Terrorists who falsely claim justification in Islam

What should we call terrorists, some of whom claim to be motivated by their religion? Can one be an Islamic terrorist? What about a Christian terrorist? Does what we call terrorists matter?

First, we should be clear that by US and other military definitions, terrorism means attacks on civilians, not on military forces. Sometimes attacks on civilians are carried out by official states with uniformed armies, sometimes under the cover of claims that attacks on civilians were accidental or unintended. But in my opinion, when continued experience (as in US drone attacks that keep killing Afghan or Pakistani civilians) shows that such attacks DO kill civilians, we should name such attacks "state terrorism."

But this honesty would disturb the comfort of conventional media and citizens of such states. Instead, the label "terrorist" is mostly attached only to "non-state actors" without flags or UN memberships.

It may be useful in assessing the sociology of various terrorist groups to refer to some who claim religious authority for their acts by naming their alleged religious connection, BUT it is crucial to make clear that these references do not affirm these claims. How accomplish both ends? Not by calling them 'Christian terrorists' or 'Muslim terrorists,' etc. Instead --

On condition that we are clear about the claims of all terrorists, not just Muslims, about their justification, it might make sense to note:

For al Qaeda etc, and SOME within Hamas and Hezbollah, "Terrorists who falsely claim justification in Islam"

For the KKK, some of the IRA, "pro-life" anti-abortion murderers, and the murderer who bombed the Federal building in Oklahoma, "Terrorists who falsely claim justification in Christianity"

For Baruch/ Aror Goldstein (the murderer of 29 Muslims prostrate in prayer at the mosque of the Tomb of Abraham), and various assorted Israeli settlers on the West Bank who have violently attacked Palestinians and their crops -- not all settlers -- "Terrorists who falsely claim justification in Judaism,"

For the Sikhs who assassinated Indira Gandhi (in "retaliation" for her attack on the Golden Temple, which of course was a "retaliation for their -- etc etc etc --- "Terrorists who falsely claim justification in Sikhism"

For some of the Buddhists of Sri Lanka who have raped and killed civilian members of the Tamil minority there, "Terrorists who falsely claim justification in Buddhism,"

Etc.

It is not surprising that -- given the majority ethos in American culture, identifying Christianity and perhaps Judaism with good and Islam with evil, alien -- American usage has allowed the description of some terrorists as "Muslim terrorists," but has failed to call IRA killers or those who have killed abortion providers "Christian terrorists."

Not surprising, but not acceptable. Either all terrorists who claim religious reasons should have that identity named, or none. If the former, it should be made explicit in official and unofficial statements that their self-justification on religious grounds is false in the eyes of most authorities in their own religious tradition.

More important, we should be noticing that terrorists tend to sprout because they think -- often but not always correctly -- that their community is being ruthlessly oppressed, and that more formal weaponry and the military targeting available to their oppressors is not available to them. They may justify their choice of terrorist acts in religious terms, but almost always it is the despairing sense of "oppression forever" that matters. THAT is what should be the major concern of those who want to prevent terrorism: making sure that the oppression ends -- The claim of ethnic or religious identity or justification by particular terrorists may be useful, but less important, to note and name.

Shalom, salaam, shantih --- peace, Arthur

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director, The Shalom Center http://www.theshalomcenter.org; author of Godwrestling -- Round 2 and Down-to-Earth Judaism; editor of Torah of the Earth (2 vols, eco-Jewish thought from earliest Torah to our own generation). All available from "Shouk Shalom," our on-line bookstore at --
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/602/t/4180/shop/shop.jsp?storefront_KEY=698

By Arthur Waskow  |  July 12, 2010; 9:03 PM ET  | Category:  Religious Freedom/Haman Rights , social justice , war and peace Save & Share:                 
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