Five brutal truths about Islamist terrorism

"Religion is central to the Salafist-jihadist identity. Forget isolated instances of the so-called jihadi ‘adventurers’ or ‘redemption through fighting’ - the vast majority of jihadis have a very strong Islamic religious identity at their core, regardless of how much they may know the dogma associated with it. It appears that the key figure in the Barcelona attack was a local imam (who may or may not have died in the bomb factory blast). Central to the Salafist mindset is a studied intolerance – within Islam for what they see as bida’, or impermissible innovations in practice, and externally for other religions. The charges over the arson attack against a Shi’a place of worship in Australia are a localised example of the former mindset, as was the case with Kutobi and Kiad, two Sydney-based terrorists now doing lengthy jail terms who had also planned to firebomb a Shi’a (although it may have been ‘Alawi) place of worship in western Sydney. The intolerance for other religions is exemplified by reports the Barcelona attackers may have targeted worshippers and tourists at Barcelona’s iconic cathedral. The 15th issue of the IS magazine Dabiq was entitled ‘Break the Cross’ and was dedicated to anti-Christian stories, and churches have been targets for attacks in France, West Africa and the Middle East."