Far Leftists Embrace Islamism
“…Chandan is also one of those on the far Left who, disappointed by the failure of Communism, has now decided that Islamism is the great hope for the future. Here he is, explaining all about “Islam and National Liberation” to the Sinn Fein youth wing. Here he is, writing enthusiastically in the far right journal Counterpunch, about how jihadists in prison are effectively radicalising other inmates. And here is his latest project: The Organisation to Understand Radical Arab & Islamist Movements (O.U.R.A.I.M.), which is little more thank a a fansite for Hamas and Hizbollah.
You might well think that Chandran is a fringe figure, of no importance at all, and with nothing of interest to say. You’d be right.
He is, however, also a consultant with the Conflicts Forum. The Conflicts Forum does, occasionally, get taken seriously. Its Board of Advisors include the retired jihadist Moazzam Begg, Hamas’ Azzam “Kaboom” Tamimi, a selection of former SAS members and spies, including Alistair Crooke, and one Buddhist Monk. A patina of respectability is provided by the former Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice and the anti landmines campaigner, Bobby Muller. The function of the Conflicts Forum is “to open a new relationship between the West and the Muslim world”; its tag line, “Listening to Political Islam, Recognising Resistance“