Islamic upbringing and adherence to Islamic norms contribute to the development of a mental disorder known as sociopathy, the active form of which poses an increased danger to society. This conclusion has been reached by Chinese and Western experts studying the problems of Islamic radicalism and Muslim crime.
CHINA CREATES DERADICALIZATION CENTERS FOR MUSLIMS
The starting point for this study was the sharp escalation of ethnic and religious tensions between Uyghur Muslims living in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the Chinese government between 1990 and 2015. Muslim radicals launched an armed uprising and carried out hundreds of terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of numerous civilians. [1]
The terrorist campaign was spearheaded by the Turkestan Islamic Party, a militant organization whose stated goal is to establish an Islamic state in Xinjiang and across the rest of Central Asia. The organization adheres to Salafi ideology and regards Sharia law as the only legitimate system of governance. [1][2]
In response, the Chinese government, while suppressing terrorism, also began addressing what it regarded as its underlying causes. As part of this strategy, vocational education and training centers were established in Xinjiang. Their goal was to preventively deradicalize the Uyghur population through instruction in the Chinese language, basic legal knowledge, and vocational skills, while also addressing poverty and unemployment.
From 2014 to 2019, more than 1.29 million people who had committed minor offenses or were considered at risk received training at these centers. [1]
CHINA EQUATES ISLAMIC EXTREMISM WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
Chinese psychiatrists working in deradicalization centers likely identified symptoms characteristic of mental illness among the Muslims undergoing training there. This interpretation is supported by a document titled Vocational Education and Training in Xinjiang, published in 2019 by the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China.
It states, in particular:
"Through the establishment of education and training centers, Xinjiang carries out the education and rescue of people affected by terrorism and religious extremism... The goal is to prevent [the problem] at an early stage, treat the disease, and save people." [4]
The key phrase here is "treat the disease and save people."
Thus, the Chinese government officially described its policy of deradicalizing people affected by terrorism and religious extremism in terms of "treating a disease."
Foreign media distilled this medical rhetoric employed by the Chinese authorities into the following formula: "China Is Treating Islam Like a Mental Illness." [5][6]
ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS ARE GOOD MUSLIMS
The distinction drawn by the Chinese authorities between "moderate" Muslims and "Islamic extremists" is also widespread among non-Muslims. They regard Muslims who have partially or completely abandoned Islam as "moderate" or "good," while labeling those who strictly adhere to its teachings as "Islamic extremists."
This understanding contradicts Islamic tradition, according to which:
• Islamic extremists who strictly follow the precepts of Islam, participate in jihad, and imitate Muhammad are considered good Muslims;
• Muslims who observe Islam only partially or avoid participating in jihad are regarded as hypocrites deserving punishment. [7]
In this article, the term "Muslims" refers to those considered good Muslims according to Islamic tradition.
WESTERN PSYCHOLOGISTS: ISLAM BREEDS SOCIOPATHS
The Chinese authorities' view of Muslims as mentally ill largely aligns with the conclusions reached by some Western experts.
For example, Danish psychologist Nikolaj Sennels, who worked in a juvenile prison, noted that approximately 70% of juvenile offenders in Denmark are of Muslim origin. Given that Muslims constitute only 4.5-5% of the country's population, they are represented among juvenile offenders at a rate approximately 15 times higher than their share of the population would suggest.
In 2015, Sennels published an article in which he attributed the development of a mental disorder known as antisocial personality disorder, or sociopathy, among Muslims to Islamic upbringing.
In particular, he writes:
"Muslims are told that they are superior to non-Muslims, destined to dominate non-Muslims, and that they must distance themselves socially and emotionally from non-Muslims. The many hateful and dehumanizing verses in the Quran and the Hadiths against non-Muslims closely resemble the psychological propaganda that leaders use against their own people in order to prepare them mentally for fighting and killing the enemy. Killing another person is easier if you hate him and do not perceive him as fully human." [8]
According to Sennels, the Islamic education system, which combines violence with the constant repetition of religious messages, is in many ways reminiscent of the psychological methods used by totalitarian regimes to re-educate dissidents and by the armies of some countries to train ruthless soldiers:
"During numerous sessions with more than a hundred Muslim clients, I found that violence and repetition of religious messages are prevalent in Muslim families... The Muslim tradition of using pain and intimidation as part of disciplining children is also widely used in Muslim schools." [8]
American psychologist Michael Salamon, director of ADC Psychological Services in New York, reaches a similar conclusion. Based on his analysis of the behavior of Middle Eastern terrorist leaders, he concludes that many of them suffer from antisocial personality disorder:
"Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah, Yahya Sinwar of Hamas, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran are not just political leaders. They are emblematic and embodiments of a distinct mental profile. All three exhibit a specific class of mental disorder characterized by maladaptive patterns of behavior and cognition that deviate from accepted norms." [9]
Describing this disorder, Salamon writes:
"The antisocial personality disorder, perhaps the most destructive of the personality disorders, is characterized by disregard for others rights, lack of empathy, impetuousness, deceitfulness, manipulativeness, and perhaps most notably the desire to control and undermine others for their own often evil whims." [9]
WHAT IS ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER, OR SOCIOPATHY?
Having identified the mental disorder that affects adherents of Islam, let us turn to psychiatry for its definition.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, "Antisocial personality disorder is a pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others, beginning at age 15..." [11]
In modern psychiatry, the term "sociopathy" has largely been replaced by the diagnosis of "antisocial personality disorder." However, in this article, we will use the term "sociopathy" because it is more concise and readily understood by most readers.
Now let us examine the main characteristics of this disorder.
SIGNS OF SOCIOPATHY PAINT A PORTRAIT OF THE TYPICAL MUSLIM
If we examine the main characteristics of sociopathy, it is easy to see that they largely coincide with the image of the typical Muslim immigrant, who has become one of the main social problems in countries receiving migrants from Asia and Africa.
According to the Russian psychiatric school:
"Sociopathy manifests itself through aggression, violence, and manipulative actions. Sociopaths are prone to committing crimes and using violent methods. They are incapable of experiencing deep feelings and emotional attachment to others." [10]
The American Psychiatric Association notes that at least three of the following characteristics must be present for a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder:
1. Repeated violation of the law;
2. Lying and a tendency to deceive;
3. Impulsiveness or an inability to plan;
4. Irritability and aggressiveness;
5. Reckless disregard for one's own safety or the safety of others;
6. Chronic irresponsibility;
7. Lack of remorse for harming others. [12]
Additionally, the following conditions must be met:
• at least 18 years of age;
• signs of conduct disorder before age 15;
• antisocial behavior is not explained solely by the course of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. [12]
Lack of Empathy
One of the characteristic signs of sociopathy is a deficiency or complete lack of empathy - the ability to understand and share another person's emotional state. [13] This results in an inability to feel remorse for harm caused to others.
Aggressiveness
Another characteristic sign of sociopathy is aggressiveness - a tendency toward behavior aimed at causing harm to others, or a corresponding emotional state such as anger, rage, malice, or hatred. [14]
Propensity for Criminal Behavior
Sociopathy is widespread among prison populations. Sociopaths are more likely to be convicted of criminal offenses, receive longer prison sentences, and face charges for virtually all types of crime, particularly violent offenses. [15] Studies show that 65% of men serving prison sentences have some form of mental disorder, with 47% diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. [16]
Among the factors contributing to the development of sociopathy, psychiatrists cite upbringing and cultural environment. [15]
ACTIVE SOCIOPATHS ARE DANGEROUS TO SOCIETY
The above data allow us to conclude that antisocial behavior among Muslims manifests itself in:
• an epidemic of rapes of women and children;
• daily attacks on random people, including attacks involving weapons;
• vehicle attacks on crowds during public events;
• pushing people onto railroad tracks in front of oncoming trains;
• mass riots accompanied by the looting of stores and the burning of cars;
• terrorist attacks involving explosive devices;
• the disproportionately high proportion of Muslims among those serving prison sentences.
According to this analysis, these forms of antisocial behavior are a direct consequence of a mental disorder called active sociopathy. [17]
Modern psychiatry classifies people with active antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) as posing an increased danger to society. In forensic psychiatry and criminology, ASPD is considered one of the most significant psychological risk factors for criminal behavior. [18]
WHY DOES ISLAM PROMOTE SOCIOPATHY?
There are many religions in the world. However, their followers do not attack and kill people of other faiths on the same scale, with the same consistency and ferocity, as Muslims do in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Australia.
The problem likely lies within Islam itself.
Indeed, there are three main factors that contribute to the development of sociopathy in a person raised according to Islamic teachings and adhering to the tenets of Islam:
1. The need to hate non-Muslims, propagated by the main sources of Islam - the Quran, the Hadith, and the Biography of Muhammad (Sirat Rasul Allah).
2. The obligation to participate in jihad - a war for the global domination of Islam.
3. The desire to emulate Muhammad, the founder of Islam, who is regarded in Islamic tradition as the model of the ideal Muslim.
Let us consider each of these factors separately.
1. THE NEED TO HATE NON-MUSLIMS
Hatred of non-Muslims occupies a central place in the main sources of Islam. This can be explained by the wars Muhammad waged to spread his new religion. Victory in these wars was achieved not only through numerical superiority, but also through the cruelty and ruthlessness displayed by Muhammad and his followers toward non-Muslims.
Cruelty is born of hatred, while ruthlessness results from dehumanizing the enemy. Therefore, cultivating these qualities became one of the goals of Islamic teaching.
• prohibit human relations with non-Muslims (5:51, 58:14-15, 60:1). [19]
The Quran is echoed by the Hadith - collections of sayings attributed to Muhammad. Here are two typical examples:
• Allah's Apostle said: "No Muslim would die but Allah would admit in his stead a Jew or a Christian in Hell-Fire" (Muslim 37:6666).
• Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say: O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him" (Bukhari 52:177)
The peaceful verses of the Quran have been abrogated by the militant ones
Islamic apologists might object that the Quran also contains peaceful verses. However, they fail to mention that, chronologically, the suras of the Quran are divided into the earlier Meccan suras, which are peaceful in character, and the later Medinan suras, which are warlike. [26] Moreover, Islam has a doctrine known as naskh - the abrogation of earlier verses in favor of later ones - based on verse 2:106:
"Whatever a verse do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or similar to it."
Thus, the earlier peaceful verses were abrogated in favor of the later ones, which are hostile and warlike.
2. THE OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN JIHAD
Historically, jihad has meant war against non-Muslims. Early Islam spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula solely through warfare. Muhammad himself fought in 78 battles, only one of which was defensive. The spread of Islam to neighboring countries likewise occurred through wars of conquest. [20]
According to Bukhari, jihad is "a holy struggle for the sake of Allah," that is, for the spread of Islam. A more detailed definition is provided in the introduction to the section on jihad in the English edition of Sahih al-Bukhari, published by Dar-us-Salam:
"Al-Jihad (holy fighting) in Allahs cause (with full force of numbers and weaponry) is given the utmost importance in Islam and is one of its pillars. By Jihad Islam is established, Allahs Word is made superior, and His Religion (Islam) is propagated. By abandoning Jihad Islam is destroyed and the Muslims fall into an inferior position; their honour is lost, their lands are stolen, their rule and authority vanish.
Jihad is an obligatory duty in Islam on every Muslim, and he who tries to escape from this duty, or does not in his innermost heart wish to fulfil this duty, dies with one of the qualities of a hypocrite." [21]
This definition can serve as a commentary on verse 8:39, which calls on Muslims to wage jihad until Islam becomes the dominant religion in the world:
"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]."
To summarize, the Quran:
• commands Muslims to wage jihad against non-Muslims (2:216, 3:167, 8:15, 8:39, 8:65, 9:5);
• promises a reward in Paradise to those who participate in jihad (3:172, 9:111);
• calls those who avoid jihad hypocrites destined for Hell (3:167, 3:173, 8:16).
The Hadith further reinforce the Quran's doctrine of jihad. According to the "Book of Jihad" in Sahih al-Bukhari:
• A Muslim is obliged to join jihad when called upon (52:42);
• The reward for jihad is unmatched by that of other good deeds (52:44);
• A mujahid is guaranteed a place in Paradise (52:46, 52:49, 52:63).
3. THE DESIRE TO IMITATE MUHAMMAD
According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad is regarded as the model of the ideal Muslim. However, from the perspective of universal morality, he appears immoral and depraved, while under the criminal laws of modern states, including those of most Muslim countries, he would be regarded as a dangerous criminal.
The Hadith and the Biography of Muhammad recount that the founder of Islam:
• killed prisoners of war, including children who had begun puberty (approximately 10-11 years old) (Abu Dawud, 38:4390);
• had people killed for insulting him (the story of the killing of Asma bint Marwan, a nursing mother, as described in the Biography of Muhammad);
• ordered people of any age or gender to be killed for mocking him (the Biography of Muhammad recounts the killings of Arabian poets who ridiculed the founder of Islam); [22]
