Today’s Guardian leads with a restricted MI5 report they’ve seen on radicalisation. The standout finding:
Far from being religious zealots, a large number of those involved in terrorism do not practise their faith regularly. Many lack religious literacy and could actually be regarded as religious novices.
Very few have been brought up in strongly religious households, and there is a higher than average proportion of converts. Some are involved in drug-taking, drinking alcohol and visiting prostitutes.
MI5 says there is evidence that a well-established religious identity actually protects against violent radicalisation.
A useful nugget next time some wide-eyed weirdo tells you Islam is a death cult…
Update: oh. Just seen Charlie’s post below. Ahem.
