National Security Watch: Will Ramadan bring more violence?
In much of the Muslim world, today marks the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting that is an occasion for spiritual rituals and traditional banquets. These days, it is also marked by heightened fears of terror attacks.
"In light of ongoing military operations in the region as well as the Israeli-Palestinian situation, anti-U.S. sentiment may increase during Ramadan," warns iJet, a risk-monitoring service for businesses and travelers. In recent years, Ramadan observances, including Friday prayer services, have been used by some radicals to whip up passions—and have been seen by some radical groups as a productive time to motivate followers to perform violent acts.
Already, in the lead-up to Ramadan, terrorists bombed three restaurants on the Indonesian resort of Bali, killing at least 22 people. But in some ways, perhaps the biggest fears come in Iraq, where Ramadan coincides with a planned referendum on a new constitution, set to be held by October 15. Iraq is already experiencing a violent peak. According to the Iraq Index, compiled by the Brookings Institution, there were 41 car bombings with multiple fatalities last month, the highest tally of any month since the invasion. The violence has gotten fewer headlines, perhaps, because U.S. troop casualties dipped significantly in September. But the deaths of Iraqi civilians were near record levels.