Download Locations:
Summary:
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and subsequent investigations of these attacks have called attention to Islamic puritanical movements known as Wahhabism and Salafiyya. The Al Qaeda terrorist organization and its leader Osama bin Laden have advocated a message of violence that some suggest is an extremist interpretation of this line of puritanical Islam. There are those who blame these extremists for corrupting the Islamic religion in general and Wahhabism in particular. Others have accused Saudi Arabia, the center of Wahhabism, of having disseminated a religion that promotes hatred and violence, targeting the United States and its allies. Saudi officials strenuously deny these allegations. This report provides a background on Wahhabi Islam and its association to militant fundamentalist groups; it will also summarize recent charges against Wahhabism and responses. It will be updated periodically. Related CRS products include CRS Issue Brief IB93113, CRS Report RS21432, CRS Report RS21529, CRS Report RS21654, and CRS Report RL31718.
