Global Terrorism:

Challenges And Responses From the Paradigm Of Islam In 21st Century

By

Muhammad Younas Daulatzai

Programe of Study: M.Phil

Supervisor: Dr. Mirwais Kasi

Department of International Relations

University of Balochistan

Session: 2017-19
Table of Contents

Section Title Page No

Title page No Page No

Table of Contents II

List of Abbreviations III

1 Introduction 01

1.1 Background of the Study 02

1.2 Problem Statement 03

1.3 Significance / Justification of the Study 04

1.4 Objectives of the Study 04

1.5 Research Questions 04

1.6 Limitation of the Study 05

2 Literature Review 05

2.1 Theoretical/Conceptual Framework 06

3 Research Methodology 07

3.1 Research Design 07

3.2 Data Collection & Variables of the Study 07

3.3 Sampling 07

3.4 Research Analysis Tools 07

References 08
List of Abbreviations

GWOT Global War On Terrorism

UNSC United Nations Security Council

USA United States Of America

PBUH Pace Be Upon Him

 1. Introduction:

With the beginning of 21st century, global terrorism is considered to be a new and

complex element impacting the world’s strategic security, political and economic

environments. The phenomena of terrorism, however, has a profound historical perspective

that can be traced back to the course of French Revolution of 1789. Since then, “the global

patterns of terrorism show that terrorism is not exclusive to any one faith, ethnic group or

ideology’’ (Ahmad, 2008).These patterns are illustrated in Fig. 01. Conversely, modern-

day terrorist enemy is mostly the embodiment of radical and violent Islamic groups like

Al-Qaeda, Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, etc. motivated by the ideology of

Jihad and Takfirism. Despite the overwhelming historical facts and the presence of other

violent groups—which profess religions other than Islam-- about terrorism, “Islamic

groups receive the most attention in the western media”( Ahmed, 2008). Resultantly,

Terrorism has technically being linked to the teachings of Quran and personality of

Muhammad (PBUH) resulting in the denouncement of Islam as a violent and expansionist

religion. There is a popular saying, “All Muslims are not terrorists but all terrorists are

Muslims.’’ In the wake of September eleven attacks on USA, the then Bush administration

declared a war officially named as “global war on terror”; the first step was to invade

Afghanistan in 2001 to cut off Al-Qaeda network followed by the invasion of Iraq in 2003

(an intrusion not permitted by the UNSC). This war on terror has an identified enemy: the

radical groups motivated by the Islamic teachings of Jihad. In this context, this paper will

strive to explore the avenues where Islam itself is in danger due to the misconceptions

about Islam caused by the manipulation and misrepresentation of Islamic teachings by any

party either Muslim organizations, non-state actors or the Western powerful states.
Secondly, this paper will consolidate its effort to chart out the domain of response from the

paradigm of Islam in 21st century to encourage peace, stability and peaceful co-existence

in the context of global terrorism.

1.1 Background of the Study

Following the debacle of Bolshevik’s communist setup in USSR and abroad in

1989 and defeat of Hitler’s Nazism in Germany in 1945, in 1990s the apparently Islamic

religious groups like Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, etc. were anticipated as a potential threat to the

democratic –liberal values of the Western hemisphere championed by USA since the end

of World War Two. George W. Bush said, ‘' this nation is at war with Islamic fascists.’’

(CNN, 2006). Mathematically and as a matter of oversimplification if ‘’A’’ is equal to ‘’B’’

and ‘’B’’ is equal ‘’C’’ then ‘’A’’ is equal to ‘’C’’. Similarly, if Al-Qaeda is motivated by

the concept of Jihad-- that is taught and recommended in Islam only in the case of self-

defense and end an oppression-- then Al-Qaeda is the legitimate representative of Islam,

Resultantly, Islam is the religion of hatred and violence that is not the case in reality. “In

this study, the author has focused on a particular aspect of Islam-- namely the concept of

Jihad – as the troublesome feature of the religion that, if permitted to flourish, poses long-

term threat to America. To rephrase this argument, Islam, a religion aimed at facilitating

the emergence of peaceful political order among its believers, cannot really achieve its

destiny unless most or all of humanity accepts its tenets or submits to the authority of its

political leadership(s)’’. (JMIC, 2004).

The decade of 1990s witnessed certain terrorist activities targeted against the

USA’s facilities mostly in the continent of Africa and Asia; 9/11 is considered to be the
culmination of the domino effect. The Bush administration declared a large scale war

against a trivial enemy. This war especially the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq proved

to be counter- productive in a sense that it caused overwhelming human rights violations

and injected a great sense of alienation in the Muslim world. Contrary to the democratic

culture, USA supported autocratic regimes in the Muslim world to strengthen her interest.

On the one hand Al-Qaeda was circulated in western media as the legitimate

representative of Ummah (Muslim community), on the other hand Islam prohibits the

killing of innocent peoples. Quran says; “killing of one human being (either Muslim or

non-Muslim) is as if killing the whole of humanity…’’.

Thus, in the light of aforementioned study background, this paper will search for

the those areas that can help us to dissociate the peaceful teaching of Islam from the self-

styled violent religious groups. After delinking these two realms, the paper will endeavor

to look for Islamic response to discourage the exploiters and encourage peaceful co-

existence.

1.2 Statement of the problem:

In the context of global terrorism we see that Islamic teachings are literally and

selectively interpreted by the self-styled non-state religious groups. The Bin laden fatwas

of 1993 and 1996 declared Jihad on America in particular and on the west in general.

However, Islam does not allow the declaration of Jihad without a formal state authority.

Therefore, in this era of globalization prompted by technological revolution

terrorism and counter-terrorism polices brought a bad name to the peaceful teachings of

Islam all over world. Where confusion is a stuff of daily routine.

“Islam is a complete code of life”. Therefore, this paper will focus on the problem where

Islam is being misrepresented by either party in this very global terrorism context in the

21st century.

1.3 Significance of the study

This study would be helpful to remove the misconception about Islam; it would

highlight the message of peace contained in the glorious teaching of Islam. Moreover, it

can equip around the Muslim world and the ordinary readers to understand the concept of

self-defense and peaceful co-existence. In this global terrorism context.

1.4 Objectives of the study

 To explore the avenues where Islam is misrepresented and/ or manipulated

by either party

 To explore the Islamic message of peace and prosperity and peaceful co-

existence.

1.5 Research Question

 Which authority can speak about Islam?

 What is the relation between Islamic normative teaching and global

terrorism?

 What is the message of Islam about war and peace in the context of global

terrorism?

 Where does Islam stand in the context of global terrorism vis-à-vis self-

defense and peaceful co-existence?

1.6 Limitation of the research

The research is limited to the phenomena of global terrorism raised in the wake of

9/11 attacks on USA and the challenges faced by Islam; how should Islam response to this

unique environment in the light of teachings of Quran, the Personality of Muhammad

(PBUH) as a political, spiritual and military leader and the other scholar in work done

regarding the spreading the peaceful message of Islam.

2. Literature Review

The western literature regarding global terrorism after 9/11 contends to convince

its readers and policy makers to emphasize the religious flavor rooted in the Islamic

concept of jihad. “America is a long-term risk… and jihad must be defeated in all its parts.

Al-Qaeda is only part of the problem.(GWOT, 2004)

The discourse on GWOT circulated through media was based on a popular saying

that “All Muslims equalizing Al-Qaeda’s point of view with that of the religious of Islam

in the western world.

No doubt, the selective and literal explanation of Islam by Al-Qaeda and

likeminded organization is portraying Islam a hostile and expansionist religion at the same

time, Islam encourages peaceful co-existence. Quran says, “There is no compulsion again.

The American strategies on GWOT reactivates the narrative of orientalism that in

return naturally allow the western masses to support their hegemonic policies. The war on
terror discourse reinforces the basic premise of orientalism, absolute difference between

Islam and the west (Jamil, 2014).

Global war on terror present terrorism as a historical. After all, terrorism was not

invented on 9/11, nor is “terrorism and ideology like communism, terrorism is a tactic.”

(Ahmad, 2008)

GWOT highly affected the Muslim community all over the world especially USA.

George Town University law professor David Cole contented that “Thousand were

detained in this blind search for terrorist without any real evidence of terrorism, and

ultimately without netting virtually and terrorist of any kind (Ahmed, 2008). In 2004

senator Jhon Kerry said “I think there has been an exaggeration about the threat of

terrorism. They [the Bush Administration] are misleading American in a profound way”.

Whether driven by politics or fear, terrorism remains a public issue. “Politician exploit it,

the media hypes it and late height comedian joke about it”. (Ahmed, 2008)

This paper will strive to remove the misconceptions about Islam and based on

manipulation and misrepresentation. Exploring the concept under the paradigm of Islam to

tackle with global terrorism in the 21st century.

2.1 Theoretical Framework

This research paper will endeavor to understand the pointed issue in a syntheses

perspective; the combination of constructive theory in internal relations and hegemonic

perspective will facilitate us to explore the challenges faced by Islam because of the global

terrorism. Additionally the hegemonic perspective will help us to understand and slice the
counter terrorism policies and actions by the western world led by USA as well as the

polices within Muslim world where USA has left no stone unturned to prop up the

autocratic regimes to materialize or interest under the banner of war and terror that proved

counterproductive in terms of human rights violations and alienating the Muslim world

specially the youth.

3. Research Methodology

The research project would be exploratory in nature based on analysis and

argumentation.

3.1 Research design

This study will be qualitative in nature. The argumentation will help us to go into

further insight.

3.2 Data collection

The research will be contingent upon the primary as well as secondary data sources.

The primary sources will include interviews with the experts and scholarly people.

Secondary resources will includes books, journal documents.

3.3 sampling

The researcher will follow chain sampling method to conduct interviews with the

experts and credible persons.

3.4 Research Analysis tools

The researcher would adopt thematic analysis tool analyze the data.
 Bibliography

 Ahmed, Parvez, ( 2008). Terror in the Name of Islam-Unholy War, Not Jihad. Case

Western Reserve Journal of International Law 39 (3). Retrieved from

http://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/jil

 Buyer, Anna. Hegemony and power in the global war on terrorism p. 1-14

 Cavatorta, Francessco. The ‘War on Terrorism’-Perspectives from Radical Islamic

Group. School of law and government, Dublin City University.

 Dobrot, Laurence,(2017). The global war terrorism: a religious war? P.1-25

Retrieved from http//www.StrategicStudiesInstitut.army.mil/

 Global war on terrorism: analyzing the strategic threat. (2004) Joint Military

Intelligence College. Discussion paper number 13. P.1.51

 Jamil, Uzma, (2014) Reading power: Muslims in the War on Terror Discourse.

Islamophobia studies journal 2 (2) p. 29-42