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Mauritanian Civil-Society Groups Combat Islamist Threat

A widespread campaign is being launched in Mauritania by civil-society organizations to combat the growing threat from Islamic fundamentalism, writes Kaci Racelma.
A man walks in front of the Saudi Mosque in central Nouakchott, February 2, 2008. Growing Al Qaeda presence in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania raises diplomatic and political concerns about security in Mauritania following three Al Qaeda attacks since December 2007. To match feature MAURITANIA-SECURITY/     REUTERS/Normand Blouin (MAURITANIA) - RTR1WZDE

Religious fundamentalism and its zealous followers are failing to find their desired echo within Mauritanian civil society, which is proving to be increasingly deaf and sealed off to them.

Political leaders and heads of associations have recently decided to move against what they see as a "radical and obscurantist ideological movement." Human rights organizations support the leaders in this new mass movement, which is firmly committed to blocking the invasive advance of the Salafist movement in the country of the former Almoravid dynasty.

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