ABSTRACT
Islam in Thailand is not a monolithic entity nor a totally separatist immersed movement against the Thai state as depicted by the majority of studies by security and terrorism experts. Rather, Islam in Thailand is made up of different ethno-political, sectarian, and linguistic unity and diversity from the north to the deep southern provinces of the country. Historical sources point out that Islam had already arrived in Siam – the former name of Thailand during the Sukhothai period (1238–1583). And since the transformation of Thailand into a constitutional monarchical system in 1932, Islam in Thailand has developed its own face and identity concerning the management of Muslim affairs at national and provincial levels through the offices of the Chularajmontri - Shaikh al-Islam as the official head of the Thai Muslim community; the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand; and the Provincial Councils of Islamic Affairs. Thai Muslims have also played an active role in the national political process during the country’s democratic and non-democratic political eras. The majority of Malay populate the deep southern provinces which were annexed by Siam through the 1909 Anglo–Siamese treaty between Great Britain and the Kingdom of Siam and have witnessed 100 plus years of irredentist or violent separatist movement based on the distinct historical, linguistic, ethnic, cultural, and religious basis of the region – which shows no sign of abatement.
