MEE: ‘Democracy is a joke’: Are young Islamists giving up on the ballot box?

Abdülmecid II: Last Caliph of the Ottoman Dynasty
(Library of Congress)

Middle East Eye (MEE) reported the following:

‘Democracy is a joke’: Are young Islamists giving up on the ballot box?

August 18, 2021

Over the past few years, Islamists have experienced a series of events that shaped their political thinking and undermined their faith in democracy.

From the bloody military coup in Egypt, led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who has built a dictatorship with a gruesome record of human rights violations backed by regional and western allies, to the rise of a hostile regional axis that seeks to obliterate Islamists domestically and internationally, and most recently the soft coup in Tunisia, which halted the only enduring success story of the Arab Spring.

For Islamists, these are not signs of acceptance or integration but rather of intolerance and rejection, which deepens their mistrust in the entire political process.

As a result, Islamists, and especially young Islamists, are growing increasingly doubtful of the ability of the democratic model – which they now perceive as a deceptive political game – to ensure their political inclusion. …

Ennahda came under fire not only from Tunisians but most importantly from other Islamists – moderate and extremists alike. They believe that Ennahda’s concessions were ultimately futile and undermined its credibility as an Islamist movement.

Enters Taliban

More disturbingly, extremist groups such as Islamic State (IS) are gloating over Ennahda’s loss of power and Saied’s control of the political scene in Tunisia.

For IS and other militant groups, these setbacks validate their extreme, anti-democracy approach and have prompted some disillusioned Islamists to call for the adoption of what they describe as the “Taliban model” – that is, the use of force in order to protect political gains.

They believe that negotiations should go hand-in-hand with armed violence against their adversaries. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/democracy-young-islamists-giving-up-on-ballot-box-elections

Notice also the following:

18 August 2021

While the West is anxiously watching developments after the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, “Islamic State” (IS), al-Qaeda and other terror militias are also observing what is happening with keen interest — to say the least.

“We have to expect that not only IS, but also al-Qaeda and other smaller groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan will become stronger,” Guido Steinberg, a terrorism expert and researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, told DW in a video chat.

However, Steinberg believes that it is impossible to say so far where this increased strength will become evident at first. …

He sees the main problem as being the boost to morale that jihadis, Salafists and Islamists all over the world have received: “They see that the Americans can be beaten. The Taliban have now proven that.”

New alliances instead of old animosities

New alliances among Islamic extremists could be one way that they become stronger.

“In Yemen, a compromise is already in place that ensures no fighting between al-Qaeda and IS,” Jassim Mohamad, a terrorism researcher at the European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, told DW via video.

Another such “deal” has already been sealed between the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. “Some people might think that al-Qaeda hasn’t been very active in the past 10 years or since the assassination of bin Laden, but documents and investigations show clearly that the relationship between the Taliban and al-Qaeda is very much alive, with al-Qaeda supporting the Taliban,” Mohamad told DW.

The analyst feels that more “peace agreements” of this kind are likely. “The next could be a deal between the Taliban and ISIS, for example, that they carry out their operations not inside Afghanistan but only outside Afghanistan,” he said.

Overall, he fears that Afghanistan, Libya and Syria will turn into bases for preparing terrorist attacks on European and American targets. https://www.dw.com/en/taliban-victory-a-likely-boost-for-islamist-extremists-in-the-middle-east/a-58887434

Yes, the Americans can be beaten

The USA will one day be defeated militarily (cf. Daniel 11:39).

However, before that defeat, the Europeans will make a deal with an Arabic leader (Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83:2-8).

That leader will be one that the Bible calls the King of the South.

Here is a prophecy about those aligned with the coming King of the South:

40 And at the time of the end, a king of the south pushes himself forward with him, and a king of the north storms against him, with chariot, and with horsemen, and with many ships; 41 and he has come into the lands, and has overflowed, and passed over, and has come into the desirable land, and many stumble, and these escape from his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the sons of Ammon. 42 And he sends forth his hand on the lands, and the land of Egypt is not for an escape; 43 and he has ruled over treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the desirable things of Egypt, and Lubim and Cushim [are] at his steps. (Daniel 11:40-43, LSV)

Now there are many ‘extremist’ Islamic groups that want a caliphate along the lines of what the Bible prophesies.

Islam is looking for the leader to rise up and unify the Arab World (Turkey, which is not Arabic, would like to lead it, but will not according to biblical prophecies). Some Muslims are looking for a political-spiritual leader, sometimes called the Caliph in English, to rise up (Caliph is a shortened version of “Khalifah rasul Allah” meaning “Successor to the Messenger of God”). The title caliph has been given to the head of state in Muslim-governed countries in the past and is something people of my faith have long suspected would rise again to fulfill Bible prophecy:

The supreme office of caliph, originally elective, became hereditary…Eventually…caliphs became figurehead or “puppet” leaders…Many Arabs…seek to re-create the political and theological unity of the early Islamic caliphate (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979, pp. 9-10).

Interestingly, within Islam, there is a belief that someone who sounds like the biblical “King of the South” of Daniel 11, who they tend to call the Mahdi or 12th Imam will participate in a deal like the one in Daniel 9:27…the Bible predicts the rise in the end time of a Future King of the South—and this person may be the one that Muslims will consider to be their prophesied “Mahdi.” …“the Muslim World League issued a fatwa in October of 1976 commanding Sunni Muslims to believe in the concept of an Islamic Savior called the Mahdi.”…Shi’ites also would do well to recognize that just because someone may claim to be the final Imam (or Mahdi), does not mean that God will agree that he should be followed. Neither Sunnis nor Shi’ites should support one who will appear to possibly be the final Imam in the next decade; whoever claims to be will be defeated soundly (Daniel 11:40-43). (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, Nazarene Books, 2009).

(More information about caliphates and prophecies concerning one can be found in the article The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation. as well as the video titled Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?)

Although a group called the Muslim Brotherhood may sound extreme to many, overall it is considered more ‘moderate’ than many groups that are interested in installing a pan-Arabic caliphate, which sounds a lot like the biblical King of the South.

Back in 2011, the Muslim Brotherhood believed that it was close to be able to attain its goal for a caliphate:

The Muslim Brotherhood is close to achieving the “ultimate goal” set by the group’s founder Hassan al-Banna in 1928, which is the establishment of a “just and reasonable regime.”

The project begins with the creation of a sound government and ends with the establishment of a just Islamic caliphate, said Mohamed Badie, the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt on Thursday, in his weekly message on the group’s official website. (Al-Youm, AM. Muslim Brotherhood says they are close to attaining their “ultimate goal. Sharia Awareness Action Network, December 30, 2011. http://shariafreeusa.com/muslim-brotherhood-says-they-are-close-to-attaining-their-ultimate-goal/)

While some hope that it has changed, notice something reported about the Muslim Brotherhood:

Abd al-Galil al-Sharnubi says he can only laugh at the thought that there are people in the West who still see the Muslim Brotherhood as “moderate Islamists.” Sharnubi is a journalist and a Muslim — and he was a member of the Brotherhood for 23 years. He’s been familiar with the movement since he was 14, and he says that the Brotherhood could be the kiss of death for democracy in Egypt…

As the former editor in chief of Ikhwan Online, the brotherhood’s website, Sharnubi went public shortly after his resignation. In talk shows he warned his fellow Egyptians that the movement was undemocratic and authoritarian, and that leading Muslim Brothers were no less corrupt than politicians from the old regime…

In order to properly apply the Sharia code of conduct, the Islamists suggested that they should be interpreted by Muslim legal scholars, known as ulama…Consequently, even the most radical Islamists have become part of the daily political landscape in Egypt.

This includes preachers such as Wajdi Ghunaim, who views secular Egyptians as infidels who should be punished with death. (Steinvorth D. and Windfuhr V., translated by Cohen P. Morsi’s Grab for Power Egyptian Revolutionaries Take on Radical Islam. Der Spiegel, November 26, 2012. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/egypt-at-a-crossroads-after-morsi-grants-himself-sweeping-powers-a-869291.html)

To see the likely nations involved in the biblical King of the South, please see the article Is there a Future King of the South?

In time, the West, meaning the Europeans and probably the USA, will support something like the caliph that many in Islam want.

We are getting closer to that day.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in Prophecy What is ahead for North Africa? What does the Bible teach?
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a related YouTube video titled Iran In Prophecy.
Jordan in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible show will happen to the inhabitants of Jordan? Will they escape and then be punished? A related video is titled Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? A related video is also available: What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Can the Final Antichrist be Islamic? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out. A related sermon is titled: Is the Final Antichrist Islamic or European? Another video is Mystery Babylon USA, Mecca, or Rome?