There’s a lot more to Facebook than fun. The social-network provides tools for its members to organize events, forum-like groups to support virtually anything, and simple ways to communicate with anyone else on the site. Unfortunately, like with all useful things, if used for the wrong reasons, Facebook can become a dangerous power.

For example, the Facebook group called ‘Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah’, the successor of another banned group, was started early last year. The group has recruited several students from British universities, and it links to literature such as Jihad: a Ten Part Compilation, which commands that all muslims participate in violent jihad. If you’re a minor, fear not, as the document includes: "No permission [from parents] is required in obligatory jihad." The Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell, though concerned about the relationship between jihadist groups and British schools, believes extremism is "serious but not widespread."

Incidents like these are why the minds behind Facebook recently took action to stop jihadist Facebook groups and activity, such as the recent banning of Abu Izzadeen’s profile. Izzadeen, a spokesperson for Muslim extremist groups, wrote back to administrators, "[God willing] I can return to making use of your otherwise fantastic site." The plea wasn’t convincing enough.

The admins rejected his request, prompting an angry response from Izzadeen, "You are mad. I joined this site so my supporters could add me and show their support. I am not surprised. [You take] any opportunity to stamp the ummah under your heel. This is why we rise up." Stopping his Facebook page is a necessary step, but it won’t stop Izzadeen from using the rest of the Internet.

Anjem Choudary, the former second in command of Al-Muhajiroun and current leader of its successor groups spoke with The Journal, admitting the use of the Internet as a tool for extremist groups. "We try to raise awareness of our mission among the community in any way we can and these sites are very useful to us." The tactics have proven useful.

Choudary admits that British undergrads make-up a significant portion of his followers, "Students form an important part of the community and we have recruited supporters in places like London, Nottingham, Birmingham and Derby." It’s chilling to think that such groups are infiltrating the colleges that shape the world’s future minds.

Unfortunately, that’s a reality, but that’s why we have common sense and a resonable level of skepticism, right?

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Entry was posted on Friday, February 15th, 2008 at 10:02 pm under Internet, Science and technology, Technology, Web2.0.

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