BY SAL SAYGIN SIMSEK (February 23, 2026)

“Islamism” refers to political movements or ideologies that seek to shape public life and governance according to Islamic norms or law (distinct from the religion of Islam itself, which is the faith practiced by Muslims). This summary distinguishes between mainstream Muslim life, Islamist socio-political currents, extremist organizations, and broader societal reactions. Islam as a religion and the majority of American Muslims is distinct from Islamism as a political ideology. The latter only represents a small subset of voices linked to political objectives.

Islamism is broadly used to describe political movements or ideologies that advocate varying degrees of public or political role for Islamic law and values. It ranges from non-violent advocacy for Muslim civic engagement to more radical aims of governance based on Islamic law. In U.S. policy discourse, “Islamism” is sometimes discussed alongside concerns about how certain global movements (e.g., the Muslim Brotherhood) and their ideological networks influence civic or political engagement.

Some organizations in the U.S. are seen by critics as linked ideologically to global Islamist ideas, such as the Muslim Brotherhood network. Debates continue in U.S. policy and public discourse about whether groups such as Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) or other civic organizations have ideological ties to Islamist movements. In late 2025 and early 2026, several U.S. state-level actions (e.g., in Texas and Florida) have labeled CAIR and branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. Violent Islamist extremist groups that seek or have sought to impose religious rule through force (e.g., al-Qaeda, ISIS) are primarily foreign entities designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the U.S. government.

2025 Annual Threat Assessment (U.S. Intelligence Community)

• The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) remains one of the most comprehensive federal evaluations of threats facing the U.S.
• It highlights that foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) such as al-Qa‘ida and ISIS continue to hold intent to target the U.S. and U.S. interests overseas, even if their operational reach has been weakened relative to past years.
• The report underscores cooperation among transnational criminal and terrorist networks, which complicates traditional counterterrorism efforts. 

Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Threat Assessment (2025)

• The DHS Homeland Threat Assessment (2025) — the department’s flagship threat evaluation — assesses that domestic and foreign violent extremists will continue to advocate violence against critical infrastructure and symbolic targets.
• Foreign terrorist groups, including those historically linked to jihadist movements (ISIS, al-Qa‘ida), are noted for their enduring intent to inspire attacks, even as their territorial reach abroad has fluctuated. 

National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletins

• In June 2025, DHS issued an NTAS bulletin warning of a “heightened threat environment” following U.S. military strikes connected to the Iran conflict, noting increased risks including low-level cyber attacks and threats to U.S. networks. 
• Periodic NTAS advisories continue to emphasize specific threat dynamics, even when no long-term elevated alert level is in place. 

House Homeland Security “Threat Snapshot” (Dec 2025)

• In late 2025, the House Committee on Homeland Security released an updated terror threat snapshot after its Worldwide Threats hearing. It emphasized:
  • Resurgent foreign jihadist networks
  • Rise in homegrown and domestic radicalization
  • Online radicalization fueling violence and extremist recruitment
• Committee testimony reflected evolving concerns about ideological threats on U.S. soil, particularly tied to online spaces.

Global Terrorism Threat Assessment 2025 (CSIS)

• The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published a global terrorism assessment noting that terrorism remains a threat to U.S. citizens and interests abroad, even amid broader strategic distractions and shifting resource levels.

Operational Context: Public Safety Alerts (2025)

• FBI/DHS warnings in 2025 highlighted specific security concerns for public events (e.g., holiday celebrations) where lone actors or small extremist sympathizers might attempt attacks. 
• DHS public reports also noted unspecified “possible threats” in the context of high-profile gatherings.

Like any political ideology in America, Islamist ideas (where present) spread primarily through public speeches, books and religious literature, online articles and blogs, university discussions, community forums and public area prayers. This falls under First Amendment protections unless it crosses into incitement or material support for terrorism. There is an important distinction that most American Muslim civic organizations focus on civil rights, religious freedom, or community services, not political theocracy.

Political ideologies, including Islamist variants, often spread through perceived foreign policy grievances, global conflicts (Middle East, etc.), social alienation or discrimination experiences, and echo chambers reinforcing identity narratives. This pattern mirrors radicalization pathways in many types of extremism.

Foreign organizations attempt influence through online propaganda in English, recruitment messaging targeting Western audiences, and encrypted peer networks.

Several media resources claim that Mayor Mamdani’s Squad & Sharia Law “MPC’s” are replacing the NYPD. Muslim-led community patrol efforts are volunteer, unarmed, civilian patrols focused on community safety, support, and cooperation with law enforcement and residents. Muslim Community Patrol & Services (MCPS) is a volunteer nonprofit organization based in Brooklyn (and surrounding neighborhoods) composed of Muslim Americans who patrol their communities to promote safety and help residents. They drive unarmed civilian patrol vehicles, often marked but not official police cars, to observe neighborhoods and offer help. Their mission includes crime deterrence, community support, and outreach. Members provide liaison services with the NYPD, acting as a bridge between residents and police when needed. They are trained in de-escalation, first aid, mental health support, and basic safety practices. They also offer social services, including language support, counseling, and assistance in accessing resources like housing or healthcare. 

On Friday, February 20, 2026, hundreds to thousands of Muslims gathered in Times Square, New York City, to perform Taraweeh prayers — the special congregational night prayer observed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The event also included iftar (breaking the daily fast at sunset) and free meals distributed to attendees. Attendees gathered along Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Times Square.  Organizers provided approximately 1,500 free iftar meals for those breaking their fast. It was largely a religious and community gathering, with Quran recitations and prayers led by volunteers or community prayer leaders. Social media posts accompanying video clips showed participants chanting Allahu Akbar during prayer. According to local observers and social media postings related to the event, some Americans reportedly embraced Islam at the gathering.

Lots of Americans are cautious that Islamists want to replace civil courts with Sharia courts, Islamist political parties advocating theocratic governance, parallel governance structures, and coordinated Islamist takeover strategies inside U.S. institutions. The U.S. constitutional system (separation of church and state, judicial review, federalism) would block such efforts.