Global Islamic Terrorism involves the illegal application or the threat of force and violence against people or property, aiming to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, typically driven by political, religious, or ideological goals. Islamic terrorism, alternatively termed Islamist or radical Islamic terrorism, pertains to acts of terrorism motivated by religious beliefs, carried out by fundamentalist militant Islamists and Islamic extremists. Instances of such terrorism and resulting casualties have been primarily concentrated in eight countries where Islam is the predominant religion, namely Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria.
Evolution of Islamic Terrorism
1968-1979: The Dawn of Modern International Terrorism
- During this period, the aftermath of colonialism, unsuccessful post-colonial state-building attempts, and the establishment of Israel fueled Marxist and anti-Western movements across the Arab and Islamic world.
- Nationalist and revolutionary groups emerged, believing in the effectiveness of terrorism for achieving political goals. The focus shifted beyond immediate conflict zones.
- In the late 1960s, groups like Al Fatah and the PFLP, initially secular Palestinian movements, expanded their targets to include civilians globally. They became a blueprint for other secular militants and provided insights for future ethnic and religious movements.
1979-1991: The Afghan Jihad and State Sponsors of Terrorism
- The Iranian Islamic revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan marked a turning point. The fear of revolutionary Shia Islam spread, while the Afghan conflict (1979-1989) fueled the growth of terrorist groups.
- Key groups like Hezbollah, Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), and HAMAS were shaped by the Afghan Jihad and gained prominence.
1991-2001: The Globalization of Terror
- The collapse of post-Cold War states, combined with the proliferation of advanced weapons, created a global environment conducive to terrorism.
- Conflict-ridden areas in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Colombia, and certain African countries became havens for terrorist training and recruitment. Terrorists exploited smuggling and drug trafficking routes for operational support.
- Prominent groups during this era included Al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Lashkar-i-Taiba.
Causes of Global Islamic Terrorism
Qutbism
- Qutbism is named after Egyptian Islamist theoretician Sayyid Qutb, who wrote the manifesto
- The tenets of Qutbism are as follows: A belief that Muslims have deviated from true Islam and must return to “pure Islam” as originally practiced during the time of Muhammad.
- The need for violent jihad as well as preaching to bring back sharia law and spread Islam.
Martyrdom/Istishhad
- The “vocabulary of martyrdom and sacrifice”, videotaped pre-confession of faith by attackers have become part of “Islamic cultural consciousness”, “instantly recognizable”.
War against Islam
- A tenant of Qutbism and other militant Islamists is that Western policies and society are not just un-Islamic or exploitive, but actively anti-Islamic, or as it is sometimes described, waging a “war against Islam”.
Economic Motivation
- Following the 9/11 attack many commentators “noted the poverty of Afghanistan and concluded that herein lay the problem”.
- Blaming, at least in part, a lack of a “higher priority to health, education, and economic development” funding by richer ones”; “stagnant economies and a paucity of jobs” in poorer countries.
Western Foreign Policy
- According to a graph by U.S. State Department, terrorist attacks escalated worldwide following the United States’ 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and 2003 invasion of Iraq
- Many believe that groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS which are reacting to aggression by non-Muslim (especially US) powers, and that religious beliefs are overstated if not irrelevant in their motivation.
Islamic Terrorism in India
- Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Al Badr & Hizbul Mujahideen are militant groups seeking accession of Kashmir to Pakistan from India.
- The Lashkar leadership describes Indian and Israel regimes as the main enemies of Islam and Pakistan.
- Lashkar-e-Toiba, along with Jaish-e-Mohammed, another militant group active in Kashmir are on the United States’ foreign terrorist organizations list, and are also designated as terrorist groups by the United Kingdom, India, Australia and Pakistan.
- Some major bomb blasts and attacks in India were perpetrated by Islamic militants from Pakistan, e.g., the 2008 Mumbai attacks and 2001 Indian Parliament attack.
What has been the Impact of Islamic Terrorism?
Human Rights Violations
- It has threatened the dignity and security of human beings by endangering or taking innocent lives.
- It has created an environment that has destroyed the freedom from fear of the people, jeopardising fundamental freedoms as well.
Challenge to Governance Setup
- It has had an adverse effect on the establishment of the rule of law, undermining pluralistic civil society.
- It has caused the destruction of democratic bases of society, while destabilising legitimately constituted Government across the globe.
Cross Over Impacts
- It has resulted in drug trafficking, and illegal transfer of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well.
- Also, it is linked to the consequent commission of serious crimes such as murder, extortion, kidnapping, robbery etc.
Socio-Economic Impacts
- It has jeopardised the state relations in many cases, including cooperation for development.
Threat to National Security
- At the outset, it threatens the territorial integrity and security of states It constitutes a grave violation of the purpose and principles of the United Nations, and is a threat to International peace and security.
Countering the Threat
- Effective communication and collaboration among law enforcement, judicial, and intelligence authorities in member states is crucial for combating terrorism, tracking foreign fighters, and addressing organized crime. To enhance this, establishing a framework for interoperability among countries’ information systems managing borders, security, and migration is vital.
- Additionally, the Passenger Name Record directive plays a key role in regulating the transfer and processing of personal data from air passengers. Tackling terrorist financing involves implementing stronger anti-money laundering rules, making it challenging to hide illegal funds through fictitious companies and enhancing checks on risky third countries.
- These rules also empower financial supervision authorities, promoting better access to and exchange of information. Addressing the threat of radicalization, especially with the ease of online communication technologies, requires competent authorities to issue removal orders to service providers, compelling them to eliminate terrorist content and curb the spread of extremism.
Read Also: Indo-Islamic Architecture Style