Religious terrorism
Religious terrorism refers to
terrorism justified or motivated by
religion and is a form of
religious violence. Further items often neglected in opposing views about terror are; 1) the rights of "innocent third parties" who are tragically manipulated or sacrificed as pawns in political conflicts; and 2) the deception which ferments at the core of terrorism. Deception masks itself behind various strategies of propaganda and indoctrination. Whatever their motives, fabricated threats lie at the essence of effective terrorist tactics, religious or political. Lies about intentions to wreak chaos may generate fears comparable to physical devastation. In short, at the critical nucleus of terror lie the mesmerizing powers of propaganda and indoctrination.
Organizations dedicated to
Christian terrorism:
*
Nagaland Rebels: (1948–present) Active in predominantly Christian state in Hindu India. Involved in several bombings in 2004. Goal: Independence from Hindu India after annexing parts of neighboring Indian states and
Burma if it has Christian majority.
* The second
Ku Klux Klan: while mainly concerned about race was exclusively
Protestant and did target (Irish and Hispanic)
Catholics.
*
Army of God: Christian theocracy group that supports and involves itself in terrorist activity.
*
Lord's Resistance Army*
Westboro Baptist Church: an organization whose stated theology recommends rejoicing when sinners are victims of tragedy, violence or suffering, and who pray for the destruction of every individual not in their church.[
1]
*
Christian Identity: a movement consisting of at least 35 hate groups as of 2005, some of which are responsible for violent crimes, and some of which assert that Christ will not return to earth until all Jews and other so-called Satanic individuals are eliminated.[
2]
Organizations involved in
Islamist terrorism:
*
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG): Separatist. Aims for the establishment of an
Islamic state in the Southern
Philippines.
*
Al-Gama'at al-Islamiya (GI): The violent overthrow of the
Egyptian Government and establishment of an
Islamic state and the removal of Western influence from the Arab world.
*
Al-Jihad: Aims for violent overthrow of the
Egyptian government and the establishment of an
Islamic state in
Egypt, destruction of
U.S and
Israeli interests.
*
Al Qaida: Led by Osama Bin Laden, its aims are the expulsion of Western forces from Saudi Arabia, overthrow of the
House of Saud,and the destruction of
Israel and governments that support Israeli foreign policy.
*
Ansar al-Islam(AI): Aims to create an
Islamic state in Iraq; alleged link with Al-Qaeda.
*
Armed Islamic Group (Groupe Islamique Armée) (GIA): The aim of the GIA is the violent overthrow of the
Algerian government and the creation an Islamic state in Algeria.
*
Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ): The aim of the EIJ is to overthrow the
Egyptian Government and replace it with an
Islamic state, global Jihad against non-Muslims societies.
*
Hamas: Islamic organization based in
Gaza City with the aim of the destruction of Israel and the creation of an Islamic state in its place. Considered to be terrorist by Israel, the United States and the EU.
*Islamic Army of Aden (IAA): The IAA's aim is to overthrow the Yemeni government and resist U.S. interests in the region.
*
Islamic Jihad*
Hezbollah: Considered a terrorist group by several states. It seeks the destruction of Israel.
*Jaish e Mohammed (JeM): JeM seeks separation of
Kashmir from
Indian control.
*
Jeemah Islamiyah (JI): JI's aim is the creation of a unified
Islamic state in
Singapore,
Malaysia,
Indonesia and the Southern
Philippines.
*
Lashkar e Tayyaba (LT): LT seeks an independent Kashmir and reestablishment of Islamic rule over India.
*
Jaish e Mohammed (JeM): JeM seeks separation of
Kashmir from
Indian control.
*
Jeemah Islamiyah (JI): JI's aim is the creation of a unified
Islamic state in
Singapore,
Malaysia,
Indonesia and the Southern
Philippines.
*
Moro Islamic Liberation Front: Aims to create Islamic state in Mindanao, Philippines.
*
Salafist Group for Call and Combat (Groupe Salafiste pour la Predication et le Combat) (GSPC): Its aim is to create an
Islamic state in
Algeria.
The following groups were all started or branched off from those started by
Meir Kahane:
*
Jewish Defense League: A
vigilante group based in the
United States. Although several members have been charged or convicted with offenses related to the handling of explosives, the group is not thought to have any current connection to terrorism. [
3]
*
Kach and
Kahane Chai: (defunct)
Israel and
United States.
*
Gush Emunim Underground: (1979-1984) Sometimes called the (Jewish Terror Organization), formed by prominent members of
Gush Emunim. [
4]
*
Babbar Khalsa: (Based in Pakistan)- conducted the 1981
Indian Airlines hijacking.
*
ISYF: International Sikh Youth Federation banned by the
United States and
Canada but renamed Sikh Federation UK
*
Khalistan Zindabad Force: (based in Jammu Kashmir)-
*
Khalistan Commando Force*
Khalistan Liberation Force*
Dal Khalsa*
Crusades*
Indoctrination*
Propaganda*
Religious Wars*
From Bhindranwale to Bin Laden: The Rise of Religious Violence, University of California*
Sikh Terrorism in Punjab, Human Rights Watch*
Human Rights First, formerly the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights*
The HOPE for Darfur Campaign
