Contemporary Salafism in the West
Ideology, Identity, and Influence Between Tradition and Transformation
On July 1st, the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University hosted a high-level panel discussion on the evolving presence of Salafism in the West. While often viewed exclusively through the narrow lens of religious rigorism, Salafism remains a complex, diverse, and contested current within Sunni Islam—one that has notably expanded in Western contexts over the past decades. This event brought together leading experts to unpack the multifaceted nature of Salafi thought, practice, and outreach across the United States and Europe.
Across its various expressions, Salafism has developed in tension with—and sometimes in reaction to—the norms, institutions, and public spaces of liberal democracies. Whether through the establishment of religious infrastructure, the representation of Muslim communities in secular societies, or debates over religious authority and legitimacy, Salafi actors have become increasingly influential in shaping contemporary Islamic discourse and identity in the West.
The conversation offered a critical and contextualized reading of how Salafi ideas are shaped, transmitted, and contested within Western environments. Particular attention was given to the decentralization of religious authority enabled by digital spaces, the rise of aestheticized and lifestyle-oriented forms of da'wa, and the adaptation of Salafi discourse to resonate with younger, globalized audiences. These dynamics were examined in relation to broader issues of integration, identity politics, securitization, and the future of Islamic authority in pluralistic societies.
The Program on Extremism hosted:
- Dr. Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Statecraft and National Security, King’s College London.
- Professor Mohamed-Ali Adraoui, Research-Professor, Georgetown University.
- Dr. Sergio Altuna Galán, Senior Research Fellow, Program on Extremism and Project Lead for TITAN.
The discussion was moderated by Jennifer Baker, Senior Research Fellow at the Program on Extremism.
On July 1, 2025, the Program on Extremism (PoE) at The George Washington University hosted a virtual panel discussion on the evolving presence of the Salafist movement in the United States and the broader West. This event was moderated by Jennifer Baker, Senior Research Fellow at PoE, and featured panelists Dr. Sergio Altuna Galán, Dr. Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, and Professor Mohamed-Ali Adaoui.
This discussion explored the evolving presence and influence of Salafism in the United States and Europe. Panelists discussed how Salafi thoughts and practices interact with democratic societies through debates over religious authority, community, and online spaces. The discussion addressed the rise of lifestyle-oriented da’wa and the appeal of Salafism among younger Muslim audiences.
Baker began the discussion by outlining Salafism as a concept. While sometimes misunderstood as a monolithic movement, Salafism encompasses a range of practices, including quiet religious observance, preaching, politics, or even violence. Baker emphasized the distinction between Salafism and jihadism. Although sometimes Salafism is conflated with violence, since selfish jihadism gets the most media attention, it is not an inherently violent movement or practice.
In recent decades, Salafist groups’ interactions in Western societies, such as the building of mosques and social services, have sparked controversy due to concerns about foreign funding and the compatibility with Western pluralistic values. The digital age has revolutionized Salafi outreach, as online communities offer new platforms to question traditional authority and practices. Muslim social media influencers use religious content in novel, personal ways, transforming how Islam is practiced and communicated.
Dr. Meleagrou-Hitchens, a fellow at the Center for Statecraft and National Security at King's College London and a lecturer in terrorism and radicalization at its War Studies Department, spoke about the changing landscape in the United States since the start of his research. His research focuses on the ideology and strategies of extremist social movements in the West with an emphasis on militant Islamists and the extreme right. In 2018, he authored a landmark report titled Salafism in America, one of the first comprehensive studies focused solely on the Salafi movement in the United States. Drawing on interviews with leading American Salafis and other primary sources, the report traces the history, ideological evolution, and different strands of Salafism - quietist, activist, and jihadist - while also examining how the movement has uniquely adapted to the American context. He traced the roots of American Salafism to the Quran and Sunnah Society (QSS) in the 1990s, which was an apolitical movement that brought leading Salafi scholars to U.S. audiences. This lack of engagement with politics and society sparked an increased desire to link geopolitical events and current events. He also discussed the rise of “post-Salafi” Americans, who rely on key scholars and the concept of “unadulterated” Islam, but who adapt the Salafist teachings to better suit American audiences. One of the most notable shifts, he argued, is the emergence of Salafi-inspired, extreme influencers, identifying Mohammed Hijab and Ali Dawah, who promote an anti-woke, socially conservative ideology similar to the extreme right in the United States.
Professor Adaoui, Research-Professor and Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellow at Georgetown University, is a historian and political scientist specializing in transnational Salafist and jihadism mobilization, U.S. foreign policy, and the Middle East. Professor Adaoui described how “post-Salafism” or “neo-Salafism” influences are increasingly cultural rather than religious. These influences are far younger than their predecessors and attract many converts through their virtual and accessible teachings. Professor Adaoui brought up how countries seek to monitor and control Salafism. In Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, to name a few, there are ongoing debates over the issue of banning Salafism. These debates raise complex questions: Can or should ideas be banned? What values do you put forth as a citizen? Your Republic or your religion? If Salafism is a pipeline to jihadism, would that justify banning certain mosques? For these reasons, governments today are struggling to find coherent solutions to these questions.
Dr. Altuna, Senior Research Fellow at PoE and Project Lead for TITAN, specializes in contemporary Islamist thought, including counternarratives and online radicalization. Dr. Altuna focused his portion of the discussion on online spheres and the digitization of religious authority and identity. When religious debates and practices moved online, it impacted how authority was perceived and how identity took shape. He said that “social media isn’t just a broadcast tool anymore. It's a battlefield for competing ideological claims.” In the online sphere, “charisma trumps credential. Aesthetics outrank jurisprudential rigor.” He introduced the concept, which he coined, “salafitness,” a growing trend among young Muslim men that blends Salafi religious rigor with physical fitness. For its adherents, fitness and strict religious devotions are mutually reinforcing obligations. Salafitness contributes to a sense of belonging and brotherhood. According to Dr. Altuna, it fits into broader Islamic narratives of solidarity, responsibility, and the disciplined body “becomes an instrument of collective welfare.” Yet, Dr. Altuna warned, it can encourage a withdrawal from mainstream society, among disenfranchised young men seeking purpose and structure.“These are not just personal lifestyle choices,” he said. “They’re building blocks for alternative communities that can eventually challenge mainstream norms.” Salafitness touches on issues of faith, masculinity, community, and modernity, embodying a paradox of community and isolation.
The panelists emphasized that Salafism is not a static ideology, but rather a movement increasingly shaped by individual experience and online community. While the message of Salafism itself is not dangerous, its adaptability makes it difficult to predict and even harder to regulate. It will continue to evolve within Western societies, raising questions about integration and the future of religious expression.