Islamic extremism generally refers to actions carried out in the name of Islam that adopt radical or violent methods to pursue political or religious goals. These behaviors usually deviate from Islam’s mainstream peaceful teachings and are regarded as heretical by the majority of Muslims. The following examines historical and contemporary cases to analyze the forms, causes, and impacts of such extremism, including interactions with other religions such as Buddhism.

1. Historical Case: Violent Actions of the Kharijites (7th Century)

Background

The Kharijites were the earliest extremist sect in Islam. They emerged in 661 CE after a dispute over arbitration between Ali and Muawiya. They opposed Ali’s acceptance of negotiation, insisting that “judgment belongs only to God.” They believed that those committing grave sins were no longer Muslims and should be executed.

Case Details

Assassination of Ali (661 CE):
The Kharijite Ibn Muljam assassinated Ali, claiming he had betrayed God’s will. This intensified the division between Sunnis and Shi‘as.

Second Civil War (680–692 CE):
The Kharijites controlled southern Arabia (including parts of Yemen) and fought the Umayyad Caliphate using guerrilla warfare and assassination. They briefly captured Ta’if and threatened caliphal authority.

Extreme Doctrine:
The Kharijites relied heavily on takfir—declaring other Muslims as apostates—and waged war against both Sunnis and Shi‘as, resulting in large-scale bloodshed.

Impact & Conclusion

The Kharijites eventually lost support due to their extreme policies and were suppressed by the late 8th century. Only the moderate Ibadi branch survives today (mainly in Oman). Their ideology, however, influenced later jihadist movements, especially the concept of takfir.

2. Medieval Case: Mahmud of Ghazni’s Destruction of Buddhism (11th Century)

Background

Mahmud of Ghazni (971–1030 CE), a Turkic ruler, styled himself a ghazi (“warrior of the faith”). He launched repeated invasions into the Indian subcontinent for plunder and for what he described as holy war.

Case Details

Attack on the Somnath Temple (1026 CE):
Mahmud sacked the Hindu holy site at Somnath, destroyed its idols, and killed thousands of worshippers. Although primarily targeting Hinduism, Buddhist monasteries were also affected.

Destruction in Gandhara:
His campaigns in what is now Pakistan devastated Buddhist institutions and statuary in the Gandhara region. According to the Persian scholar Al-Biruni, Buddhism rapidly declined afterward.

Motivation

Mahmud justified his campaigns as eliminating idolatry while enriching his empire through plunder.

Impact

His actions accelerated the disappearance of Buddhism in northwestern India. Later extremists cited him as a model holy warrior, although his campaigns deepened long-term hostilities among Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims.

3. Modern Case: The Taliban’s Destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas (2001)

Background

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 1996 and created an extremist Sunni regime inspired by Wahhabism and Salafism, rejecting non-Islamic cultural heritage as heretical.

Case Details

Event:
In March 2001, Taliban leader Mullah Omar ordered the destruction of two colossal 6th-century Buddha statues at Bamiyan (53 meters and 35 meters tall). Although the international community—including the United Nations—protested, the Taliban used explosives and artillery to demolish them.

Motivation:
The Taliban claimed the statues represented prohibited idolatry. Mullah Omar declared, “We are not against culture; we are against unbelievers.”

Implementation:
The destruction took weeks and was displayed publicly to signal ideological purity.

Impact

The event shocked the world and brought global attention to Taliban extremism. It caused irreversible cultural loss and further marginalized Afghanistan’s already minuscule Buddhist population.

4. Contemporary Case: Global Terrorism by ISIS (2014–2019)

Background

The Islamic State (ISIS) declared a “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014. Its ideology, rooted in Salafi-jihadism, envisioned restoring global Islamic rule through violence.

Case Details

Destruction of Palmyra (2015):
ISIS destroyed the Temple of Bel and other ancient monuments in the Syrian city of Palmyra, demonstrating its systematic eradication of non-Islamic culture.

Paris Attacks (November 13, 2015):
Coordinated assaults, including the Bataclan Theatre attack, killed 130 people. The targets were labeled “Western infidels.”

Marawi Siege in the Philippines (2017):
The ISIS-affiliated Maute Group seized the city of Marawi. A five-month battle with government forces killed thousands. Both Buddhists and Christians were caught in the conflict.

Motivation & Features

ISIS promoted global jihad, executed mass killings and enslavement (notably against Yazidis), and used propaganda—such as its magazine Dabiq—to recruit tens of thousands of foreign fighters.

Impact

ISIS’s actions displaced millions. Buddhist countries, including Thailand, faced indirect threats through ISIS recruitment and regional influence. Although the caliphate collapsed in 2019, remnants persist.

5. Ongoing Case: The Southern Thailand Insurgency (2004–2025)

Background

Southern Thailand’s three provinces (Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat) have about two million Muslims (80% of local population) with long-standing demands for autonomy. Some extremist groups within the movement—such as the BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional)—use violence to pursue separatism.

Case Details

Frequent Attacks:
Since 2004, insurgents have carried out bombings and assassinations, targeting government officials, Buddhist monks, and civilians.

In 2023, a Buddhist village was attacked, killing five.

In 2024, a temple bombing killed two monks.

Pressure on Buddhism:
Buddhist monks became key targets; many temples closed, and Buddhist residents fled the region. Over 7,000 people were killed between 2004 and 2025.

Motivation

Insurgent groups invoke Islam and seek independence from Thailand’s Buddhist-dominated central government.

Impact

The conflict deepened religious and ethnic divides, significantly reducing the Buddhist population in the region. Despite military pressure and negotiations, the insurgency remains unresolved.

6. Analysis of Causes and Patterns

Historical Causes

Military expansion:
Early Islamic conquests (e.g., in Central and South Asia) relied heavily on armed force, posing direct threats to Buddhism and other religions.

Scriptural interpretation:
Extremists distorted doctrines of jihad and takfir, using them to justify violence.

Modern Drivers

Geopolitics:
Colonialism (e.g., Afghanistan), and Western interventions (e.g., the Iraq War) fueled anti-Western sentiment, facilitating the rise of groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Socioeconomic factors:
Poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment (e.g., Boko Haram in Nigeria) created fertile ground for extremism.

Technological dissemination:
Online platforms (Telegram, YouTube) accelerated the spread of extremist ideology and facilitated global recruitment.

Common Patterns

Islamic extremism often manifests through:

destruction of non-Islamic culture (e.g., Bamiyan Buddhas),

attacks on civilians (e.g., Paris),

attempts to establish political rule (e.g., ISIS).

Its pressure on Buddhism is usually indirect but sometimes severe.

7. Situation as of 2025 and Future Outlook

Current Status (as of February 26, 2025)

Islamic extremism has declined but persists. ISIS branches like ISKP remain active. The Taliban’s return to power brought partial moderation, yet radical tendencies remain uncertain. Conflicts such as southern Thailand and the Rohingya issue in Myanmar continue.

Relations with Buddhism

Direct attacks on Buddhism have become less frequent in modern times, but:

historical impacts endure (e.g., Buddhism’s disappearance from Central Asia),

ongoing conflicts affect Buddhist communities (e.g., southern Thailand),

Buddhist-majority countries like Sri Lanka have developed counter-extremist nationalism, creating reverse pressure on Muslims.

Outlook

Globalization and interfaith dialogue (e.g., the 2024 Buddhist–Islamic conference in Bangkok) may ease tensions. However, until root causes—poverty, injustice, political repression—are resolved, extremism is likely to persist.
More challenging still, religious conflict often intertwines with ethnic conflict, intensifying one another.