Published: Friday, June 14, 2013   Death by Recruitment?  Death
by Recruitment?  The death of soldier Lee Rigby outside the
Woolwich barracks in London has Britain questioning the
efficiency of their security services in monitoring Islamists to
prevent acts of violence. The British parliament has debated
internet regulation as a means to prevent radicalisation.
However, it remains possible that Lee Rigby’s death was equally
a result of MI5 recruitment processes.  In the 21st century
western intelligence agencies face particular recruitment
challenges that are unparalleled in a Muslim-majority country
like Bangladesh. Following the September 11 attacks on New York,
agencies in countries like Britain discovered a need to
exponentially improve their knowledge of Islam and Islamism,
which was arguably rudimentary.  Further, with the stage set for
rapid expansion in terms of budgets, powers and employee
numbers, the need to recruit agents from more diverse
backgrounds became immediate. Otherwise security agencies