Wahhabism is a conservative and fundamentalist form of Sunni Islam that originated in the Arabian Peninsula in the 18th century. The movement was founded by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who believed in purifying Islam from what he deemed to be corrupting and idolatrous practices, and establishing a strict interpretation of Islamic law based on the teachings of the Quran and Hadith.
Wahhabism gained prominence in the Arabian Peninsula in the late 18th century through a political alliance between Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and the founder of the Saudi dynasty, Muhammad ibn Saud. The alliance allowed the Wahhabi ideology to spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and to become the official doctrine of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy maintains close ties with Wahhabi scholars and funds the construction of mosques and religious schools around the world promoting the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam.
Wahhabism is known for its extreme conservatism and intolerance of other forms of Islam and other religions. Wahhabi scholars consider Shias, Sufis, and other Islamic sects to be heretics and promote the destruction of their holy sites and shrines. They also condemn non-Muslims and do not believe in peaceful coexistence with them. Wahhabi scholars advocate for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate and the imposing of Islamic law on non-Muslims.
The Wahhabi interpretation of Islam has been linked to several terrorist groups and attacks around the world. Osama bin Laden, the founder of Al-Qaeda, was influenced by Wahhabi ideology and received financial and ideological support from Saudi Arabia during the 1980s Afghan war. The Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, was also influenced by Wahhabi ideology and received financial support from Saudi Arabia. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) promotes Wahhabi ideology and operates its own religious schools based on the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam.
The Wahhabi influence on terrorist groups and attacks is not limited to Sunni extremists. The Islamic Republic of Iran, which is predominantly Shia, has also been linked to terrorism and political violence, in part due to its support for Shia militant groups such as Hezbollah and its hostility towards Sunni governments that promote the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam.
The Wahhabi ideology has also contributed to the rise of sectarian violence in the Muslim world. The brutal conflict in Syria, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions, has been fueled by the Saudi and other Sunni governments' support for Sunni extremist groups fighting against the Syrian government, which is supported by Iran and other Shia governments.
The Wahhabi interpretation of Islam has also contributed to the suppression of human rights and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Women's rights, freedom of expression for dissidents, and the rights of religious minorities are severely restricted in these countries, and critics of the government, including religious scholars, face imprisonment and torture.
In conclusion, Wahhabism is a radical and extreme form of Sunni Islam that has spread beyond its birthplace in Saudi Arabia to influence terrorist groups and attacks around the world. The Saudi government's promotion of the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam has contributed to the rise of sectarian violence in the Muslim world, the suppression of human rights and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, and the destabilization of the Middle East. The fight against global terrorism requires not only military and intelligence measures but also the de-legitimization of the Wahhabi ideology and the promotion of a more moderate and tolerant interpretation of Islam.