ADVERTISEMENTS:
Under these pressing circumstances, owing to disabilities of Muslim countries and constraints imposed on them by big powers, authority of Security Council, and others, the Islamic fundamentalists are compelled to resort to the use of Terror as their only weapon. This Weapon of Terror is much more fatal, subversive, devastating and beyond the reach of enemy. It operates on lines of their past history.
This fatal weapon was used in September 11 terrorist attacks on the US World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. Since then the world under the US leadership and the UN surveillance appears to have determined to eliminate it in every possible way. To realise this objective, the world has amassed immense sources through diplomatic means, made military deployment and placed intelligence all over the globe for fighting this menace.
Terrorism has been now accepted with one voice more dangerous than a conventional or a nuclear war. To eradicate it, every time, soon after the occurrence of some terrorist attack, the relevant bodies of the UN and groups of nations pass resolution after resolution to destroy its remnants.
But havocs perpetrated by the terrorists do not stop. Most of the world leaders fully know the names, forms and areas of various terrorist organisations, but remain unable to eradicate them. They only declare them ‘illegal’ and make the list of terrorist organisations lengthier.
Security forces and intelligence agencies do take action, kill and catch hold of some of terrorists here and there, but their real godfathers, preachers and trainers remain unhurt, protected, and continue to operate terrorism as usual. Terrorists are caught and killed, but ‘terror’ remains. In fact, world leaders, including the political leaders of the country concerned, talk only about the ‘terrorists’ and their terrorist acts. They look at the outcome of ‘terror’ or ‘terrorism’ only. They do not go to the form and making of ‘terror’ itself.
One has to understand the ‘theory’ of terror. To know it one has to discover the factors, causes, elements and attributes of ‘terror’. Their understanding will tell us who, what and why of ‘terror’ itself. ‘Terror’ is the key or core element, while ‘terrorism’ is its practice, planning and ideology. Both operate together. One cannot exist without the other. Often people consider them as identical, one and the same. They are two close but different concepts.
Theory of ‘Terror’:
Terrorism is defined as “The threat of violence, individual acts of violence or campaign of violence designed to instill fear to terrorise” (M. Jenkins). Its key element is ‘terror’. Terror literally means ‘extreme fear’. But in actual practice it stands for all acts committed to create ‘terror’ in the minds of people. This is done by committing heinous crimes like murder, arson, blasting of public utilities and the like. It is naked, blatant, cruel and inhuman act of killing of innocent people.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Terror is an aftermath, a creation, or outcome or result of certain acts. It is produced by killing some innocent or unaware persons, burning and destroying property, or blasting bridges, buildings and public utilities. Some trained persons who use deadly weapons for killing harmless persons create terror. By doing so the killers or the arsonists intend to invoke terror in the minds the people. The terrorised ‘people’ include both the rulers and the ruled. By doing so they intend to force change the government, faith or ideology of the people, destroy economy, occupy territory and make life miserable.
There are many kinds, forms and varieties of ‘terror’. Thus, in the production of jehadi or contemporary ‘terror’, there is (i) a person/s with intuition or divine direction to commit acts of terror; (ii) a firm belief in the specific tenets of his religion, particularly, to kill non-believers; (iii) existence of motivation that he is selected and trained by senior clerics/terrorists to kill, blast and destroy others and bring about terror around this great mission; (iv) non-believers or opponents of religion would not change or convert to his beliefs, therefore, to be killed by him; (v) already fixed targets for killing, and burning, (v) availability of guidance and directions, and protection of his family by the mentors, (vi) an environment of utmost faith for performing such missions, acts of fanaticism and making of sacrifice, (vii) bestowal of public honour and guarantee and security of members of the family of the killer, and attainment of heaven on being killed (martyrdom), (viii) avoidance of direct and open fight with the enemy, and, (ix) support and connivance of the members of his community within the country and outside.
Theory of ‘Terror’ involves religion, philosophy and rationale of realising the mission by killing others. It also keeps the doer ready to die during the encounter gladly.
In terror, the killer operates like a human bomb. Human bombs have no face, but doubles up in power as a bomb. It is often unfailing and more destructive than a nuclear bomb. The individuals operating as human bombs have no fear. They just have an obsession that drives them through hell (this world), in search of heaven. They feel proud of their act even when are caught or imprisoned.
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While using the term ‘terror’, common man understands little about the real event. The victim does not know that he is being killed as a means to intimidate or coerce a particular society or a government.
He is totally ignorant of this unbelievable fact that there are persons who turn so intolerant on the basis of their understanding of some sacred books or religion that they kill everyone not holding views like them. They have been taught to do such planned killings as a result of some uncompromising policy and ideology developed by the mentors. To the victims of terrorism, they are but murderers, killers, inhuman demons, ferocious beasts etc.
Those who commit such acts are known as ‘terrorists ‘Religion-based terrorists call themselves ‘jehadis’, ‘mujahedeens’, ‘warriors of their religion’, ‘soldiers of Islam’ etc., but they are ‘terrorists’: murderers and killers. All acts of ‘terror’ are totally against law, human rights, morality and democracy.
In the practice of terrorism, a terrorist is encouraged to think himself as a hero, superman and martyr. That feeling makes him to die for the cause. Blind faith prompts him to kill others. Terrorists are ruthless killers of the worst type. They embody nothing but hate and revenge. Terrorists are anti-God, anti-man, anti-culture and enemy of the family, state and society. They do not allow any other view to prevail. The whole world, particularly, the hostile nations have to abide by them. Their words and actions are the final verdicts upon earth. State laws everywhere consider them as terrorist acts.
Those who commit the acts of terrorism are not individuals or scattered persons. They are well-organised, equipped, trained, and financed by governments and non-governmental organisations. This makes, every kind of big and small terrorism, a kind of war on non-conventional lines.
If a terrorist is compelled to live in a state, or a nation or a community different from his own, he stands at war with it. Even in a Muslim state, which is not run according to the tenets of Islam, he feels himself at war with it. He may keep patience and show forbearance till the opportune moment arrives to transform that polity into the version of their religion.
Thus, jehadi terror provides a perfect theory of action built up as a kind of Divine Dispensation. This equips terrorists with an unfailing weapon to get success here and hereafter. It is enabling many Islamic states and organisations to fight against any kind of state howsoever big and resourceful it might be. Terror can use any strategy, means, method, style, tactic or pause to realise its goal. Operators of Terror find themselves fully authorised to acquire and use WMDs, including nuclear weapons.
As the number of terrorists and terrorist organisations increases, it becomes more dangerous and more devastating to humanity and world peace. Even the Islamic countries where the terrorists operate, have begun to fear them. In fact, terrorism wants and plans to have its influence and control over the ruling elements of each and every government, including its army.
Improvement in the quality of education, training, quality of weapons, and strategy brings the terrorists closer to success. With the advancement of science, IT, and military hardware, terrorists are able to choose their targets at will.
Of late, their hands are in search of crude or latest technology of nuclear bomb. It is reported that they are able to buy, steal or smuggle technology of nuclear weapons. They function with overt and covert support of their governments, its army and intelligence, community, and disgruntled elements of hostile countries.
As Muslims having sympathy to them are scattered over in all developing and developed countries, the terrorists get local support and shelter quite easily. As terrorism can be maintained at a very low cost, it is used as a common tool by the terrorists almost everywhere.
Terrorism as Ideology of Terror:
So far, no attempt has been made for ascertaining the common elements or features of various forms of terrorism so that they may be made the basis of law or objective criteria to determine, define and declare particular acts as ‘terrorism’.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
To escape from the charge of bias or hostility against a particular religion, all forms of terrorism, such as, Sunni, Shia, Catholic, Palestinian, Jewish, Maoist, Naxalite, ultra nationalistic and the like should be taken into consideration. This should be in the agenda of the UN and the patterns of action against it be decided by the world body in advance.
‘Terrorism’ is an ideology which stands for the ideas, policies, planning, organising, collecting arms and money, preaching and training persons, using media and publication towards creation of’ terror’. Terrorism is justification, advocacy, planning, and motivation, procuring weapons and using them for killing innocent and unconcerned persons for creating terror. It is conducted to realise the desired goals.
It is a war by proxy launched by some interested group, community, party, state or nation. Terrorism is an advanced stage of extremism, fanaticism and fundamentalism. Terrorism is the mental makeup of a terrorist.
The term ‘terrorism’ also comes out of the root word ‘terror’. It does not spell out what actually it is. Its use hides all ugly, inhuman, heinous and bloody acts committed by killers and murderers of human beings. Plainly speaking, terrorism should be outrightly spoken of as ‘killerism’ and ‘murderism’. It is simply and directly killing of innocent human beings.
Terrorism is not new. What is new is the combination of terrorism, fanaticism and the technological capability to wreck vast and inhumane devastation, whether by act of terror or any other means. For understanding and explaining Terrorism, one needs to know the making of Terrorism.