When we see another news report of an Islamic jihadist attack in some part of the world like this one for example https://rmx.news/article/article/ukrainian-islamist-planned-a-terrorist-attack-in-poland (fortunately it was prevented), it is often accompanied with a statement that the attacker “was radicalized”. I’d like to discuss this phenomenon. How do you understand this expression “Islamic radicalization”? What new ideas (if any), beside the core contents of the Islamic doctrine, appear in the mind of the attacker?
In my opinion, someone becomes ready for an Islamic jihadist attack when exposure to the contents of the Islamic doctrine accumulates and reaches its critical mass, to the degree that ideas of Political Islam become more important than things like fear of death, fear of criminal punishment and the wish to lead a normal life with a job, family and its usual pleasures. And the Islamic term for this process is not “radicalization” but “internal jihad”, efforts to become a better follower of the Koran and Muhammad’s example.
Your thoughts?