Today, the fundamentalist movement in the Middle East calls for

The fundamentalist movement in the Middle East today calls for a strict return to religious laws and traditional values. Here’s a simpler explanation:

1. Following Religious Laws (Sharia)

• Sharia Law:

  Fundamentalist groups want everyone to follow Sharia law, which comes from the Quran (the holy book of Islam) and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. They believe that these religious laws should guide all parts of life, including how the government works, how laws are made, and how people behave.

• Against Secularism:

  They don’t like governments that keep religion and state separate. They believe that only a government based on religious laws is right and moral.

2. Rejecting Western Influence

• Against Western Culture:

  These groups often dislike Western culture, politics, and economics because they believe it goes against their religious values. They don’t agree with Western ideas about democracy, human rights, and culture, like how people dress or what entertainment they watch.

• Returning to Traditions:

  They want to go back to traditional ways of living, which they think have been lost because of Western influence. This could include strict rules about how people should dress, how men and women should behave, and what is acceptable in society.

3. Gaining Political Power

• Creating Islamic States:

  Some of these groups want to create new countries or change existing ones so that they follow Islamic law. They believe that the government should be based on their religious beliefs.

• Using Violence:

  Sometimes, these groups use violence to try to reach their goals. This can include terrorism or armed conflict. For example, a group called ISIS used extreme violence to try to create a state governed by Islamic law.

4. Controlling Society and Culture

• Controlling Education and Media:

  These groups often want to control what people learn in schools and what they see in the media. They believe that spreading their religious teachings and stopping other viewpoints is important to keeping their society based on their values.

• Strict Gender Roles:

  They usually have strict ideas about the roles of men and women. For example, they might limit what women can do, like where they can work or how they can dress.

5. Reacting to Modern Changes

• Against Modernization:

  Many people in these groups feel that modernization (like new technology and ideas) has led to a loss of moral values and cultural identity. They turn to fundamentalism as a way to protect what they see as the true essence of their religion and culture.

• Economic Problems:

  People who join these movements might also be unhappy with problems like poverty, unemployment, or corruption. They may believe that returning to religious laws is the way to fix these issues.

6. Different Groups, Different Ideas

• Variety of Groups:

  There are many different fundamentalist groups in the Middle East, and they don’t all agree on how to interpret religious texts or how to achieve their goals. Some focus on peaceful preaching, while others support violent actions.

• Impact on the World:

  These movements have a big impact on global politics, affecting conflicts and international relations around the world.

In summary, the fundamentalist movement in the Middle East today calls for a return to strict religious laws and traditional values, often opposing Western influence and modernization. They aim to create societies governed by their interpretation of Islam, using various methods, including politics and sometimes violence, to achieve their goals.