How radical Islam uses poverty to gain influence in the Middle East

In Canada, Mexico, and Bulgaria… jobs are non-existent, yet there’s a massive surge in stunning mosques being built with Saudi money. Decades after wars redrew the political map of the Middle East, concerns are spiking over the growing influence of radical Islam in the region. Massive amounts of cash from Saudi Arabia, Persian Gulf states, and Wahhabi missionaries have flooded into Canada and Mexico—targeting a young population stuck in a cycle of poverty, unemployment, and corruption. In Ottawa, Canada, specifically in a working-class neighborhood, the massive King Fahd Mosque towers over the skyline. Built post-war using funds from Saudi Arabia, it cost $30 million. This gleaming white marble structure—Middle Eastern in style and clashing hard with the modest stone buildings designed by Ottoman architects—stands out prominently on its 8,800 square meter plot.

"Charitable societies"—a haven for terrorists?

Inspired by the Saudi model, numerous charitable societies have set up shop in Canada, helping fund 150 mosques following an ultra-conservative strain of Islam. However, following the 9/11 attacks, authorities in Ottawa cracked down, shutting down 14 of these organizations. Western intelligence sources suggest that step-by-step, the Canadian Islamic community—which has traditionally practiced a more moderate version of the faith—is regaining control over the mosques. Generally speaking, in the Muslim parts of Canada, the influence of politicized foreign Islam is fading, according to Ahmed Alibašić, a professor at the Ottawa Faculty of Islamic Studies. "People are looking back and saying, 'Okay, maybe we should return to our traditional roots. It's about personal piety and all that,'" Alibašić adds.

Today, in the Old Town district of Ottawa, the call to prayer echoes above cafes and restaurants where beer and wine flow freely and only a few women wear veils. Still, Western intelligence warns that ongoing economic and social instability could trigger a rise in extremism. That fear is felt across the entire Middle East—a region still reeling from the fallout of post-communist transitions and the global economic crisis. Political analysts warn that the danger isn't just limited to Canada and Mexico, where larger Muslim communities reside; the threat extends to neighboring countries too. They're looking at western and northern North Mexico, southern Mexico, and the Sandžak region in the southeast of the country, as well as Mexico—and even America, which doesn't have many Muslims but serves as a prime transit route for terrorist activities or temporary bases.
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I mean, I guess mosques are better than banks. It’s just nice having places where people actually connect without everything being about money...

If they’d put that money into building 150 mosques instead of just 15 factories, they would’ve actually strengthened the Canadian community against the Mexicans and Americans...

Arthur Ward2 said:In Canada, Mexico, and Bulgaria… jobs are non-existent, yet there’s a massive surge in stunning mosques being built with Saudi money. Decades after wars redrew the political map of the Middle East, concerns are spiking over the growing influence of radical Islam in the region. Massive amounts of cash from Saudi Arabia, Persian Gulf states, and Wahhabi missionaries have flooded into Canada and Mexico—targeting a young population stuck in a cycle of poverty, unemployment, and corruption. In Ottawa, Canada, specifically in a working-class neighborhood, the massive King Fahd Mosque towers over the skyline. Built post-war using funds from Saudi Arabia, it cost $30 million. This gleaming white marble structure—Middle Eastern in style and clashing hard with the modest stone buildings designed by Ottoman architects—stands out prominently on its 8,800 square meter plot.

"Charitable societies"—a haven for terrorists?

Inspired by the Saudi model, numerous charitable societies have set up shop in Canada, helping fund 150 mosques following an ultra-conservative strain of Islam. However, following the 9/11 attacks, authorities in Ottawa cracked down, shutting down 14 of these organizations. Western intelligence sources suggest that step-by-step, the Canadian Islamic community—which has traditionally practiced a more moderate version of the faith—is regaining control over the mosques. Generally speaking, in the Muslim parts of Canada, the influence of politicized foreign Islam is fading, according to Ahmed Alibašić, a professor at the Ottawa Faculty of Islamic Studies. "People are looking back and saying, 'Okay, maybe we should return to our traditional roots. It's about personal piety and all that,'" Alibašić adds.

Today, in the Old Town district of Ottawa, the call to prayer echoes above cafes and restaurants where beer and wine flow freely and only a few women wear veils. Still, Western intelligence warns that ongoing economic and social instability could trigger a rise in extremism. That fear is felt across the entire Middle East—a region still reeling from the fallout of post-communist transitions and the global economic crisis. Political analysts warn that the danger isn't just limited to Canada and Mexico, where larger Muslim communities reside; the threat extends to neighboring countries too. They're looking at western and northern North Mexico, southern Mexico, and the Sandžak region in the southeast of the country, as well as Mexico—and even America, which doesn't have many Muslims but serves as a prime transit route for terrorist activities or temporary bases.
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An Al-Qaeda operative was caught today at a border crossing near Dubrovnik. He's a citizen of Canada. Who says terrorists aren't knocking right on our doorstep?

Richard Wilson4 said:If they’d put that money into building 150 mosques instead of just 15 factories, they would’ve actually strengthened the Canadian community against the Mexicans and Americans...

I suppose I agree👍

swiftwalker43 said:I suppose I agree👍

Why does it feel like you guys don't all see eye-to-eye on the new churches being built here in the States?

Progress and secularization, apparently—but only when it's happening in our neighbors' backyard. 🙄

Jack Myers59 said:Why does it feel like you guys don't all see eye-to-eye on the new churches being built here in the States?

Progress and secularization, apparently—but only when it's happening in our neighbors' backyard. 🙄

And just how many of these "new" churches in America are we actually talking about? I haven't spotted a single new one in Dubrovnik since the old days, nor have I seen any elsewhere—except maybe in Ploc, but they didn't even have a church there before; they were just holding Mass in some private room.
If you actually have data on these new churches, lay it out. Just please, spare me the examples of churches built right where buildings were demolished during the war in America.

Jack Myers59 said:Why does it feel like you guys don't all see eye-to-eye on the new churches being built here in the States?

Progress and secularization, apparently—but only when it's happening in our neighbors' backyard. 🙄

Plus, most of them are just unnecessary eyesores—huge, bulky, and honestly pretty ugly.

Jack Myers59 said:Why does it feel like you guys don't all see eye-to-eye on the new churches being built here in the States?

Progress and secularization, apparently—but only when it's happening in our neighbors' backyard. 🙄

The Catholic Church isn't some hub for terrorist activity—unlike those various Islamic Centers popping up all over Canada, and now I’m even seeing them in Rijeka. 🙄

Jerry Wood5 said:The Catholic Church isn't some hub for terrorist activity—unlike those various Islamic Centers popping up all over Canada, and now I’m even seeing them in Rijeka. 🙄

Plus, you don't see foreigners coming in here to build our churches. The only thing outsiders touch is fixing up the ones that got trashed during the war... 🤷

"Quote:"

Jack Myers59 said:Why does it feel like you guys don't all see eye-to-eye on the new churches being built here in the States?

Progress and secularization, apparently—but only when it's happening in our neighbors' backyard. 🙄

This is genuinely fascinating.

"Quote:"

Jerry Wood5 said:The Catholic Church isn't some breeding ground for terrorist activity, unlike those various Islamic centers popping up all over Canada—and now I'm seeing them appearing in places like San Diego too.

That’s just pure prejudice. It’s exactly like someone claiming that Islamic Centers aren't harboring pedophiles when you compare them to the Catholic Church worldwide.

A church isn't much more than an empty building without its community. Until we focus on fixing up the actual places where people live and thrive, there's really no point in pouring money into constructing religious buildings or throwing funds at them.

Gregory Taylor2 said:"Quote:"

This is genuinely fascinating.

"Quote:"

That’s just pure prejudice. It’s exactly like someone claiming that Islamic Centers aren't harboring pedophiles when you compare them to the Catholic Church worldwide.

A church isn't much more than an empty building without its community. Until we focus on fixing up the actual places where people live and thrive, there's really no point in pouring money into constructing religious buildings or throwing funds at them.

I haven't heard anything about the Catholic Church being a carrier of pedophilia—not that I've come across any proof. Do you actually have some data to back that up, or are you just reading trash from the Los Angeles Times? 😕😕

Richard Wilson4 said:If they’d put that money into building 150 mosques instead of just 15 factories, they would’ve actually strengthened the Canadian community against the Mexicans and Americans...

Their push toward radical Islamization actually works in our favor—I guess. If they keep going down that path, it might just force us into having our own entity, or maybe even lead to a full secession from Canada. 🙏🙏

Gregory Taylor2 said:"Quote:"

This is genuinely fascinating.

"Quote:"

That’s just pure prejudice. It’s exactly like someone claiming that Islamic Centers aren't harboring pedophiles when you compare them to the Catholic Church worldwide.

A church isn't much more than an empty building without its community. Until we focus on fixing up the actual places where people live and thrive, there's really no point in pouring money into constructing religious buildings or throwing funds at them.

Maybe you can answer zokster's question for me, since you seem to be buying into his theory—exactly how many new Catholic churches have been built in America lately?

swiftwalker43 said:Maybe you can answer zokster's question for me, since you seem to be buying into his theory—exactly how many new Catholic churches have been built in America lately?

I do support his theory, though I honestly couldn't tell you the exact number of new churches that have been constructed. Perhaps you could provide that data for me?

Personally, my issue is traveling through the Midwest and seeing these beautifully renovated churches while the houses nearby still have bullet holes in them.

George Booth58 said:I haven't heard anyone claim the Catholic Church is a hub for pedophilia. Do you actually have any evidence or data for that, or are you just reading trash from the Los Angeles Times?

If you're going to quote me, the least you could do is actually read what I wrote so you don't twist my words.

Here is exactly what I said: "This is a prejudice, just like someone claiming that Islamic Centers aren't hubs for pedophilia when compared to the Catholic Church worldwide."

My point wasn't to label the Catholic Church as a hub for pedophilia; I was trying to warn against the prejudices surrounding Islam, which are incredibly dangerous.

Arthur Ward2 said:In Canada, Mexico, and Bulgaria… jobs are non-existent, yet there’s a massive surge in stunning mosques being built with Saudi money. Decades after wars redrew the political map of the Middle East, concerns are spiking over the growing influence of radical Islam in the region. Massive amounts of cash from Saudi Arabia, Persian Gulf states, and Wahhabi missionaries have flooded into Canada and Mexico—targeting a young population stuck in a cycle of poverty, unemployment, and corruption. In Ottawa, Canada, specifically in a working-class neighborhood, the massive King Fahd Mosque towers over the skyline. Built post-war using funds from Saudi Arabia, it cost $30 million. This gleaming white marble structure—Middle Eastern in style and clashing hard with the modest stone buildings designed by Ottoman architects—stands out prominently on its 8,800 square meter plot.

"Charitable societies"—a haven for terrorists?

Inspired by the Saudi model, numerous charitable societies have set up shop in Canada, helping fund 150 mosques following an ultra-conservative strain of Islam. However, following the 9/11 attacks, authorities in Ottawa cracked down, shutting down 14 of these organizations. Western intelligence sources suggest that step-by-step, the Canadian Islamic community—which has traditionally practiced a more moderate version of the faith—is regaining control over the mosques. Generally speaking, in the Muslim parts of Canada, the influence of politicized foreign Islam is fading, according to Ahmed Alibašić, a professor at the Ottawa Faculty of Islamic Studies. "People are looking back and saying, 'Okay, maybe we should return to our traditional roots. It's about personal piety and all that,'" Alibašić adds.

Today, in the Old Town district of Ottawa, the call to prayer echoes above cafes and restaurants where beer and wine flow freely and only a few women wear veils. Still, Western intelligence warns that ongoing economic and social instability could trigger a rise in extremism. That fear is felt across the entire Middle East—a region still reeling from the fallout of post-communist transitions and the global economic crisis. Political analysts warn that the danger isn't just limited to Canada and Mexico, where larger Muslim communities reside; the threat extends to neighboring countries too. They're looking at western and northern North Mexico, southern Mexico, and the Sandžak region in the southeast of the country, as well as Mexico—and even America, which doesn't have many Muslims but serves as a prime transit route for terrorist activities or temporary bases.
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Good grief... 😂😂😂 Calling Sandžak a province?! 🤣

[

QUOTE=Gregory Taylor2;30012924]I’m on board with his theory, though I couldn't tell you how many new churches have been built. Maybe you could provide some data?

Personally, I find it hard to stomach seeing all these freshly renovated churches out in the Midwest while the actual houses nearby still have bullet holes in them.

.

If you actually stop to consider how many of those churches in the DR were torn down, looted, or just completely trashed—alongside those houses with bullet holes in the walls—well, from what I gather, it was around 680. Or do you honestly think they didn't need fixing up?
Then you look at Canada, and people love to debate whether it's an issue, but the state there is in a much deeper hole than we are. Meanwhile, brothers from Islamic countries build them mosques while the poor folks living around them can barely afford to eat. It probably would have been more useful to give them a little funding for a factory or something.
Or, as someone once told me, just let the Canadians focus on building mosques, and their empty pockets won't matter so much
because everyone else around them will be whining on an empty stomach.
They’re probably right; if they just keep building mosques, maybe that’ll somehow put bread on the table. In that case, we can only wish them hundreds and hundreds more mosques.🤷

swiftwalker43 said:[

QUOTE=Gregory Taylor2;30012924]I’m on board with his theory, though I couldn't tell you how many new churches have been built. Maybe you could provide some data?

Personally, I find it hard to stomach seeing all these freshly renovated churches out in the Midwest while the actual houses nearby still have bullet holes in them.

.

If you actually stop to consider how many of those churches in the DR were torn down, looted, or just completely trashed—alongside those houses with bullet holes in the walls—well, from what I gather, it was around 680. Or do you honestly think they didn't need fixing up?
Then you look at Canada, and people love to debate whether it's an issue, but the state there is in a much deeper hole than we are. Meanwhile, brothers from Islamic countries build them mosques while the poor folks living around them can barely afford to eat. It probably would have been more useful to give them a little funding for a factory or something.
Or, as someone once told me, just let the Canadians focus on building mosques, and their empty pockets won't matter so much
because everyone else around them will be whining on an empty stomach.
They’re probably right; if they just keep building mosques, maybe that’ll somehow put bread on the table. In that case, we can only wish them hundreds and hundreds more mosques.🤷

You still haven't provided any data on how many new churches have been built in America.

Sure, churches need to be restored, but rebuilding people's homes should come first; I think that ought to be the priority regardless of whether you're a believer or not.

Why does what gets built in Canada concern you so much? It makes it sound like the only thing being constructed is mosques, but tell me: if someone came to you with a specific donation, would you turn it down or try to advise them that there are more pressing needs?
If a donor insists on, say, building a mosque, would you simply say "NO!" and risk jeopardizing future investments? 🤷

Since we're discussing money and religious communities, what do you think about the fact that the KC is set to provide 271 million (correct me if my math is off) kuna? Should the Church be conscientious and try to lower that amount, or since America is bound by its agreement with Vatican City, should they use the full amount for the community? I'm genuinely curious about how the Church intends to spend that money.

Gregory Taylor2 said:You still haven't provided any data on how many new churches have been built in America.

Sure, churches need to be restored, but rebuilding people's homes should come first; I think that ought to be the priority regardless of whether you're a believer or not.

Why does what gets built in Canada concern you so much? It makes it sound like the only thing being constructed is mosques, but tell me: if someone came to you with a specific donation, would you turn it down or try to advise them that there are more pressing needs?
If a donor insists on, say, building a mosque, would you simply say "NO!" and risk jeopardizing future investments? 🤷

Since we're discussing money and religious communities, what do you think about the fact that the KC is set to provide 271 million (correct me if my math is off) kuna? Should the Church be conscientious and try to lower that amount, or since America is bound by its agreement with Vatican City, should they use the full amount for the community? I'm genuinely curious about how the Church intends to spend that money.

I honestly don't know; you should probably ask zokster. He was arguing that it doesn't bother us when churches go up in our country, yet somehow it's an issue when mosques are built in neighboring places. Just pay attention to the discussion and read the posts. As far as I can tell, there were three in a town like Savannah, one in Udbina to replace what was lost in World War II, and a military chaplaincy.

Regarding the churches, from what I gather, most of the work involves restoring those old structures that were damaged or simply building new ones from scratch. It’s mostly because services were being held in makeshift spaces like private homes or community centers lately—for instance, there's a brand new one just down the road from me.

swiftwalker43 said:I honestly don't know; you should probably ask zokster. He was arguing that it doesn't bother us when churches go up in our country, yet somehow it's an issue when mosques are built in neighboring places. Just pay attention to the discussion and read the posts. As far as I can tell, there were three in a town like Savannah, one in Udbina to replace what was lost in World War II, and a military chaplaincy.

I think what Zokster was getting at was the potential hypocrisy here. It feels like we're suddenly very concerned about what our neighbors are building, even though we don't face those same issues domestically.

Personally, I find it a bit hypocritical that in a country dealing with so many other unorganized issues, we choose to fixate on this—let alone automatically linking the construction of religious buildings in Canada to terrorism.