Islam and it's New Gift to Humanity: Converts

Hard to keep track of Islam's continuing gifts to civilization and the advancement of humanity. Europe: New Converts Quick to Adopt Terrorism

CONVERTS TO ISLAM MOVE UP IN CELLS WaPo hat tip Michael

Arrests in Europe Illuminate Shift

BERLIN -- Religious converts are playing an increasingly influential role in Islamic militant networks, having transformed themselves in recent years from curiosities to key players in terrorist cells in Europe, according to counterterrorism officials and analysts.

The arrests this month of two German converts to Islam -- Fritz Gelowicz and Daniel Schneider -- on suspicions that they were plotting to bomb American targets are just one example of terrorism cases in Europe in which converts to Islam have figured prominently.

In Copenhagen, a convert is among four defendants who went on trial this month for plotting to blow up political targets. In Sweden, a webmaster who changed his name from Ralf Wadman to Abu Usama el-Swede was arrested last year on suspicion of recruiting fighters on the Internet. In Britain, three converts -- including the son of a British politician -- are awaiting trial on charges of participating in last year's transatlantic airline plot.

"The number of converts, it seems, is definitely on the rise," said Michael Taarnby, a terrorism researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies. "We've reached a point where I think al-Qaeda and other groups recognize the value of converts, not just from an operational viewpoint but from a cultural one as well."

Finally these folks find a a repository for their evil, Islam.

Religious converts are sometimes more prone to radicalization because of their zeal to prove their newfound faith, analysts said. They are also less likely to attract police scrutiny in Europe, where investigators often rely on outdated demographic profiles in terrorism cases.

UPDATE:  That's the 411 on those converting to, for those converting from or out of Islam:
Bishop warns that Muslims who convert risk being killed

Comments

[jpm100]

I expect a large number of conversions in Europe over the next 20-30 years or sooner.

I mean they have triumphed in making their lives purposeless and void of religion. They have ridiculed and trivialized their religious heritage.

The pervasiveness of religion throughout the world and throughout all history tells me there's an inherent human need for religion.

Islam is more than willing to fill the void. I could see where someone may get tired of the purposelessness, moral equivalency, and waffling of their fellow countrymen. Then be attracted to the seemingly purposeful, without any self-doubt, and aggressive culture of Islam.

[x_dhimmi]

You nailed it, JPM.