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Western Illinois University's Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) is sponsoring the seminar "ISIL/Islamic State and Law Enforcement Responses to Terrorism" from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 in Stipes Hall 121. The seminar will feature presentations from School of Law Enforcement Justice Administration (SLEJA) Professor and HSRP Director Dean Alexander and WIU SLEJA Assistant Professor Tom Meloni.
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"ISIL/Islamic State and Law Enforcement Responses to Terrorism" Seminar April 15 at WIU

April 10, 2015

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MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University's Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) is sponsoring the seminar "ISIL/Islamic State and Law Enforcement Responses to Terrorism" from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 in Stipes Hall 121. The seminar will feature presentations from School of Law Enforcement Justice Administration (SLEJA) Professor and HSRP Director Dean Alexander and WIU SLEJA Assistant Professor Tom Meloni.

Alexander will present "ISIL/Islamic State: Threats and Implications" and Meloni will present "Practical Considerations for Counterterrorism Policy."

According to Alexander, the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) that has swept into power in parts of Syria and Iraq presents an imminent danger to the global community with its capacity as an effective, ideologically motivated and bloodthirsty fighting force.

"It is expanding its territorial reach, on the ground and online. The Islamic State has taken on a quasi-state form that mixes modernity and ancient practices, while aggressively promoting sectarian violence and extremism with a decidedly apocalyptic bent. As of April 2015, the IS has established terror affiliate organizations that have claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Libya and Egypt's Sinai and has won the allegiance of al-Qaeda-linked terror groups from as far away as Algeria, Yemen and most recently Nigeria, where Boko Haram's leaders pledged fealty to the IS self-declared caliphate," Alexander explained. "Perhaps even more worrisome, the IS has been successfully radicalizing and recruiting fighters worldwide through its sophisticated brand of social media tactics and aggressive offline actions."

For more information, contact Alexander at DC-Alexander@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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