aside and leave the Europeans to solve their own problems, or we interfere by issuing statements expressing our anger and criticism,” said Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist and general manger of the Saudi-owned Al Arab News Television Channel.
“Our interference might carry negative reaction … I am sure [Abu Bakr] Al Baghdadi [Daesh leader] is praying for Trump to win the elections, because he [Trump] will offer the fight platform for the confrontation between the West and Islam,” Khashoggi told Gulf News.
“If the [French] National Front wins the presidential elections after one year and a half, this will have a very negative impact on Arab issues,” said Qabalan.
“They will issue limitation to the issue of immigration. They are not going to expel the Muslims, but they will put lots of restrictions on Muslims,” he added.
But Rashawn said it is difficult to generalise ring-wing groups’ policies. “In politics, there are contradictions.”
For instance, western rightwing groups generally don’t support Israel, unlike the leftists, liberals and socialists who are “historically closer to Israel”. Also, the right wing in Europe and the US is not in favour of Iran, let alone a nuclear Iran, explained Rashawn.
Our interference might carry negative reaction … I am sure [Abu Bakr] Al Baghdadi [Daesh leader] is praying for Trump to win the elections, because he [Trump] will offer the fight platform for the confrontation between the West and Islam.” Jamal Khashoggi, | Saudi journalist and general manager of Al Arab News Television Channel