Since 2002, suicide attacks have become a growing terror in Pakistan and many other surrounding countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. The number of incidents have reached an upwards of 300, leaving over 5,000 injured and 12,000 dead in Pakistan alone (Pakistan Data Sheets). These statistics only give a tiny glimpse into the bigger problem that is suicide bombing. Hundreds upon thousands of people are having their lives ripped away everyday simply because someone chose to take it. Someone chose to believe in a cause that they believe is greater than humanity and decided to kill people over it. It is obvious that this is affecting millions per year, if not by death then by injury or loss. These bombings invoke fear in the people, creating a divide between the people. Additionally it is harming the economy in Pakistan by killing off valuable workmen and tradesmen. These radical groups, such as the Pakistan Taliban, who want to kill are not letting up and they won’t until they get what they want, which is supreme control. “Despite the Pakistan government's efforts to reach out to the Taliban for peace talks, there has been no letup in attacks on civilians and security forces by the Pakistani Taliban” this means that they mean business and the government can’t let them pursue their reign of terror any longer (“Taliban Attacks Continue in Pakistan Amid Efforts for Peace”).
There are several reasons along with the thirst of power that contribute to the Taliban and other radical groups’ capability. What could conjure someone to kill thousands of people? It could be they want to escape this world and the easiest way is to join one of these groups, because they feel like they have a reason other than personal gain. Some of the more Isl...
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Taliban Attacks Continue in Pakistan Amid Efforts for Peace.” VOA. Voice of America, 20 Jan. 2014. Web. 10 Feb 2014.
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What internally drives a terrorist’s motivation varies from subject to subject. While the average American citizen would likely be quick to point terrorists hate the western way of life and what it represents, the issue is far more complex. Simon Cottee’s article “What Motivates Terrorists?” (2015), looks at various levels of motivation. Prior definitions of terrorism looked at the defining cause as possibly psychological abnormalities within in the individual (Cottee, 2015). As studies have evolved, the focus has shifted to the environment in which the terrorist is surrounded. While certainly there is cases in which a person who is mentally unstable could be an ideal target for terrorist propaganda, the number of cases involving mental
In Brym’s article he discusses what research has shown about the motivations of suicide bombers. Brym and my fellow classmate explained to me how suicide bombers may be motivated by politics, religion, or retaliatory aims (Brym, Kyra Howard). Both Brym and Howard helped me view the issue of suicide bombers in multiple
In Robert Pape’s Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism he investigates the three hundred and fifteen suicide terrorist attacks that have occurred from its beginning in 1980 up until 2003. By examining these attacks he explains the three logics behind suicide terrorism, the strategic, the social, and the individual logic. Pape uses Dying to Win as a tool to educate the public on suicide terrorism. He hopes people will begin to understand that it is not irrational, but requires reason and strategy. He brings to light that suicide terrorism is not directly correlated with Islamic fundamentalism, but rather political objectives, trying to put to rest many preconceived notions. By understanding the logic behind suicide terrorism people can work together to prevent it from happening in the future. After reading this book it is clear that suicide terrorism is not random, but does demand some thought in order for it to work.
There is no easy answer for why people kill. The reasons can span from political ties to different cultural upbringings, but the main reasons lie within the axons and dendrites of the brain. Psychology plays a huge role in explaining how and why one can justify mass murder in their minds. There is a phenomenon known as group polarization that can describe the reasons behind the extreme mindsets of the Nazis, Indonesian paramilitary forces, and members of the Hutu extremist group, akazu.
Juergensmeyer mentions that these suicide bombers are not thought of as such by the extreme Islamic groups, but rather as “self-chosen martyrs," a term brought up by Dr. Rantisi, which defines these people as soldiers in a great war who honorably gave up their lives for the sake of their community and religion. As important this sense of martyrdom is in radical Islam, so is the idea of enemies. The primary enemy is always the religious rival or local political authority that directly threatens the activist group (Radical Islams) and what they stand for. The Secondary Enemy is a moderate leader on ones (Radical Islams) own side. They are seeing as protecting the Primary enemy, for example a moderate leader in the West attempting to have good relations with America. More than any other nation, the US is viewed as the enemy for radical Islamics, clearly shown by the 9/11 attacks on the Word Trade
Emile Durkheim’s theory paints a clear narrative for the type of suicide used by suicide bombers, so the question is - is suicide acceptable under Islamic religion; one answer is how it is illustrated and how you interpret the Qur’an. Radical Islamists have convoluted the traditional Islamic laws of warfare to make suicide bombings reasonable. According to the website TheReligionofPeace.com, “the point of the bomber isn’t suicide – it is to kill infidels in battle. This is not just permitted by Muhammad, but encouraged with liberal promises of earthly rewards in heaven, including food and sex.” Zarein Ahmedzay pleaded guilty to terrorist charges involving a possible suicide mission on the United Sates in 2009. He quoted the Qur’an during his plea to justify his decision, “Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and wealth for the price of Paradise, to fight in the way of Allah, to kill and get killed. It is a promise binding on the truth in the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’an.” (New York Post) Some Muslims feel suicide bombings are a sin and a recent development of the twentieth century. They claim suicide bombings are not
aims. This is because in most cases, it is the only way they can be
Living in America, we are given the freedom to practice the faith of our choice, but at the same time it does not give us the right to violate our laws or to organize, finance or develop a group whose motives are to attack and destroy the country they claim to be a citizen of, while practicing that faith or religion. We are now in the midst of a movement where homegrown American jihad will be the destruction of the United States.
“Terrorism involves the use of violence by an organization other than a national government to cause intimidation or fear among a target audience;” at least, this is how Pape (2003) defines terrorism in his article “The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism” (343). The goal of this article by Pape is to discuss suicide terrorism and how it “follows a strategic logic, one specifically designed to coerce modern liberal democracies to make significant territorial concessions” (343). Similar to Pape, Bloom (2004) and Horowitz (2010) also delve into the exponential increase of suicide terrorism and why it occurs. Although Pape, Bloom, and Horowitz concur that suicide terrorism is increasing, they disagree why it is so prominent. While the arguments presented from each of these researchers is powerful and certainly plausible, suicide terrorism is in fact not irrational, but strategic and is most often caused by state occupation and, when organized, aimed specifically at democracies.
However the Qur’an never once states that killing innocent people over political debates and the rights of women in these third world countries is acceptable. But as you can see regardless of this the Taliban took a murderous approach in order to make a stand against what they believe in, using what they believe were their rights given to them by the readings in the Qur’an. Although this is an extreme case it goes to show the extreme lengths people are willing to go to in order to gain power by shutting others off. Which further shows that Religion can be a helpful cover and be a powerful motivator for the evil- hearted. Most importantly the fact that religions effects on society can be so broad, really says more about human psychology than it does about religion. As quoted by David Hart,” Religious conviction often provides the sole compelling reason for refusing to kill... Or for seeking peace... the truth is that religion and irreligion are cultural variables but killing is a human
On September 11, 2001, the destruction of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon changed the mindset and the opinion of nearly every American on the one of the most vital issues in the 21st century: terrorism (Hoffman 2). Before one can begin to analyze how the United States should combat such a perverse method of political change, one must first begin to understand what terrorism is, where it is derived from, and why there is terrorism. These issues are essential in America’s analysis of this phenomenon that has revolutionized its foreign policy and changed America’s stance in the world.
Political violence is the leading cause of wars today. Personal agendas have led to many of the political objectives that cause violence today this has caused many problems throughout the world and will continue to do so until a solution to this issue is found. Political objectives have been advanced involuntarily dependent upon the kind of government a nation exercises. For instance, in a democratic nation political groups must worry about convincing the majority in order to advance ethically. Those who try to influence the majority through acts of violence are considered today as “terror” organizations. Though perhaps if it were not because of the recent 9/11 terror attacks that maybe such warrants would not be seen as terror attacks, but instead the result of partisan advancement. Acts of terrorism have been around throughout the evolution of mankind. Terror attacks have even been traced back as far as the religious roots of an ancient middle east (Ross, Will Terrorism End?, 2006). However as man evolved, so did terrorism. Today’s extremism involves some of the main characteristics of ancient terrorism, but much more developed. Political advancement is no longer the root cause of terrorism acts. Instead influxes of “holy” wars have been appended the prior definition of terrorism. Mistakably modern terrorism has been confused for Political violence with political objectives, but research will establish that the nature of terrorism is fundamentally different from other forms of political violence.
When we find ourselves having to ask these kinds of questions, we need to understand what the motivating factor is that drives them to kill.
Islam, the religion of peace and harmony has unfortunately been corrupted by the deadly terrorist acts which have taken place around the world during these past couple of years. Today the people in this world view Islam as a threatening and terrorist religion. Often, the killing of innocent people, suicidal bombings and terrorist attacks are carried out people who tend to claim themselves as Muslims, though in reality, the dissident actions of these so called named Muslims have nothing to do with Islam. Among all the attributes of God, the Holy Book (Quran) mentions that: he is the source of peace and bestower of security (59:23) people must establish peace in their life. Terrorism what a complete disgrace, however people forget one thing that terrorism is not only found in Islam yet also continued in other religions and countries. But then why Islam? Is it because terrorism has been related to Islam just like peace is to war. The terrorist that claim they are Muslim with pride are oblivious, ignorant and it shows their lack of knowledge. The Holy Quran clearly states that:
Terrorism in Pakistan has affected many lives, families, societies, states, countries, and the world. Innocent lives have been taken away from God's world because terrorists are trying to make a point to specific societies. These points are mainly political, but result in death of many lives from the act of violence. Pakistani terrorism has occurred internationally and nationally. Catholics do not agree with these acts of terrorism because they result in the death of people. Catholics also believe that there is another way to settle international disputes over politics. Terrorism can be stopped, if and only if people, governments, and societies take action into making peace in our world.