Estonian Internal Security Service says Muslim radicalisation is increasing; terror threat still low

Writing in its annual publication, the Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS) confirmed that radicalisation of the country’s Muslim community is occurring more frequently. However, it added that it is only a small and terror threat is still low in Estonia at the moment.

"A terrorist act in Estonia planned, conspired and sanctioned by a terrorist organisation is considered unlikely at the moment. However, like other countries, we unfortunately have a lot less protection against lone terrorists. In the recent past, Estonia had the example of Karen Drambjan, who attacked the Ministry of Defence in August 2011, acting out of personal resentment but nevertheless with an indirect political aim,” the ISS wrote. 

It claims that the threat of terrorism has also increased in Estonia.

”According to public sources, while the threat is on the same level in Latvia and Lithuania as it is in Estonia, the level was raised in 2015 in Sweden and Finland. 

“In December last year, Finland's Central Criminal Police arrested two men of Iraqi origin who were suspected of war crimes in Iraq. Similar arrests were made last year in Sweden.

"Estonia has been mentioned in the propaganda of terrorist organisations. We therefore ask all representatives of Estonian interests and residents working in or visiting high-risk countries to be more vigilant - before traveling, please read and take into consideration the travel information published on the website of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

It stressed that the Muslim community in Estonia continues to be generally peaceful, but there is some internal dissatisfaction.

”The tensions between various interest groups are mainly concentrated within the Turath Islamic Cultural Centre on Keevise in Tallinn, caused by the non-transparent and supposedly selfish management style of the center's management.”

In the spring of 2015, a new foundation called Eesti Islami Keskus (the Estonian Islamic Center) was established and took over the administration of the building. The centre’s existing management disapproved and considered this development a takeover, the ISS reports.

"In 2015, Estonian Muslims also received more attention in the media when their leaders commented on terrorist acts around the world and on issues related to refugees. They were also asked to comment on developments within Estonia: the idea of banning items of the burqa, which is used in many Muslim cultures; problems within the Islamic Centre; building a new mosque in Estonia; examples of radicalisation among Estonian Muslims; the activities of a former Estonian resident, Abdurrahman Sazanakov, in Syria; and the first criminal proceeding against the support of Islamist terrorism.

"Unfortunately, comments on these issues by Estonian Muslim leaders were more indicative of a desire to distance themselves from these problems, rather than a readiness to address the issues and guide radically-minded people back onto the right path," the ISS said.

The ISS pointed out that in addition to Tallinn, regular Muslim prayers are also held in other Estonian cities. In 2015, there were attempts to re-open a Muslim prayer room in Tartu. The initiative and its partial funding came from abroad, and there is currently no religious cleric with the correct qualifications to conduct prayer sessions.

"Examples of radicalisation among members of the Muslim community in Estonia are unfortunately becoming more frequent, expressed mainly through the display of terrorist organisations' insignia. 

“This assessment is justified by claims that the insignia are not connected to terrorist organisations but, rather, Islam as a religion. 

“At the same time, such symbols are indeed mostly used by terrorist organisations and their supporters, which in turn scares people. The display of these insignia is used to test and try to shift the tolerance limits of society and the law-enforcement authorities.”

The Internal Security Service recommends that the Muslim community in Estonia take greater responsibility for the identification and prevention of the radicalisation of its members.