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David Myatt

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File:DavidMyatt2.jpg
David Myatt

David Wulstan Myatt (born 1950), also known as Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt, is a British neo-Nazi and Islamist, and author of numerous pamphlets and articles advocating neo-Nazism, Islamism, occultism, and what he calls "The Numinous Way of Folk Culture."

The Observer has called Myatt the "ideological heavyweight behind the ultra-violent British neo-Nazi gang Combat 18".[1] In July 2000, the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight identified him as "the most ideologically driven nazi in Britain, preaching race war and terrorism." [2] He was the first leader of the British National Socialist Movement (NSM), described by the Board of Deputies of British Jews as a "very small but very violent neo-Nazi group. Their whole programme is one of terrorism ... against Jews, against blacks and against Asians." [3]

Following his conversion to Islam in 1998, [4] Myatt became an advocate of suicide attacks, which he calls "martyrdom operations,"[5] expressed his support for Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, [6] and referred to the "hoax of the so-called Holocaust," according to The Times. [4] An April 2005 NATO workshop heard that Myatt has called on "all enemies of the Zionists to embrace the Jihad," in order to fight against Jews and the United States. [7] Political scientist George Michael writes that Myatt "has arguably done more than any other theorist to develop a synthesis of the extreme right and Islam." [8]

Myatt came to public attention in 1999 when a pamphlet he wrote, A Practical Guide to Aryan Revolution, described as a "detailed step-by-step guide for terrorist insurrection,"[9] was said to have inspired David Copeland, an NSM member, who left nailbombs in areas frequented by London's black, Asian, and gay communities.[10] Three people died and 129 were injured in the explosions, several of them losing limbs.

In addition to writing about Islam and National Socialism, Myatt has translated works by Sophocles, [11] Sappho, [12] Aeschylus, and Homer, and has written several collections of poems [13] and some science fiction, using the name D.W. Myatt. [14]

Personal life

Myatt grew up in Tanzania, where his father worked as a civil servant for the British government, and later in the Far East, where he studied the martial arts. [8] He moved to England in 1967 to complete his schooling, and has said that he began a degree in physics but did not complete it, leaving his studies to focus on his political activism. [15] He is reported to live in the Midlands and to have been married three times.

Searchlight has written of him: "He does not have the appearance of a Nazi ideologue ... [S]porting a long ginger beard, Barbour jacket, cords and a tweed flat cap, he resembles an eccentric country gentleman out for a Sunday ramble. But Myatt is anything but the country squire, for beneath this seemingly innocuous exterior is a man of extreme and calculated hatred." [16]

Political scientist George Michael has written that Myatt is an "intriguing theorist," [8] with a reported IQ of 187, [8] who has embarked over the years on a series of "Faustian quests." [8] He studied Taoism and spent time in a Buddhist and later a Christian monastery, [17] and is alleged to have explored the occult, as well as Paganism and what Michael calls "quasi-Satanic" secret societies, while remaining a committed National Socialist. [17]

Political activism

Myatt joined Colin Jordan's British Movement, a neo-Nazi group, in 1968, where he sometimes acted as Jordan's bodyguard at meetings and rallies. [18] From the 70s until the 90s, he remained involved with paramilitary and neo-Nazi organizations such as Column 88 and Combat 18, [19] [20] and was imprisoned twice for violent offenses in connection with his political activism. [8]

Myatt was the founder and first leader of the National Socialist Movement [21] of which David Copeland was a member. He also founded the neo-nazi organization the NDFM which was active in Leeds, England, in the 1970's, [22] and the neo-nazi Reichsfolk group. [23].

Michael writes that Myatt took over the leadership of Combat 18 in 1998, when Charlie Sargent, the previous leader, was jailed for murder. [8]

Alleged influence on David Copeland

In November 1997, Myatt posted an allegedly racist and anti-Semitic pamphlet he had written called Practical Guide to Aryan Revolution on a website run out of British Columbia, Canada by Bernard Klatt. The pamphlet included chapter titles such as "Assassination," "Terror Bombing," and "Racial War." [24] According to Michael Whine of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, "[t]he contents provided a detailed step-by-step guide for terrorist insurrection with advice on assassination targets, rationale for bombing and sabotage campaigns, and rules of engagement."[9]

In February 1998, British police raided Myatt's home in Worcestershire and removed his computer and files. He was subsequently charged with publishing hate material, but the case was dropped because the evidence supplied by the Canadian authorities was allegedly not enough to secure a conviction.[25]

It was this pamphlet that, in 1999, allegedly influenced David Copeland, the London nailbomber — also a member of Myatt's National Socialist Movement — who planted homemade bombs in Brixton, Brick Lane, and inside the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street in London, frequented by the black, Asian, and gay communities respectively. Friends John Light, Nick Moore, and Andrea Dykes and her unborn child died in the Admiral Duncan pub. Copeland told police he had been trying to spark a "racial war."[3]

According to the BBC's Panorama, in 1998 when Myatt was leader of the NSM, he called for "the creation of racial terror with bombs."Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

Allegations of Satanism

Myatt has been accused by Searchlight of being a Satanist, the founder and leader of the Order of Nine Angles (Anton Long), and of being insincere in his commitment to Islam.[26] He has denied the charges.

According to Jeffrey Kaplan, in his essay "Religiosity and the Radical Right: Toward the Creation of a New Ethnic Identity" in Nation and Race: "Myatt frankly states that his own long history of interaction with England's occult underground was undertaken in a clandestine effort to influence some of these adherents to adopt National Socialist beliefs."

Myatt has denied being a Satanist: "For over twenty years, journalists, and [others] have been circulating rumours and making allegations about my personal involvement with Occultism and Satanism. This is despite the fact that I have denied and do deny ever having been a 'Satanist'... These rumours and allegations were started by, and are still circulated by, my enemies for one simple reason — to try and discredit me personally. For, if I can be discredited in such a way, people will not take seriously what I have written about National-Socialism... (The National-Socialist, March 1998).

Conversion to Islam

File:MyattIslam.png
Myatt after his conversion to Islam

Myatt converted to Islam in 1998. He told writer George Michael that his decision to convert began when he took a job on a farm in England. He was working long hours in the fields and felt an affinity with nature, concluding that the sense of harmony he felt had not come about by chance. He told Michael that he was also impressed by the militancy of Islamist groups, and believed that he shared common enemies with Islam, namely "the capitalist-consumer West and international finance." [27]

Taking the Islamic name Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt, he began writing articles and posting messages on Islamic religious websites in support of the Palestinian Intifada, the Taliban, and Osama bin Laden, and in opposition to Israel, the United States, and the West, urging Muslims to take up Jihad and "destroy the evil word of Zionism." [28] [29] [30] [31]

Critics and observers have suggested that Myatt's conversion is insincere and "may be just a political ploy to advance his own failing anti-establishment agenda." [32]

In August 2004, Myatt wrote to Nick Griffin", leader of the British National Party, urging him to embrace Islam. [33] Gerry Gable, editor of Searchlight, dismissed the letter as a ploy: "Myatt is a self-publicist who has claimed to have taken up many guises, including being a monk. Satanism is probably his overriding inspiration. He still supports neo-Nazi groups and contributes to their websites. This letter is probably some kind of bluff in their favour." [34]

According to an article in The Times published on April 24, 2006, Myatt believes that: "The pure authentic Islam of the revival, which recognises practical jihad as a duty, is the only force that is capable of fighting and destroying the dishonour, the arrogance, the materialism of the West ... For the West, nothing is sacred, except perhaps Zionists, Zionism, the hoax of the so-called Holocaust, and the idols which the West and its lackeys worship, or pretend to worship, such as democracy... Jihad is our duty. If nationalists, or some of them, desire to aid us, to help us, they can do the right thing, the honourable thing, and convert, revert, to Islam — accepting the superiority of Islam over and above each and every way of the West." [4]

Michael writes that Myatt's initial euphoria about Islam after his conversion did not last long, and he has recommitted himself to National Socialism, although he still admires Islam, and still uses his Muslim name on occasion. [35]. However, Myatt has since rejected National Socialism, racism, and nationalism, in favor of his own "The Numinous Way of Folk Culture" [36] [37] [38].

"The Numinous Way of Folk Culture"

Myatt has written of what he calls "The Numinous Way of Folk Culture" that "[o]ne way of effectively combating the New World Order is by creating new rural communities inspired by honourable, rational pagan/heathen beliefs — and the Numinous Way of Folk Culture is a step toward this.[39]

He describes the "Numinous Way" as a new form of "heathenism" based on respect for the natural world and the principles of personal honour, compassion,[40] cosmic ethics, empathy,[41] loyalty to family, "folk" and community. The lifestyle is distinguished by the desire for personal freedom, the desire to learn, and a willingness to do one's communal duty. It is clear from Myatt's writings that the term "community" is defined in racial terms. He has written that those who uphold the "Numinous Way" should respect diversity and enhance their own culture while respecting the cultures of others, but that this should not lead to integration.

Notes

  1. ^ Barnett, Antony. "Right here, right now", The Observer, February 9, 2003
  2. ^ Myatt, David. "Biography", retrieved May 1, 2006.
  3. ^ a b "Panorama Program Transcript: 'The Nailbomber'". BBC. June 30, 2000. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  4. ^ a b c Woolcock, Nicola & Kennedy, Dominic. "What the neo-Nazi fanatic did next: switched to Islam", The Times, April 24, 2006
  5. ^ "Are Martyrdom Operations Lawful (According to Quran and Sunnah)?", retrieved May 1, 2006
  6. ^ Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 147.
  7. ^ Karmon, Ely. "The Middle East, Iran, Palestine: Arenas for Radical and Anti-Globalization Groups Activity".
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 142.
  9. ^ a b Whine, Michael. "Cyberspace: A New Medium for Communication, Command and Control by Extremists"
  10. ^ "Panorama Special: The Nailbomber", BBC, June 30, 2000.
  11. ^ J. Michael Walton: Found in Translation: Greek Drama in English, Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp.206, 221, 227
  12. ^ Gary Daher Canedo: Safo y Catulo: poesía amorosa de la antigüedad, Universidad Nur, 2005.
  13. ^ D.W. Myatt's publications at Amazon.co.uk.
  14. ^ Myatt, David. "Towards Identity and the Galactic Empire".
  15. ^ Searchlight, July 2000.
  16. ^ a b Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 143.
  17. ^ Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas. "Hitler's Priestess: Savitri Devi, the Hindu-Aryan Myth and Neo-Nazism", NYU Press, 2000, p.215
  18. ^ Goodrick-Clark, N. (2001) pp.215-217 Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity. (chapter 11 in particular)
  19. ^ Lowles, N. (2001) White Riot: The Violent Story of Combat 18. Milo Books, England; this edition 2003
  20. ^ Goodrick-Clark, N. (2001) p.50 Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity
  21. ^ Goodrick-Clark, N. (2001) p.217 Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity
  22. ^ Kaplan, Jeffrey. Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right, Rowman & Littlefield Pub Inc., 2000, pp. 216ff; pp. 512ff
  23. ^ Vacca, John R. "Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation", Charles River Media, 2005, p.420 ISBN 1-58450-389-0
  24. ^ "Antisemitism and Racism, United Kingdom". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  25. ^ "David Myatt and Islam: A Personal View About An Unusual Story". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  26. ^ Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 144.
  27. ^ Myatt, David. "Palestine, Islam, The West, and the Zionist Quest for World Domination".
  28. ^ Myatt, David. "Why I support Sheikh Usama bin Laden (Hafidhaullah)"
  29. ^ Myatt, David. "Authentic Islam: Or Why I Support The Taliban".
  30. ^ Myatt, David. "The Crusade War Against Islam".
  31. ^ Amardeep Bassey (February 16, 2003). "Midland Nazi turns to Islam". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  32. ^ "An Open Letter to Nick Griffin of the BNP". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  33. ^ Fionnuala Bourke (August 1, 2004). "Come and be a Muslim, Nick". Sunday Mercury. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  34. ^ Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 146.
  35. ^ "All Is Sadness". Retrieved 2006-12-07. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 6 (help)
  36. ^ "Honour, Empathy and The Question of Suffering". Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  37. ^ "A Selection of Recent Quotes". Retrieved 2006-12-07. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 4 (help)
  38. ^ "An Interview with David Myatt". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  39. ^ "Compassion, Empathy, and Honour". Retrieved 2006-07-11.
  40. ^ "A Statement for Journalists". Retrieved 2006-08-05.

References

Wikiquote has quotations related to David Myatt.

Further reading

  • Kaplan, J. (1998) "Religiosity and the Radical Right: Toward the Creation of a New Ethnic Identity" in Kaplan and Tore Bjørgo (eds.) Nation and Race: The Developing Euro-American Racist Subculture, Northeastern University Press, 1998, ISBN 1-55553-331-0.
  • Kaplan, J. (ed) (2000) Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right. Rowman & Littlefield Pub Inc., 2000; AltaMira Press. ISBN 0-7425-0340-2 pp.216ff; pp.235ff; pp.512ff
  • Ryan, Nick. (2003) Homeland: Into A World of Hate. Mainstream Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 1-84018-465-5
  • McLagan, Graeme. (2003) Killer on the Streets. John Blake Publishing. ISBN 1-904034-33-0
  • Lowles, Nick. (2003) White Riot: The Violent Story of Combat 18. Milo Books ISBN 1-903854-00-8
  • Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas. (2001) Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity. New York University Press ISBN 0-8147-3124-4 ISBN 0-8147-3155-4 (Paperback)
  • Michael, George (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 0-7006-1444-3
  • Greven, Thomas (ed) (2006) Globalisierter Rechtsextremismus? Rechtsextremismus in der Ära der Globalisierung. VS Verlag. ISBN 3-531-14514-2
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