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Islamic Radicalism in Mexico: The Threat from South of the Border
Author: Chris Zambelis
Date: June 2, 2006
Bibliographic Entry: Zambelis, Chris. “Islamic Radicalism in Mexico: The Threat from South of the Border.” Terrorism Monitor. The Jamestown Foundation: 4.11 (2006).
Electronic Link: http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370015
Keywords: Mexico, Islam, Sunni Muslims, illegal immigration, border security, Chiapas, Centro Cultural Islamico de Mexico (CCIM), missionaries, Catholicism.
Summary of Key Issues, Points, Conclusions:
This article concerns the threat of terrorism posed by combining Mexico’s vulnerability and the United States’ porous borders. According to Zambelis, Muslim communities in Mexico, although small in number, are under increasing scrutiny because they are seen as potential enablers for terrorist infiltration and as “ideological sympathizers” for al-Qaeda’s radicalism. Muslim missionaries have targeted the indigenous people of Chiapas, an impoverished southern state of Mexico and there have been reports pointing to possible terrorist links as a result of the Muslim outreach.
The author concludes that U.S. policymakers should watch closely over border security, seeing the possibilities for al-Qaeda infiltration into or from Mexico. He believes Washington should put its efforts and resources into helping to strengthen Mexico’s weak institutions and corruption that are particularly vulnerable al-Qaeda’s exploits.
Name of Researcher: Tara Nonus
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date: June 15, 2006