Terror groups extort poor communities to fund operations, experts say

Al-Qaeda and its affiliates fund much of their terror activities in areas they control through the extortion of impoverished people, experts say.

These terrorist groups force local residents to pay money through various means to keep its war machine active, they said.

Al-Qaeda exploits Islamic principles, including ushr (Islamic tax) and zakat (charitable giving), to force people to give part of their income to the group.

While people in al-Qaeda-controlled areas endure extreme poverty and hunger, the group seizes their assets and revenues through threats and intimidation, said Muhammad Nabi Zakari, a political analyst in Kabul.

"Al-Qaeda collects zakat and ushr from locals -- including farmers, traders, and drivers -- under the guise of religious duties, but the funds are actually spent on purchasing weapons, supplying ammunition, and supporting its fighters," he told Salaam Times.

"By distorting religious principles, the group forces people to pay money."

"Al-Qaeda’s extortion is not limited to zakat and ushr, the terrorist group is also involved in kidnapping, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and ransom operations, generating substantial revenue from these activities," he said.

This extortion of local populations has caused widespread poverty, unemployment, suffering, and hunger, Zakari said.

Nizamuddin Kabiri, another political analyst in Kabul, said that although al-Qaeda and its affiliates claim religious justification for its collection of assets, its actions are clearly un-Islamic.

"While al-Qaeda attempts to justify its actions through religion, its extremist ideology and violent behavior contradict the Islamic beliefs of local populations in Afghanistan and other countries where the network operates," he Kabiri.

"By distorting Islam, al-Qaeda has made life extremely difficult for people in its areas of activity, he said.

Distorting religious beliefs

For years, al-Qaeda has exploited religious beliefs and misrepresented Islamic principles to justify anti-religious and inhumane activities.

Religious scholars emphasized that al-Qaeda is not a genuine religious group, its actions are anti-religion and contribute to global Islamophobia.

"Al-Qaeda is a deviant movement outside the teachings of Islam, using religion instrumentally to achieve its goals," said Karamuddin Hanafi, a religious scholar in Herat.

"None of al-Qaeda’s actions align with the principles of Islam. Yet, the group distorts religious beliefs and values to justify its anti-religious behavior," he said.

Illiterate populations, unaware of proper religious principles, easily fall prey to the group’s propaganda, Hanafi said.

"Al-Qaeda’s behavior constitutes heresy and lies outside Islam," said Obaidullah Akbari, another religious scholar in Herat.

"Although al-Qaeda calls itself a religious movement, it has inflicted the greatest harm on Islam," he said.

"The sacred religion of Islam strongly condemns al-Qaeda’s actions," Akbari said.