A new release from the International Foresight Network: The Illusion Game — Islam Between the West and Terrorism

The International Foresight Network has recently released a new book titled The Illusion Game: Islam Between the West and Terrorism, authored by Dr. Dheeb Al‑Qaraleh, former media adviser at the Jordanian Embassy in Cairo, in collaboration with Egyptian researcher Dr. Kamel Fathi.

The book is based on a precise statistical study conducted by the two authors, revealing that only 16% of leaders of terrorist organizations across their four main phases — Al-Qaeda, Zarqawi’s group, ISIS, and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Al-Nusra Front) — had studied Islamic religious sciences in general.

Of this percentage, 7% received only basic religious education without earning a university degree, while just 9% obtained academic qualifications in Islamic studies.

These findings highlight that the majority of so-called “jihadist” leaders lack genuine religious training, confirming that ignorance of religion is a primary factor driving extremism and terrorism.

The book spans 316 medium-sized pages and represents a significant addition to the Network’s research series on the reality and future of extremist organizations. An English edition is scheduled for release soon.

It consists of ten chapters covering key themes, including:

• The true nature of Islam

• The roots of fundamentalism and the problem of extremism

• The emergence of jihadist groups in Afghanistan

• The rise of the Islamic State in Iraq

• The stance of jihadist Salafism toward Muslims and others

• The role of external actors in the development of these groups

• Psychological profiling of their leadership

• Future scenarios for jihadist movements amid current regional and global shifts

It is also noted that the Network’s director previously published a book titled Foreign Intervention in Lebanon, and is currently preparing a new release entitled Determinants of Arab–Russian Relations.