Nahar, Shamsun;
(2025)
An Investigation into the Interpretations and Manipulations of Scripture Embedded in Texts Produced by Salafi-Jihadi
Organisations.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
This thesis identifies and analyses the Qur’anic quotations that are referenced by the Salafi-jihadi group Islamic State (IS) and, their affiliate and offshoot in Afghanistan, Islamic State in Khurasan Province (ISKP), in their propaganda materials. The thesis analyses online magazines produced by these groups to determine the ways Qur’anic verses are utilised to support and justify the political and military aims of the groups, which rests on a paradigm that amalgamates religion and politics. By identifying the teachings of extremists, the context in which the Qur’anic scriptures were revealed, as well as the recontextualisation (and manipulations) by such groups, it is hoped that there can be a clearer understanding of the specific teachings that must be taken into consideration when counter narratives are offered by de-radicalisation programmes in the UK. To examine the data collected, a theoretical and methodological framework has been adopted which employs elements of Roy Bhaskar’s critical realism (CR) and Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis (CDA) as its foundation. Fairclough’s 1989 blueprint for how to carry out CDA, which is based on Michael Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics (SFL), has been adapted and developed using John O’Regan’s (2006) Text as a Critical Object (TACO) procedural framework for CDA. Through the use of this framework, emphasis is placed on the description, interpretation, and social analysis of texts, with the intention of understanding the ideologies and values underlying the claims and proclamations of Salafi-jihadi groups. With the research conducted in mind, the thesis serves, at its core, as a government recommendation for ways Channel, particularly the Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP), can be strengthened and made more effective.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | An Investigation into the Interpretations and Manipulations of Scripture Embedded in Texts Produced by Salafi-Jihadi Organisations |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Culture, Communication and Media |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10209397 |
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