In late December 2015, the Vice-Chancellor of Germany accused Saudi Arabia of funding
Islamic extremism in the West, by establishing Wahhabi mosques around the world.
In fact, the connection between Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia, and Islamic extremism has been
an uneasy one in light of several terror attacks in Europe throughout 2016.
So, what is the connection?
How is Saudi Arabia funding Wahhabi mosques around the world?
In Belgium, for example, many blamed the flare up in religious extremism leading to the attacks
in Brussels on the Saudi-sponsored Grand Mosque.
The mosque had its main director removed in 2012 for being suspected of teaching Sunni
radicalism, similar to that of the Islamic State.
Wahhabism itself is a popular form of ultraconservative Islam practiced by groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda,
and actually has its roots deep into Saudi Arabia’s history.
It started in the mid-18th century with preacher Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who promoted a
strict version of Islam that would not deviate whatsoever from Sharia law.
Al-Wahhab settled in a part of the middle east called Diriyah, the home of the original
family of Saud, and partnered with the local ruler, Muhammad ibn Saud to form the first
Saudi emirate.
Saud took over military and political matters while al-Wahhab dictated a religious authority
over the state.
Over the next 300 years, this partnership has held through Saudi Arabia’s rapid expansion
and oil prosperity.
al-Wahhab’s descendants, the Al ash-Sheikh family, are the leading religious authority
while the Saud family rules the country.
This tight knit relationship has given rise to Saudi Arabia and Wahhabism effectively
being two halves of the same coin.
With its enormous wealth, Saudi Arabia has worked to spread Wahhabism.
Since 1962, the Saudi-funded Muslim World League has promoted the construction of Wahhabi
mosques around the world, with some sources claiming as many as 1,500 mosques built in
the second half of the 20th century.
In fact, it is estimated that more than $100 billion dollars has been spent promoting Wahhabism
by Saudi-backers.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts to promote their state-sponsored religion has many worried.
By its very nature, Wahhabism is an ultraconservative form of Islam, that would appeal to repressive
extremist terror groups.
Despite the kingdom’s claims that they do not condone terrorist actions, public executions
for homosexuality and some of the worst women’s rights in the world all come from Saudi’s
Wahhabism interpretations of Islam.
Moderate Muslims around the world have pushed back against Saudi Arabia’s actions, but
with so much money shoring up their global religious evangelicalism, there’s no question
that Wahhabism is a powerful force.