ABSTRACT
Failing to describe identity in positive terms, fundamentalists have only succeeded in identifying one area as the essence of Islamic identity: the private sphere. They therefore concentrate their efforts on Personal Law and on the family, which become the epitome of Islamic politics, a condensation of all other identities, and a place of refuge. Muslim Personal Laws have been at the center of Muslim identities; new Muslim Personal Laws have been passed, reinforced, or modified in ways which are highly unfavorable to women. The spirit of internationalism is to be found in military training of the Muslim youth and in setting up fundamentalist groups both for men and for women, with attached privileges. Research on the origins and circuits of the funds may allow identification of the connections between Muslim private capital, the involvement of states in promoting fundamentalist movements, and the fundamentalist groups operating locally, nationally and regionally.
