Dr Mohamed Kirat
By Dr Mohamed Kirat
Once again terrorism strikes strongly without warning and without mercy. Terrorists hit wherever and whenever they want to. Everybody and every nation is threatened and there is no difference between the great powers and small countries. All are threatened and all are helpless to avoid terrorist savagery and brutality. The brutal attack on the magazine “Charlie Hebdo” is not a surprise or something new to the world of terrorism. Over the past decade, thousands of terrorist acts have been perpetrated in all continents.
Everyone condemned the French magazine attack. Islamic associations in France and in the rest of the world were among the first to denounce the act and declare that Islam has nothing to do with it. International organisations and associations like the press and trade unions all over the world, as well as heads of state and human rights organisations from all over the globe denounced the savagery.
Such acts naturally increase the hatred and resentment and tension and discord among people and nations, religions and civilisations. Throughout history, civilisations were built in an atmosphere of diversity, tolerance and respect for others’ opinions, and not hatred and murder. Dealing with any dissenting opinion must be based on dialogue and debate, tolerance and understanding and not killing.
Terrorism has become a phenomenon that worries every nation. It’s escalating and expanding very fast. Almost every single day we hear and read about a terrorist act somewhere in this world. Killing of innocent people and the burning and destruction of property and infrastructure are the usual targets of terrorists. The question here is what are the causes of terrorism? Who is responsible? And how to
combat it.
The phenomenon is very complex and multifaceted. There are political, economic, religious, cultural and historical causes that breed terrorism. Condemnation of terrorism is not going to put an end to this crucial problem in anyway.
So far, the international community with its armada of organisations and associations has failed to develop a comprehensive, thorough and clear definition of terrorism and so far it has not been dealing with the phenomenon in an efficient way. As far as the international community is failing to eliminate and exterminate the causes of terrorism, the phenomenon is there to stay.
Terrorists are human beings like the rest of us but may differ from others because of so many societal problems and issues. They may be subjected to injustice, marginalisation, and so on. In many parts of the world there are minorities, oppressed and marginalised people who are deprived of a decent living and of the basic freedoms.
Internationally, political and economic relations are characterised by a world system based on extortion, exploitation and inequality. The perfect solution to deal with terrorism is to study its causes carefully, systematically and scientifically. There is no solution to the phenomenon without diagnosing the causes and finding the right solutions to combat it. Today we can find several types and forms of
terrorism.
Intellectual terrorism, for example, is the imposition of ideologies and ideas on others through propaganda and technological media power. The media today is playing a very destructive role through stereotypes, propaganda and manipulation. Instead of fostering peace, harmony and understanding among people, civilisations, nations and religions, they are fabricating and inventing a reality that leads countries and people of the world to hatred, racism and misunderstanding and antagonism.
Terrorism has become a global phenomenon and seriously threatens the security of every country in the world regardless of size and power. The events of September 11 are still stuck in the minds of many. What happened in Paris a few days ago shows a big country being affected by international terrorism. Intelligence statistics show that there are more than 3,000 young Europeans fighting for the Islamic State. Fighters from France alone numbered 1,300. This raises a pivotal question. Where are those responsible for antiterrorism operations.
The perpetrators of the terrorist attack on “Charlie Hebdo” have been in Yemen where they got their training and the money to execute the attack.
History takes us back to the Algerian crisis of 1990-2000 when Algerian terrorists were erring in Britain, France, Belgium, Germany and many other European countries raising money and collecting donations to establish the “Islamic state” in Algeria.
In “Fins bury Park” mosque in London, funds were collected and Fatwas were imposed by Abu Hamza Al Masri and other terror theorists to kill innocent Algerians for the sake of the Islamic state with the complicity of Scotland Yard.
European countries were watching such activities and allowing terrorists to circulate and act freely under the pretext of political asylum and freedom of action and expression.
The question here is where were the European countries when 3,000 youngsters (terrorists) left Europe for Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
These Europeans are going to perpetuate terrorist acts in Middle Eastern countries and going back to Europe to execute the plans of IS and Al Qaeda. Instead of condemning terrorism, European countries should focus on addressing the real causes that lead thousands of youth into delinquency and to join terrorist organisations.
The growth of Islamophobia in Europe these days is a critical issue that must be addressed and studied in an effective way. These days, there is a serious problem of integration, tolerance and harmony in most European countries where scores of minorities, ethnic groups and religions live side by side. Racism, intolerance and segregation lead to extremism, and delinquency.
Europe today, more than ever before, should bear responsibility and must address the real causes of terrorism. Addressing such causes in a professional way will help a lot in getting rid of terrorism. Karl Marx once called terrorists ‘dangerous dreamers of the absolute’.
Religious groups often claim to be in possession of absolute truth, while those outside the group have not yet seen the ‘light’ or are part of the forces of ‘darkness’. Many acts of violence which we consider ‘immoral’ as a means to achieve an end, are, in the view of the religious or ideologically motivated terrorist, justified by the absolute end for which the terrorist purports to fight.
The writer is a Professor of Public Relations and Mass Communication at the College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University.
By Dr Mohamed Kirat
Once again terrorism strikes strongly without warning and without mercy. Terrorists hit wherever and whenever they want to. Everybody and every nation is threatened and there is no difference between the great powers and small countries. All are threatened and all are helpless to avoid terrorist savagery and brutality. The brutal attack on the magazine “Charlie Hebdo” is not a surprise or something new to the world of terrorism. Over the past decade, thousands of terrorist acts have been perpetrated in all continents.
Everyone condemned the French magazine attack. Islamic associations in France and in the rest of the world were among the first to denounce the act and declare that Islam has nothing to do with it. International organisations and associations like the press and trade unions all over the world, as well as heads of state and human rights organisations from all over the globe denounced the savagery.
Such acts naturally increase the hatred and resentment and tension and discord among people and nations, religions and civilisations. Throughout history, civilisations were built in an atmosphere of diversity, tolerance and respect for others’ opinions, and not hatred and murder. Dealing with any dissenting opinion must be based on dialogue and debate, tolerance and understanding and not killing.
Terrorism has become a phenomenon that worries every nation. It’s escalating and expanding very fast. Almost every single day we hear and read about a terrorist act somewhere in this world. Killing of innocent people and the burning and destruction of property and infrastructure are the usual targets of terrorists. The question here is what are the causes of terrorism? Who is responsible? And how to
combat it.
The phenomenon is very complex and multifaceted. There are political, economic, religious, cultural and historical causes that breed terrorism. Condemnation of terrorism is not going to put an end to this crucial problem in anyway.
So far, the international community with its armada of organisations and associations has failed to develop a comprehensive, thorough and clear definition of terrorism and so far it has not been dealing with the phenomenon in an efficient way. As far as the international community is failing to eliminate and exterminate the causes of terrorism, the phenomenon is there to stay.
Terrorists are human beings like the rest of us but may differ from others because of so many societal problems and issues. They may be subjected to injustice, marginalisation, and so on. In many parts of the world there are minorities, oppressed and marginalised people who are deprived of a decent living and of the basic freedoms.
Internationally, political and economic relations are characterised by a world system based on extortion, exploitation and inequality. The perfect solution to deal with terrorism is to study its causes carefully, systematically and scientifically. There is no solution to the phenomenon without diagnosing the causes and finding the right solutions to combat it. Today we can find several types and forms of
terrorism.
Intellectual terrorism, for example, is the imposition of ideologies and ideas on others through propaganda and technological media power. The media today is playing a very destructive role through stereotypes, propaganda and manipulation. Instead of fostering peace, harmony and understanding among people, civilisations, nations and religions, they are fabricating and inventing a reality that leads countries and people of the world to hatred, racism and misunderstanding and antagonism.
Terrorism has become a global phenomenon and seriously threatens the security of every country in the world regardless of size and power. The events of September 11 are still stuck in the minds of many. What happened in Paris a few days ago shows a big country being affected by international terrorism. Intelligence statistics show that there are more than 3,000 young Europeans fighting for the Islamic State. Fighters from France alone numbered 1,300. This raises a pivotal question. Where are those responsible for antiterrorism operations.
The perpetrators of the terrorist attack on “Charlie Hebdo” have been in Yemen where they got their training and the money to execute the attack.
History takes us back to the Algerian crisis of 1990-2000 when Algerian terrorists were erring in Britain, France, Belgium, Germany and many other European countries raising money and collecting donations to establish the “Islamic state” in Algeria.
In “Fins bury Park” mosque in London, funds were collected and Fatwas were imposed by Abu Hamza Al Masri and other terror theorists to kill innocent Algerians for the sake of the Islamic state with the complicity of Scotland Yard.
European countries were watching such activities and allowing terrorists to circulate and act freely under the pretext of political asylum and freedom of action and expression.
The question here is where were the European countries when 3,000 youngsters (terrorists) left Europe for Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
These Europeans are going to perpetuate terrorist acts in Middle Eastern countries and going back to Europe to execute the plans of IS and Al Qaeda. Instead of condemning terrorism, European countries should focus on addressing the real causes that lead thousands of youth into delinquency and to join terrorist organisations.
The growth of Islamophobia in Europe these days is a critical issue that must be addressed and studied in an effective way. These days, there is a serious problem of integration, tolerance and harmony in most European countries where scores of minorities, ethnic groups and religions live side by side. Racism, intolerance and segregation lead to extremism, and delinquency.
Europe today, more than ever before, should bear responsibility and must address the real causes of terrorism. Addressing such causes in a professional way will help a lot in getting rid of terrorism. Karl Marx once called terrorists ‘dangerous dreamers of the absolute’.
Religious groups often claim to be in possession of absolute truth, while those outside the group have not yet seen the ‘light’ or are part of the forces of ‘darkness’. Many acts of violence which we consider ‘immoral’ as a means to achieve an end, are, in the view of the religious or ideologically motivated terrorist, justified by the absolute end for which the terrorist purports to fight.
The writer is a Professor of Public Relations and Mass Communication at the College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University.
