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Articles by Robin Simcox
The New Statesman open letter is wrong about Palestine Action
Proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist group was probably the most contentious action Yvette Cooper ever took as home secretary. Thousands were arrested for showing support for the group, the ban was appealed by Palestine Action’s co-founder, and its future rests with the Supreme Court. Now, an open letter signed by various artistic and public figures and published in the New Statesman has sought to highlight the ‘repressive absurdity’ of the government’s stance.
U.S. Enforcement Against the European Hamas–Muslim Brotherhood Network Since October 7, 2023
On July 26, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it was designating a senior Muslim Brotherhood official named Mahmoud al-Abyari. Two things made this designation significant. One was that al-Abyari was targeted because of his Muslim Brotherhood links and not, as is more common, ties to its Palestinian offshoot, Hamas. Another was that al-Abyari was based in the United Kingdom, one of the United States’ closest allies.
Why won’t the UK curtail the Muslim Brotherhood?
What should the British government do about the Muslim Brotherhood? This question has confounded policy-makers for decades and was brought to the fore last month when the United States sanctioned, for the first time, a London-based Muslim Brotherhood leader. Announcing the sanctions, the US Treasury described Mahmoud al-Abyari as a ‘senior leader of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’ with a ‘long history of senior leadership roles’, including in its General Secretariat.
Britain’s blasphemy belt offers a glimpse into our fractured future
A potentially fractious and fractured future lies ahead - Paul Grover As the country focuses on Labour’s collapse and Keir Starmer’s increased political vulnerability, little attention has been given to what went on in the “blasphemy belt”. This 50-odd-mile stretch – which starts in Blackburn and Darwen in Lancashire and ends in Wakefield, West Yorkshire – contains wards with significant South Asian populations.
How Gaza became one of the biggest issues of the local elections
As Tony Blair contested a third election in 2005, the Labour government’s popularity was in tatters. The divisions in the country were running deep, following a United States-led war in the Middle East. The general election, held alongside the locals, saw the emergence of new radical political parties. They seized an opportunity to break the two-party consensus by opposing foreign wars and weaponising an increasingly politicised Muslim vote.
After the Yom Kippur attack, now must be the time when we say: enough
This week’s awful terrorist attack outside a synagogue was first and foremost devastating for what I sense is an increasingly beleaguered and fearful Jewish community. It was devastating for the city of Manchester, which from the IRA to the Islamic State has been targeted by terrorists repeatedly. Yet it should also devastate all those who wish Britain to be the tolerant place it advertises itself as, one which protects and cherishes our religious minorities.
muslim brotherhood Archives
Op-Ed The problem with Doha: Why Israel’s Hamas attacks outraged Qatar Op-Ed Saudi Ambivalence to Houthis Encourages Terrorism Op-Ed Pompeo’s State Department Keeps Supporting Islamic Extremists Post AEIdeas Mubarak Is Dead. But His Ilk Lives On. Post AEIdeas The Muslim Brotherhood and Terrorism Post AEIdeas Are Political Islamists America’s Enemies in the Fight Against Terrorism?
The Limits of British Citizenship
Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With Editor’s Note: What to do with captured foreign volunteers for terrorist organizations is one of the toughest issues facing Western governments today. (See my views on a current U.S. case here.) Human rights organizations are particularly critical of governments that revoke citizenship or otherwise try to prevent their citizens from returning. Robin Simcox of the Heritage Foundation believes this opposition is simplistic.
Extremist acts have been normalised in Britain. Government must move faster to keep us safe
The Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 will come to redefine our era. Not since 9/11 have extremist networks been as emboldened. Anti-Semitism skyrocketing. Inflammatory and borderline criminal rhetoric widely shared on social media. A sense that the terrorism threat is rising. Protests becoming ever more vociferous, with “from the river to the sea” beamed onto the side of Big Ben during a vote on Gaza. MPs more fearful for their safety than ever.
When ISIS Fighters Return Home
Thousands of Western citizens went to the Middle East to fight alongside the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in Syria and Iraq. Now that the “caliphate” they helped build has collapsed, some are going home. This has occasioned much hand-wringing in the West about how to respond to this. And that’s puzzling.
What Europe Should Be Doing to Prevent Another Terrorist Attack Like Barcelona
Not so long ago, scenes of death and carnage on the streets of major European cities were a rarity. Not so any more. In this year alone, there have been major Islamist attacks in London (twice), Manchester, and Stockholm. We can now add Barcelona to that list. Smaller scale acts of violence in France (on multiple occasions), Austria, and Italy have likely faded from most people’s memory, but they were inspired by the same ideology.
The Groups Lining Up to Undermine UK’s Successful Counter-Terror Strategy
There is only so long that any government programme can be misrepresented or lied about in both the press and Parliament before ministers feel compelled to act. It was therefore no great surprise that last week, the Security Minister Ben Wallace announced in the House of Commons that Prevent, the government’s “Preventing Violent Extremism” programme, will be subject to independent review.
U.S. Must Remain Vigilant in Fight Against Terrorism
Rewind to August 2017. Islamist terrorists had just killed 16 people and injured another 137 in Barcelona and Cambrils. That attack had come hot on the heels of a wave of similar atrocities over the previous 2 1/2 years: Paris, London, Manchester, Stockholm, Berlin, Brussels, Nice and many others cities suffered significant losses of life as a result of plots either directed or inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). It was an especially bleak time for Europe.
Macron: No More Mr. Nice Guy
At 9 a.m. yesterday morning, a 21-year-old called Brahim Aouissaoui entered Notre Dame Basilica Church in Nice carrying a bag of knives. Just a few minutes later, three people had been stabbed to death. A 70-year-old woman — unnamed at time of writing — had been decapitated. The mayor of Nice subsequently said that “everything points to a terrorist attack.” Aouissaoui was shot by responding French police and is currently under arrest.
Yesterday’s News: Islamist Terror in Europe
Over the weekend, CEG published a new report examining the terror threat Europe has faced over the fifteen-month period since ISIS relinquished control of the last part of its Caliphate in Syria in Iraq. The report, ‘Europe and the Fall of the Caliphate’, can be read here. Its findings were featured in this Sunday Telegraph story. The headline – ‘Jihadists attempted terror attacks every fortnight in Europe since ISIS fall, study finds’ – sums up one of the report’s key findings.
The Manchester Arena Inquiry: why the media was not wrong to highlight Salman Abedi’s prayers before attack
On May 22, 2017, Salman Abedi carried out a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena that killed 22 and injured over 100 others. He was assisted by his younger brother, Hashem Abedi, who was jailed for 55 years for his involvement. The sentencing judge in that trial described the motivation behind the attack as “ to advance the ideological cause of Islamism”. This week, a public inquiry began investigating those deaths.
The Threat from Europe’s Jihadi Prisoners and Prison Leavers – Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract: Two databases maintained by the authors shed light on the nature and scale of the threat posed by jihadi prisoners and prison leavers.
The Threat from Europe’s Jihadi Prisoners and Prison Leavers – Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract: Two databases maintained by the authors shed light on the nature and scale of the threat posed by jihadi prisoners and prison leavers.
After the Pandemic, Months of Isolation and Governments Grappling With Other Crises Could Lead to a Rise in Terrorist Attacks
DON'T LOSE ACCESS: Your IP access to ForeignPolicy.com will expire on June 15. To ensure uninterrupted reading, please contact Rachel Mines, sales director, at rachel.mines@foreignpolicy.com. Argument Months of isolation and governments grappling with other crises could lead to a rise in attacks. A police officer stands guard outside a cordoned-off block of apartments where the suspect in a multiple stabbing incident lived in Reading, west of London, on June 23.
Sunak’s Tories Know They’re Losing the Battle Over Palestine Protests
The government would dearly like to ban the demonstrations outright but it simply doesn’t have the political support to do so. Enter Michael Gove’s new definition of ‘extremism’ The 10th national Palestine march in London last Saturday came just a week after UK Prime Minister Rish Sunak appeared outside 10 Downing Street to make an unprecedented attack on the Palestine movement and just ahead of the expected announcement by Michael Gove of new regulations to crack down on “extremism”.
Radical Islamists Are Still a Threat Behind Bars
In August 2014, a homeless, unemployed petty crook had his plan to behead a British soldier thwarted by the police. A recent convert to Islam from Jehovah’s Witnesses, Brusthom Ziamani appeared to be just another jihadi whose grand plans ultimately ended in failure—until, that is, he ended up in a British jail. Operating among a sea of other radicals in HMP Woodhill, in Milton Keynes, a town 50 miles outside of London, Ziamani staked out a position of importance.
Radical Islamists Are a Threat in Prison and on the Street
In August 2014, a homeless, unemployed petty crook had his plan to behead a British soldier thwarted by the police. A recent convert to Islam from Jehovah’s Witnesses, Brusthom Ziamani appeared to be just another jihadi whose grand plans ultimately ended in failure—until, that is, he ended up in a British jail. Operating among a sea of other radicals in HMP Woodhill, in Milton Keynes, a town 50 miles outside of London, Ziamani staked out a position of importance.
European Islamists’ Not-So-Happy Holidays Terrorism Plots
We are just one week into 2020, and already Europe has suffered its first Islamist terrorist attack of the year. On Friday, a 22-year-old French citizen named in the press as “Nathan C.” began stabbing joggers in a park in Paris. One man died while trying to protect his wife, who was also seriously injured. Another innocent victim was wounded. The attacker fled, but was eventually fatally shot by French police. At first, the media ascribed the attack to mental health issues.
London Bridge Killer Wasn't Assessed Before Release in Terror Case
It was a matter of when, not if, the United Kingdom would be attacked by terrorists again. The when ended up being Friday. The perpetrator this time was British citizen Usman Khan, 28, who police said stabbed two people to death and injured three others in the London Bridge area. Brave Londoners managed to restrain the assailant, and police shot and killed him.
London Bridge Killer Should Have Been Assessed Before Release in Terror Case
It was a matter of when, not if, the United Kingdom would be attacked by terrorists again. The when ended up being Friday. The perpetrator this time was British citizen Usman Khan, 28, who police said stabbed two people to death and injured three others in the London Bridge area. Brave Londoners managed to restrain the assailant, and police shot and killed him.
Left’s Use of Islamophobia a Cynical Ploy to Shut Down Disagreement
“Some people did something.” That’s not how most people would describe a watershed event in which terrorists killed as many people as possible by turning planes into missiles. Yet this was how Rep. Ilhan Omar referred to the 9/11 attacks at a Council on American-Islamic Relations fundraiser last month.
5 Things to Watch in Tracking the Future of ISIS
Almost as soon as it became clear that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead, the revisionism began about whether this was actually a good thing. Some analysts predicted that al-Baghdadi’s death as a “martyr” would inspire others, becoming a “propaganda bonanza” for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. We should not be so gloomy. The death of such a sadistic killer and serial rapist is unambiguously good news. It was also the last thing that ISIS needed.
After a Lull, Islamist Terrorism in Europe Returns With a Vengeance
There’s lots of talk in Washington about the Islamic State and the Trump administration’s Syria policy. That’s an important discussion to have, but it’s only one part of the counterterrorism discussion that America has to be engaged in. Consider events in Europe over the past week. On Oct. 3, an information technology specialist, Michael Harpon, stabbed four of his colleagues to death and injured two others before being fatally shot.
Why Europe Refuses to Take Back Captured ISIS Fighters
When the caliphate of the Islamic State collapsed, its fighters scattered. Many ISIS terrorists ended up in camps being run by Syrian Kurds in northern Syria. Among the number are about 2,000 Europeans, and what exactly to do about that is the biggest source of disagreement that exists between the U.S. and Europe on counterterrorism policy today. To the frustration of the U.S., the Europeans have shown no desire to take back their citizens.
After a Lull, Islamist Terrorism in Europe Returns With a Vengeance
There’s lots of talk in Washington about the Islamic State and the Trump administration’s Syria policy. That’s an important discussion to have, but it’s only one part of the counterterrorism discussion that America has to be engaged in. Consider events in Europe over the past week. On Oct. 3, an information technology specialist, Michael Harpon, stabbed four of his colleagues to death and injured two others before being fatally shot.
U.S. Must Remain Vigilant in Fight Against Terrorism
Rewind to August 2017. Islamist terrorists had just killed 16 people and injured another 137 in Barcelona and Cambrils. That attack had come hot on the heels of a wave of similar atrocities over the previous 2 1/2 years: Paris, London, Manchester, Stockholm, Berlin, Brussels, Nice, and many others cities suffered significant losses of life as a result of plots either directed or inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). It was an especially bleak time for Europe.
U.S. must remain vigilant in fight against terrorism
ANALYSIS/OPINION: Rewind to August 2017. Islamist terrorists had just killed 16 people and injured another 137 in Barcelona and Cambrils. That attack had come hot on the heels of a wave of similar atrocities over the previous 2 1/2 years: Paris, London, Manchester, Stockholm, Berlin, Brussels, Nice and many others cities suffered significant losses of life as a result of plots either directed or inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). It was an especially bleak time for Europe.
Fri/Med AM ~ thefrontpagecover
“Welcome to the great Canadian Healthcare system people” 41-year-old Sean Tagert was euthanized on Friday after the Canadian government cut funding for his in-home medical care. Tagert, who suffered from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), was killed by assisted suicide despite appealing to the Vancouver Coastal Health patient care quality department. While Tagert’s illness prevented him from moving his body, eating or speaking, his mental awareness was still intact.
The Terrorist as Litigant
We have read the stories. A burglar breaks into someone’s property, injures himself in the process, and so sues the people he was trying to rip off. Something similar happened after 9/11. America was attacked. In response, the U.S., UK, and coalition forces detained and questioned terror suspects. The United States sent 779 to Guantanamo Bay. But it was the U.S. and UK who ended up in the dock, with the terror suspects as the accusers.
The Trump Administration Must Remain Committed to Defeating ISIS in Afghanistan
Part of President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to defeat ISIS was fulfilled in March 2019 when the last Syrian village under the terrorist group’s control fell and its caliphate crumbled. However, a comprehensive defeat of ISIS involves more than liberating territory that it once controlled in Iraq and Syria. ISIS now has affiliates spread throughout the globe, with one of its most active in Afghanistan.
New York Times: Blame Russia First
Europe has problems: Trust in traditional center-right and center-left parties collapsing. A rise in support for outsider parties. Integration issues brought about by decades of mass immigration, exacerbated by the 2015 refugee flow. A European Union that has become so undemocratic that it is about to lose one of its key members. There are several ways to approach these problems. You could think the answer lies with making the European Union more accountable.
Taliban Trolls Could Adopt New Terrorist Tactics in the Wake of America's Peace Plan
Robin Simcox Security, Middle East If the United States does negotiate a durable peace settlement in Afghanistan, then it possible that some of the most hardcore Taliban elements that want to carry on fighting may be drawn to the transnational jihadism of ISIS-K. Taliban Trolls Could Adopt New Terrorist Tactics in the Wake of America's Peace Plan President Donald Trump wants out of Afghanistan by 2020. He may get his wish.
The Post-Caliphate Terror Threat in Europe-and the Need for Continuing U.S. Assistance
America’s strategy has worked: It took almost four-and-a-half years, but the Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq has been dismantled. The last remaining town under ISIS control, Baghouz in eastern Syria, fell to coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces in March 2019. The destruction of the caliphate will make the world a safer place.
Taliban Trolls Could Adopt New Terrorist Tactics in the Wake of America's Peace Plan
President Donald Trump wants out of Afghanistan by 2020. He may get his wish. Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan, has been negotiating with the Taliban for a nearly a year and is hopeful that the next round of talks will produce a “lasting and honorable” peace agreement. While peace would be wonderful, the United States should not be too hasty in reaching a deal.
New York Times: Blame Russia First
Europe has problems: Trust in traditional center-right and center-left parties collapsing. A rise in support for outsider parties. Integration issues brought about by decades of mass immigration, exacerbated by the 2015 refugee flow. A European Union that has become so undemocratic that it is about to lose one of its key members. There are several ways to approach these problems. You could think the answer lies with making the European Union more accountable.
What Reported Death of Osama bin Laden’s Son Means for US, the World
Osama bin Laden (Photo by AFP/Getty Images) Hamza bin Laden, the son and heir of Osama bin Laden, is almost certainly dead. While his demise has not yet been confirmed by al-Qaeda, U.S. officials have felt confident enough to brief media outlets that the younger bin Laden was killed at some point after January 2017. It’s unclear to what extent the U.S. was involved and exactly where the killing of Hamza bin Laden took place.
Osama bin Laden’s Son Is Likely Dead. Here’s What It Means.
Hamza bin Laden, the son and heir of Osama bin Laden, is almost certainly dead. While his demise has not yet been confirmed by al-Qaeda, U.S. officials have felt confident enough to brief media outlets that bin Laden was killed at some point after January 2017. It’s unclear to what extent the U.S. was involved and exactly where the killing took place. However, for years, much of al-Qaeda’s central leadership have been lying low in northwest Pakistan.
Osama bin Laden’s Son Is Likely Dead. Here’s What It Means.
Hamza bin Laden, the son and heir of Osama bin Laden, is almost certainly dead. While his demise has not yet been confirmed by al-Qaeda, U.S. officials have felt confident enough to brief media outlets that the younger bin Laden was killed at some point after January 2017. It’s unclear to what extent the U.S. was involved and exactly where the killing of Hamza bin Laden took place. However, for years, much of al-Qaeda’s central leadership has been lying low in northwest Pakistan.
Taliban Trolls Could Adopt New Terrorist Tactics in the Wake of America’s Peace Plan
President Donald Trump wants out of Afghanistan by 2020. He may get his wish. Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan, has been negotiating with the Taliban for a nearly a year and is hopeful that the next round of talks will produce a “lasting and honorable” peace agreement. While peace would be wonderful, the United States should not be too hasty in reaching a deal.
Is Italy Immune From Terrorism?
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini recently delivered a stark warning: Such was the scale of migration into Italy, he argued, that “Islamic terrorist infiltration is no longer a risk—it has become a certainty.” Although the vast majority of asylum-seekers in Italy are not security threats, the case of Alagie Touray, a Gambian asylum-seeker arrested in southern Italy in April 2018 on suspicions that he was planning an attack, helped lay the groundwork for Salvini’s case.
When Terrorists Stay Home: The Evolving Threat to Europe from Frustrated Travelers – Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract: For several years, ‘frustrated travelers’ unable to make it to Syria have responded with plots targeting the countries in which they reside. In Europe, most individuals attempted to travel between 2014 and 2016, when the Islamic State was at the peak of its power. Thwarted in these attempts, frustrated travelers sometimes launched rapid, unsophisticated attacks, rather than meticulously planned ones, in order to contribute to the Islamic State’s cause from their country of residence.
The End of the Caliphate and Its Consequences for Islamist Recruitment
Today, I will discuss why I believe that while the destruction of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s (ISIS) caliphate was a significant triumph, jihadist recruitment in the West will not be significantly impacted. Certainly, the destruction of the caliphate in Iraq and Syria was a crucial victory in the fight against extremism in the Middle East. However, it was also a crucial victory for Western interests.
Open Borders Mean Closed Opportunities for National Prosperity
Go to the right Washington, D.C., neighborhood and a front yard is not just a front yard. It’s an opportunity to display your moral superiority and allegiance to social justice. “We Believe No Human is Illegal.” “Black Lives Matter.” “No matter where you are from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor.” One in my ultra-liberal neighborhood speaks to me more than the others, however, as it tends to provoke a personal identity crisis. “Everyone is Welcome Here,” it reads.
Let the Terrorists Win?
In February 2015, London schoolgirl Shamima Begum headed to Syria to live in the Islamic State’s Caliphate. Now nineteen years old, she recently turned up in a Syrian refugee camp, demanding to be returned to the UK. Begum claims she “never did anything dangerous” during her stint with the Caliphate, but subsequent news accounts suggest her activities in Syria were not those of a mere housewife. The Daily Mail reports that she stitched suicide bombers into explosive vests.
Should Muslim Brotherhood Be Labeled Terrorists?
Jordanian activists and Muslim Brotherhood leaders protested near the Israeli embassy. (Photo by Jordan Pix/Getty Images) Whether the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered a terrorist group is a question that has swirled in Western policy circles for years. Several U.S. allies in the Middle East have a clear position. The Brotherhood was banned by the Egyptian government as a terrorist group in December 2013.
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