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CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler quoted: “It’s a dangerous idea, working with the Haqqanis,” said Hans-Jakob Schindler, a former coordinator of the United Nations’ monitoring group on the Islamic State, Al Qaeda and the Taliban. “You don’t know what side the Haqqanis will be standing on on the day you deal with them — your side or their own or the side of international terrorists.”
"... However, experts warn that without continued pressure, the group may attempt to regroup and continue guerrilla-style attacks in Iraq and Syria, and the complete withdrawal of the US contingent from Iraq planned for 2025 risks becoming a boomerang as happened in Afghanistan in 2021. According to data from the United States Central Command, published in January 2024, ISIS has around 2,500 active fighters between Iraq and Syria, of which around 1,000 are in Iraq. Speaking of Syria, according to data from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) ISIS carried out at least 16 attacks in September in the governorates of Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Raqqa and Deir Ez Zor. These attacks killed at least 32 pro-Assad soldiers and one civilian and wounded at least 21 others."
CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: "Violence at anti-Israel demonstrations in Germany is escalating. With growing concerns about security, police and authorities are facing new challenges. Terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler sheds light on the background and explains how the security forces are responding."
CEP Senior Advisor Ian Acheson: "‘House arrest’ may be a term more usually associated with tinpot dictatorships but it has in fact been a key feature of our crime control apparatus for years. Home Detention Curfew (HSC) was brought in under Labour in 1999. Now the Justice Secretary wants to extend that Blairite concept which covered only the last six months of an offender’s custody to the whole sentence. Will this make a difference in solving Britain’s omnishambles prison crisis?"
“Former prison governor Ian Acheson says the justice system is much worse than just two-tier policing, after an asylum hotel rioter died in prison. "The first thing I want to say to Mr. Lynch's family is that I've got huge amounts of sympathy for them."”
"Selling illegal drugs in Europe is a quick way for Hezbollah to raise money because of ample demand and supply, according to Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, a U.S.-German nonprofit policy organization.
“Europe is the largest consumer of cocaine worldwide, bigger than the United States, so the demand is there,” said Schindler, a former U.N. Security Council and German government official."
"According to the experts of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) France and Qatar’s relationship deepened in 2024 with a €10 billion investment agreement, marking a strategic partnership. While the partnership boosts the French economy, particularly in luxury, sports, and real estate sectors, it raises concerns about Qatar’s influence on French policies. Qatar’s financial ties to Islamist groups like Hamas complicate the partnership, especially amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Experts claim that Qatar’s growing leverage can affect France’s foreign policy stance, particularly as protests and public opinion in France grow increasingly pro-Gaza."
"The organization Counter Extremism Project counted around 70 attacks in Syria alone in March this year. Islamic State cells have also regained some of their strength in parts of Africa and South Asia."
"Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Advisor to the Counter Extremism Project and former Ambassador of the UK to Yemen, told MailOnline: 'ISIS methodically kept itself alive during the height of military and counterterrorism pressure it faced by creating a global structure of mutually supportive regional networks.'"
"But IS has not disappeared. According to the US Central Command, there are currently around 2,500 IS fighters in both countries who are also carrying out attacks. The Counter Extremism Project organisation counted around 70 attacks in Syria alone in March of this year. IS cells have also regained some strength in parts of Africa and South Asia."
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