Matthews: Is Islamist extremism a bigger problem now than it was before 9/11?

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22 January, 2013

By: Kyle Matthews

Executive director, Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies

I would argue that it has gotten worse. Pakistan is now battling extremism and even senior level cabinet ministers are no longer safe. Yemen is fighting Al-Qaeda, as is Mali. A good portion of Somalia is now ruled by Al-Shabaab, which has triggered a Kenyan intervention into the country. Nigeria is confronted with the extremist group known as Boko Haram. Radical jihadists have swooped into Syria to fight against Assad. The UN has been attacked by various extremist groups in Abuja, Baghdad, and Algiers, while London and Madrid have been hit by massive attacks. And let’s not forget about the Toronto 18.

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