Europe Is Sleepwalking Into Islamism Again
On May 18, 2024, in the small Dutch town of Joure, an 18‐year‐old girl named Ryan Al Najjar was the victim of a brutal family tragedy. After refusing a forced marriage and choosing a Western way of life, she was labeled “shameful” by her father and brothers. Despite her earlier pleas for help to the police, her family overpowered and bound her with a length of tape before ultimately drowning her in a canal. In the aftermath, her father disappeared to Syria while her brothers were taken into custody. This horrifying incident took place not in a distant, conflict‐ridden land but in the heart of the Netherlands, and it went largely unnoticed by the global community and mainstream media.
Rising Extremism Across Europe
Ryan’s tragic fate is not an isolated incident but part of a wider series of events that expose a growing challenge within Europe. In Germany, for example, a 35‐year‐old Syrian asylum seeker attacked five people outside a bar in Bielefeld on May 18, 2025, using an improvised weapon concealed in a cane. Four individuals sustained serious injuries in what authorities suspect was a religiously fueled attack. Not long before that incident, on February 21, 2025, another Syrian asylum seeker in Berlin stabbed a Spanish tourist near the Holocaust Memorial after allegedly voicing a desire to “kill Jews.” Authorities later recovered a knife, a religious text, and a note citing Quranic verses, all of which pointed to a radical ideological motivation.
In France, the tension was equally palpable. Early in May 2025, a commemorative plaque honoring Jewish children deported during the Holocaust was desecrated in Marseille, at a historic site linked with past deportations. The vandalism peaked on May 31, 2025, when the Holocaust Memorial along with three synagogues in a Paris neighborhood were defaced overnight with green paint. These attacks are not random acts of violence; they symbolize a broader ideology that rejects Western freedoms, liberal democracy, and coexistence.
Understanding the Ideological Divide
The core issue is not with the religion of Islam itself, but with a radical ideological strain known as Islamism. Unlike a faith practiced privately, Islamism seeks to impose a totalizing political, legal, and social order that undermines democratic principles and pluralism. This radical interpretation leaves no room for dissent or diversity and defines any alternative lifestyles—whether Muslim or non-Muslim—as unacceptable.
Critics argue that accepting extremist actions under the guise of historical guilt only deepens societal weaknesses. The debate has long been framed by the tension between addressing past colonial wrongs and dealing with the harsh realities of radical political movements today. In many European circles, there remains a reluctance to confront these dangerous ideologies due to fears of being labeled intolerant, even as extremist views increasingly influence public life.
The Impact on Public Discourse and Society
The consequences of this rigid ideology extend beyond individual acts of violence. They permeate public discourse and often surface in protests and demonstrations, where political grievances merge with radical narratives. For instance, while large-scale pro-Palestinian demonstrations initially began as political protests following conflicts in Gaza, they have sometimes morphed into platforms for radical expression. In Berlin, during commemorative events marked by mourning, protesters chanted calls for further upheaval, with violent incidents leading to mass arrests and even injuries among law enforcement officers.
These developments serve as a stark reminder that the current climate of ideological extremism is not merely confined to isolated criminal acts, but is part of an increasingly broader and more dangerous movement within Europe. The intimidation and fragmentation of moderate voices, particularly those within Muslim communities who oppose radical interpretations, further embolden extremist factions.
Charting a Path Forward
Europe now faces critical questions: How can states clearly distinguish between the right to religious freedom and the threat posed by political extremism? What legal measures are needed to curb hate speech and protect individuals fleeing radicalized environments? And importantly, how can reform-minded voices within Muslim communities be supported instead of marginalized?
Answering these questions requires not panic, but deliberate, courageous policymaking. Protecting vulnerable individuals and upholding democratic values means drawing an unmistakable line between personal belief and violent, authoritarian ideology.
Conclusion
Ryan Al Najjar was simply a young person seeking the freedom to live life on her own terms. Her senseless death in a European town underscores the urgent need to confront the radical ideologies that have quietly taken root. Europe must now decide whether to continue ignoring these early signs of extremism or to take bold steps to safeguard its liberal values. The future of the continent depends on its ability to awaken from this dangerous slumber and to act decisively in defense of democracy and human rights.
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