Al-qaeda and the nature of religious terrorism pdf

Al qaedas ideology was islamist, but its techniques and ideas were western. Al qaeda activists both enhanced this new decentralized nature and contributed to the emergence of. It argues that a distinction must be made between the ultimate aims and the immediate objectives of religiousterrorists, and that while the ultimate aims will be religiously formulated, the immediate objectives will often be found to be almost purely political. Which of the following is the best description of the nature of terrorism. This document is an archived copy of an older adl report and may not reflect the most current facts or developments related to its subject matter. Since its founding in 1988, alqaeda has played a role in innumerable terrorist attacks, and is most notoriously responsible for the multiple attacks on. How radicalization to terrorism occurs in the united. The fact that the most notorious instances of contemporary terrorism have a religious dimension, notwithstanding their political aims, should serve to remind us that this has also been true historically of most forms of terrorism, such as that of the jewish zealots of the. Defining and distinguishing secular and religious terrorism jstor. The manual was found in a computer file described as the military series related to the declaration of jihad. Thus, violent terrorist acts are viewed as evidence of religious piety devotion, and selfsacrifice by carrying out a suicide bombing, for example is praised as a way to get to paradise. Apparently prepared by his colleagues in the al qaeda network, it instructed him and his fellow activists how to. Al qaeda arabic for the base is a complex international islamic terrorist network made up of regional affiliate organizations and clandestine cells. Alqaeda and the nature of religious terrorism 799 of these three groups, the thugs emerge as purely religious but perhaps not as terrorists, the zealots emerge as religious and political, and the assassins emerge as political and religious.

Nowhere is this clearer than in contemporary statements on al qaeda. Terrorism scholars are divided over whether terrorism is an effective tactic. Al qaeda has inspired islamic fundamentalist revolutionaries and terrorists in. Religion in the new global war mark juergensmeyer when mohammed atta boarded the airline on september 11, 2001 that soon thereafter slammed into the world trade center towers, he left behind a manual of instruction. Osama bin laden founded alqaeda during the latter stages of the sovietafghan war with the goal of waging global jihad. Religion can be both a primary and secondary motive for terrorist groups. The jihadi threat united states institute of peace.

The nature of those interventions should be informed by the systematic study of the. Sedgwick, m alqaeda and the nature of religious terrorism. It is the very core of the groups political, social, and revolutionary agenda. Second religious terrorism that doesnt have such a worldly goal and that strives for a higher abstract sacred goal that is impossible to reach wilkinson, 1992. Even though its immediate objectives are political rather than religious, alqaeda is a distinctively islamic group. He is professor of arab and islamic studies at aarhus university in denmark and chair of the nordic society for middle eastern studies. This is not to suggest that it is the only model because nationalism and ideology remain as potent catalysts for extremist behavior. Alqaeda, an islamist terrorist network striving to undermine u. It focuses on the function that religion plays in legitimising violence. The rise of religious radicalism in the arab world. Defining terrorism the task of defining terrorism is complicated, but absolutely necessary in. However, the fact that only a small minority of muslims around the world support or are actively involved in these kinds of attacks, raises questions of whether religion is the sole motivator behind terrorism, and.

Department of history, american university in cairo, cairo, egypt. One traditional definition of terrorism is, the use of violence or threat to use of violence inducing fear, for attaining certain political goals. In contrast to the terrorism of the 1960s and 1970s, new terrorism had cultural and religious matrices. Defining and distinguishing secular and religious terrorism. It is commonly believed that religion is what motivates terrorist organizations such as alqaeda and its associated organizations, to perpetrate deadly attacks against civilians. The moral logic and growth of suicide terrorism spring 2006 pdf. It is the incarnation of an organised violence and an act of brutality leading to massive killing of innocent human beings. Alqaeda members believe that a christianjewish alliance is conspiring to destroy islam. Al qaeda is believed to have been behind both attacks on the world trade center 1993 and 2001 and the 1998 bombings of two u. The evolving, protean nature of terrorism is precisely why relatively com mon, and on. Religious terrorism t errorism in the name of religion has become the predominant model for political violence in the modern world. The jihadi threat isis, alqaeda, and beyond robin wright united states institute of peace woodrow wilson center j. It argues that a distinction must be made between the ultimate aims and the immediate objectives of religious terrorists, and that while the ultimate aims will be religiously formulated.

Alqaeda and the nature of religious terrorism webs. But, in fact, the al qaeda terrorists were psychologically. This study examines why ordinary people sympathize with a terrorist network in mena. While alqaeda conducted one major attack every year prior to 911, alqaeda and its associated groups have conducted one attack every three months since 911. Al qaeda not only desires the sharia to be applied everywhere, but. In the wake of 911, the world struggles to understand religious terrorism its motivations, its aims, and the degree of the danger it poses. Sedgwick 2004 explains that while secular terrorists infl ict harm on a system that is already good, religious terrorists seek radical changes in the. The study ends with an assessment of the possible future of terrorism alqaeda, in particular and the variables that influence it.

Mark sedgwick born london, england, 20 july 1960 is a british historian specialising in the study of traditionalism, islam, sufi mysticism, and terrorism. It argues that a distinction must be made between the ultimate aims and the immediate objectives of religious terrorists, and that while the ultimate aims will be religiously formulated, the immediate objectives will often be found to be almost purely political. Al qaeda arabic for the base is a loosely knit terrorist network that facilitates the activities of likeminded militant islamic groups in more than 60 countries around the globe. Holding literalist religious outlook resonating with alqaedas marginal interpretation of islam constant, it is maintained that antiamericanism and its varieties. As individuals relationships with others who support terrorism become stronger, they may begin separating. In the modern era, religious terrorism has increased in its frequency, scale of. Al qaeda and affiliates congressional research service 25.

Ramifications for a centralized international system 27 hierarchal terrorist organizations such as hamas and hezbollah have much different leadership roles than those of al qaeda. Al qaeda and the nature of religious terrorism request pdf. Al qaeda on september 11, 2001, two hijacked passenger planes. Religious terrorism is typically characterised as acts of unrestrained, irrational and indiscriminant violence, thus offering few if any policy options for counterterrorism measures. What makes fundamentalism different from other religious expressions. Background and issues for congress congressional research service 1 introduction since the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001 911, domestic terrorists people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from u. Religious terrorism it is important to realize that while, many view religious terrorism as a new phenomenon, it is one of the oldest sources of conflict and terrorism in the world. Al qaeda is not interested in any laws made by human beings. With the re emergence of religious motivations for terrorism over the last twenty odd years it would seem logical to accept some connection between religion and terrorism. What was the american governments response to the terrorist group alqaeda. Although it is the most hunted terrorist group in history, the campaign of holy war unleashed by alqaeda is likely to outlive itself and the current generation of islamists. The leader of hizbul islam, sheikh hassan aweys, who is on the u.

Riyadh forum on countering extremism and fighting terrorism 2017 5 the nature of extremism and the future of terrorism following the recent surge of terrorist activities worldwide, the kingdom of saudi arabia, along with 41 islamic countries, has formed the islamic military counter terrorism. Several al qaeda statements have addressed the motives for the 1998 embassy bombings and other terrorist operations, but relatively few statements have been made regarding al qaedas strategic goals in planning and executing the september 11, 2001, attacks on new york and washington. Terrorism is not an ideology, and alqaedas ideology of seeking a talibanlike world order is its source of weakness in the muslim world, not its source of strength. It is an era where terrorist orgs such as al qaeda aq want access to wmd in order to kill as many of its enemy us as possible. Alqaeda and the islamic state in comparative perspective. Their ferocity as well as the ability to maintain and grow selfsustaining branches within. The nature of extremism and the future of terrorism. Alqaeda is the most famous recent example of an older phenomenon.

An increasingly concerted international war on terrorism. The first i call political religious terrorism, the second milleniaristic terrorism. Alqaeda is a transnational extremist salafist militant organization founded in 1988 by osama. After the 1993 attack, the symbolism of the world trade center took on a significance far beyond itself. Alqaeda defector alfadl, who was a former member of qatar charity, testified in court that abdullah mohammed yusef, who served as qatar charitys director, was affiliated to alqaeda and simultaneously to the national islamic front, a political group that gave alqaeda leader osama bin laden harbor in sudan in the early 1990s. Disagreement derives from the fact that the objectives of terrorist groups are often highly contested.

Selected literature on terrorism and religion jstor. The role al qaeda plays in cyberterrorism small wars journal. The perfect law, gods law, is present in the quran and the hadith the sayings and deeds of muhammad and should be applied to all things. Berger international centre for counter terrorism the hague william braniff start consortium, university of maryland cole bunzel incepr ton univ ersity daniel byman brookings institution and georgetown university jennifer cafarella. However, religious extremism has become a central issue for the global community. This article examines the nature of religious terrorism, principally with reference to alqaeda.

What is the connection between religion and terrorism. The role al qaeda plays in cyberterrorism lyda tesauro according to the united states department of state, al qaeda is a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the immigration and nationality act. Osama bin laden and the remaining alqaeda leadership, are. The attached manual was located by the manchester england. Al qaeda ideologies, aims, beliefs and motivations. The al qaeda manual the attached manual was located by the manchester england metropolitan police during a search of an al qaeda members home.