Sourouris leading Salafist currents in Europe

Mohamed Youssri

The distinctions between Salafist currents in Europe became so clear in the past few years, inviting the attention of western researchers. This has caused these researchers to reconsider their view of putting all the Salafist currents in their continent in one basket.

German researcher, Nina Käsehage, was one of those who realized the differences between Salafist currents in Europe. She told the German news site, Deutsche Welle, that Salafist currents should be subdivided into fundamental, political, and jihadist ones.

She added that there is an additional category of Salafists, namely potentially politicized Salafists.

A third of the Salafists, she said, prefer the use of violence, and are ready to do this.

Sourouri Salafism

A study of Salafism in Europe today cannot be done in separation from the Sourouri current, which is linked to the Syrian sheikh Mohamed Sourour Zein al-Abdine who spent a long time among the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria. He then travelled to Saudi Arabia. There he merged dynamic Islamic into the scientific one to create a new Salafist current.

This brings the Sourouri current close to all other Salafist currents in Europe, including the Salafist groups that adopt violence.

The Sourouri current appeared in the UK at the end of the 1980s, after Zein al-Abdine moved to the country and established a number of Salafist entities, including the Islamic Forum which produces the al-Bayan magazine.

Alliances

The Sourouri Salafists have many things in common with dynamic groups that campaign for Islam in Europe. Zein al-Abdine used to have close ties with the Salvation Front in Algeria, whose members had presence in Europe, especially in France. Ali Belhaj, an outstanding commander of the front, visited France frequently. He had strong relations with the leading members of the Sourouri current in Saudi Arabia.

The Sourouis are similar to the Muslim Brotherhood in that they too want to infiltrate European societies and have presence in the political and social life of these societies. Sourouris run in elections in the countries where they live.

Converts

The Sourouris are especially active among new converts. A new book on the making of Salafism captures this phenomenon. The book contains the stories of the converts and the experiences they went through in the light of the values of their new religion.

As they tell their stories, the converts encourage other non-Muslims to follow their example.

The Salafists use the same stories to encourage non-Muslims to convert to Islam.