The Religion of Islam
Fundamentalism: The Roots of
Terrorism
Bryce Kelley
Medford Area Senior High School
Islamic Fundamentalism
• Radical Utopian Movement
• Qur’an is the bases for all
(Political, Economic, Social,
etc.)
• Every government is corrupt
and must be replaced with a
Islamic Religious Government.
• Do not believe in Democracy
– Some cases ok
Democracy vs. Dictatorship
Islam vs. Democracy
Islamic Fundamentalism
• Anti-Semitic (Jewish)
• Believe in myths
– Jewish organization controls the world
– No Jews died in Holocaust or World Trade
Center.
– Zionist groups kidnap Muslim babies and use
blood for sacrifices.
• Anti-Western Establishment
– Crusades are an example of West trying to
kill off Muslims
• A farce…More Christians died of disease and
starvation. Some murder, but not a lot.
Islamic Fundamentalism
• Biggest threat is not U.S. Military.
– Western Corporations
• Ayatollah Khomeini (Iran)
– We are not afraid of the U.S. military,
intervention, or economic sanctions. We
are afraid of western universities (ideas)
• Taliban (Afghanistan) calls for arrest
of Madonna / Michael Jackson
• Blue Jeans
– Prohibitive
• Temptation is the fundamental
problem
Islamic Fundamentalism
• Americans are perceived as a
threat.
– Fundamentalists feel embattled
– Threatened by the west
• Ultimately struggling against the
dramatic changes brought about
by secularism and modernism.
• Very difficult for peace to win
out
– Confident in victory
Terrorism
Terrorist
What Comes To Mind?
Terrorism Defined
• Webster’s: the use of
threats or force to
demoralize, intimidate,
and subjugate, especially
as a political weapon.
• World Book: the use of
threat or violence to
create fear and alarm.
What is Terrorism
• A complicated
phenomenon.
• Form of political
violence.
• Species of psychological
warfare.
• Symbolism
• Publicity for change
Classification of Terrorism
Criminal
Political
Sub-state
State
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Social Revolutionary
National Separatist
Religious Fundamentalist
New Religions
Right Wing
Single Issue
Psychological
State
Supported
Social Revolutionist
Nationalist Separatist
Irish Republican Army
Fidel Castro, Cuba
Religious Fundamentalist
New Relgion
David Koresh, Branch Davidians
Waco, Texas
Osama Bin Laden
Right Wing
Single Issue
Neo-Nazi’s and Ku Klux Klan
Eric Rudolph, 1998 Birmingham
Alabama, Abortion Clinic bombing.
The Goal of Terrorism
• Terrorists are convinced
they are acting on behalf
of the moral character of
the group.
• “Agents of
Righteousness” in the
battle between darkness
and “truth.”
• The cause is justification
for violence.
• The cause is an outlet for
anger.
• Oulet for anger.
• Convenient vehicle for
change.
• Stirs up enthusiasm and
excitement.
• Sources of hope for the
future.
• Provides a sense of power
• A sense of importance
• Overcome feeling of
incompetence (STRONG!)
Characteristics of Terrorist
Organizations
• Most are small with 100 members or less
• Tight knit, radical organizations
• Relatively little training and use unsophisticated
equipment
• Today, we see more loosely knit groups with
branches in other countries (Taliban)
• Ethnically and politically homogenous
• Often made up of friends and relatives, so difficult to
infiltrate
• Seldom operate from one location
• Funded by crime / drugs
Why become a Terrorist?
• Often caused by:
– Poverty
– Lack of education
– Environment
– Entitlement
– Perceived importance of standard
of living
– Anger
– Lack of Alternative
– Protection from threat (Real or
perceived)
– Anger
What draws them in?
• What we need to understand is not why
bombers do it, but how they are recruited and
trained.
• Bottom Line: A meaningful death is better than
a pointless life.
• “His life is not cheap because he is fearless or
brave. He offers the only thing he has.”
» Muslim Engineering Student
Motivation
• Keys to paradise
• Direct path to heaven
• Promise of no pain and an end
to suffering
• Rewards to family
– You are a martyr
– Family is taken care of
financially
• Fame and Glory
“This is not suicide. Suicide is selfish,
reflects mental weakness. This is “itishad”
(martyrdom or self-sacfrice in the service of
Allah.” - Interviewed Terrorist
Terrorist Profile: Old vs. New
Israel Bombers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
17 -22 years old
Male, single, young
Uneducated
Unemployed
Dispirited youth
Bleak future
Recruited hours before
“Brainwashed” for honor and
family status
Not left alone until act complete
New Terrorists
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
28 -35 years old
Male, married, older
Have higher education
Financially comfortable
From middle class families
Lived in west exposed to
opportunity
Blended in with society
Ignore the dress, customs, and
grooming of traditional Muslims
Left alone “far away” for years
Not “brainwashed,” but rather
“true believers.”
The Goal of Jihad
• “Jihad:” “holy war,” “righteous struggle” against the
Western world.
– To endeavor, to strive, to struggle
• Fundamentalist Islamic hatred for the West.
“And what is wrong with you that you not
fight in the cause of Allah, and for those
weak, ill-treated and oppressed young men,
women, and children, who’s cry is, “Our
Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people
are oppressors; and raise us from You one
who will protect, and raise us from You one
who will help.”
(Soorah an-Nissan’(4):75)
The Goal of Jihad
• Bin Laden: “The mission is to fight the
Pagans all together, and fight them until
there is no more turmoil or oppression.”
• Bin Laden, 1998: “In compliance with God’s
order, we issue the following fatwa to all
Muslims: The ruling to kill Americans and
their allies – civilians and military – is an
individual duty for every Muslim…This is in
accordance with the words of the Almighty
God.”