World Summit on Counter-Terrorism
ICT's 8th International Conference - September 11, 2008
Workshop - The Funding of Global Terrorism
Threat Characteristics and Response Trends
During the last decade and especially since the September 11 terrorist attacks a process, still in its early phases, of establishing mechanisms, deciding new regulations and creating tools for fighting the funding of terrorism has begun. This process happens simultaneously both on a national level and, at a slower rate, in the international arena. The challenge facing the international system in this field, creating an accepted common denominator in dealing with terrorism and formulating an agreed definition of terrorism, still seems distant, a fact affecting the policy of action and international co-operation in the fight against the financing of terrorism.
One cannot point to new trends in 2008 in the development of global Jihad but one can determine that the trends indicated last year, continue. One of the most prominent phenomena emphasized by us last year was the expansion of the involvement of terrorist organizations in international and petty crimes as a funding source for the existence of these organizations in both the global and the local arena. Weak countries, uncontrolled territories around the world: Africa; south-east Asia, South America and the Middle East are activity centers for criminal organizations and terrorist organizations, and allow them to operate undisturbed in increasing their income.
Alongside, one should remember the existence of the global Da’awa infrastructure, guaranteeing the continued existence and proliferation of a common vision based on the concept of the “Umma”. This infrastructure feeds the global Jihad organizations, local organizations, terrorists networks and cells (manpower, logistics), and spreads the ideas of Jihad via Da’awa activists all over the world. This infrastructure still enjoys generous funding and support from Islamic countries, institutions and organizations.
This panel will deal with several central issues in the field of terrorism funding, in two aspects: addressing the threat and the challenges in facing the elements of the phenomena.
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