US Needs to Focus on Countering Right-Wing Extremism - Islamic Group

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The US government should focus its resources on countering right-wing extremist groups that pose a bigger threat than the Muslim community, Communications Director for The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Edgar Hopida, has told Sputnik.

"The Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that monitors hate crimes, hate, and extremist groups, found that the majority of lone wolf terrorists and extremists came from the radical right and only a handful come from the Muslim community," Hopida informed in a Friday interview with Sputnik.

"Muslim extremists and terrorists are a minuscule number in America. Resources should be focused on groups who pose a bigger danger," he stressed.

Hopida explained that Islamic extremism is actually a bigger problem overseas, in places like the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East.

"[In] America however, it [Islamic extremism] has been very minuscule. Part of the reason why, is American Muslims are more integrated in the society vis-a-vis Europe. Those American Muslims who do end up joining extremist groups are usually lone-wolf, not connected to the wider Muslim community, learn their Islam primarily from idiots' guides to religion and YouTube," the ISNA spokesperson claimed.

There are various drivers behind why some people join radical groups like the Islamic State, according to Hopida, including violent reactions to the foreign policies of the United States or Europe.

"Some feel they need to 'defend' the Muslim community from the various wars and armed engagements taking place overseas. Some might find ISIS [IS] as the armed group that is defending the community when no one else would or is unable to," Hopida explained.

According to the ISNA spokesperson, some Muslims are in dead-end situations where they suffer from high unemployment and discrimination.

"Since they feel alienated from their host countries, they lash out. The younger Muslims might see it as some sort of idealistic adventure, not actually knowing what ISIS represents or what actions they have been responsible for," Hopida told Sputnik.

ISNA's primary mission is to foster the development of the Muslim community, interfaith relations, civic engagement, and better understanding of Islam, according to the group's website.

Hopida told Sputnik that although ISNA does not have programs that deal with de-radicalization, it offers programs and services that provide a more pro-active and preventive approach to addressing extremism, which has sparked increasing concerns in the world community amid the rise of a number of radical groups, such as IS.

IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), has ceased vast areas in Iraq and Syria. Its affiliates have launched several terror attacks in Europe and the radicals have become known for their kidnappings and public beheadings of European journalists.

According to Russia's Federal Security Service, up to 20,000 citizens from some 100 countries are fighting on the side of IS in Iraq, where the United States has been launching airstrikes against the extremists since August.