The Czech BIS counter-intelligence service recorded many manifestations critical of Islam in 2013, from moderate ones to radical verbal attacks, while some verbal attacks may even radicalise moderate Muslims, BIS said in its annual report released today.
“The criticism targeted everything that is generally considered a sign of Islamism in the Czech environment, including the widely media covered wearing of Muslim scarves in school establishments, an online appeal to join the fighting in Syria, statements by prominent representatives of Czech Muslims and the building of new houses of prayer,” the report said.
The reactions to Muslims’ manifestations were largely publicised online, it added.
“However, some forms of the verbal attacks may radicalise moderate Muslims,” the report said, adding that it had not come across any such sign of radicalisation last year.
On the other hand, BIS observed the emulation of some tendencies of Muslim communities in Western Europe such as the efforts at a gradual embedding of Islamic law in the Czech Republic.
The report said last year the social conditions in the Czech Republic “were not suitable” for the application of parts of the Sharia in the Czech Muslim community.
“This is why some Czech Muslims tried to improve the image of Islam and Islamic values in the eyes of the Czech general public,” it added.
Within international cooperation in the struggle against terrorism, the BIS also evaluated major terrorist attacks in the world such as those in Nairobi and Boston and the murder of a British soldier in London.
“BIS found no links with the Czech Republic in connection with the above cases,” the annual report said.