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WASHINGTON - Osama bin Laden may be the leading symbol of Islamist militancy but the al Qaeda leader wields less influence over Islamist ideology than more obscure religious thinkers, according to a study issued yesterday.
It also found that Ayman al-Zawahri, bin Laden's second-in-command, appears to be insignificant among Islamist intellectuals despite his image as a driving force behind al Qaeda.
Instead, the Militant Ideology Atlas, compiled by the Combating Terrorism Centre at West Point, showed Palestinian cleric Mohammed al-Maqdisi as the most influential living Islamist thinker. Maqdisi is in prison in Jordan.
The study examined popular books and articles posted on al Qaeda websites over the past year. Bin Laden was among nine authors tied for fourth place on the list.
- REUTERS
