Introduction

- Kill them all, God will recognize his own -

oly Terror The implications of terrorism motivated by a religious imperative. The truth is religion and terrorism shares a long history. What is particularly

striking about this sort of terrorism is their different value systems, legitimation, and justification concepts of morality. For the terrorists, who perform terrorism in the name of religion see such actions as a divine duty executed in direct response to some theological demand or imperative and thereby it is unconstrained by political, moral or practical factors. Whereas secular terrorists, even if they have the capacity to do so, rarely attempt indiscriminate killing on a massive scale because such tactics are not consonant with their political aims and therefore are regarded as counterproductive, if not immoral, religious terrorists often seek the elimination of broadly defined categories of enemies and accordingly regard such large-scale violence not only as morally justified but as a necessary expedient for the attainment of their goals. Religious fanaticism prompts more than 20 percent of international terrorist incidents and is largely responsible for the increasingly violent and ruthless nature of terrorism. We have to acknowledge the fact, that the world we live in is not safe at all. These terrorists are everywhere and they will do whatever in their power to establish their beliefs. The main religious fanaticisms that are known as of today are the Muslims and the Jews. And of course then there are the others who are engaged in secular terrorist activities to fulfill their other needs.
1

Terrorism

he definition of terrorism has proved controversial. Various legal systems and government agencies use different definitions of terrorism in their national legislation. Moreover, the International community has been slow to formulate a universally agreed, legally binding definition of this crime. These difficulties arise from the fact that the term "terrorism" is politically and emotionally charged. In this regard, Angus Martyn, briefing the Australian Parliament, stated that "The international community has never succeeded in developing an accepted comprehensive definition of terrorism. During the 1970s and 1980s, the United Nations attempts to define the term foundered mainly due to differences of opinion between various members about the use of violence in the context of conflicts over national liberation and self determination.

Number of terrorist groups (1960s -200s) These divergences have made it impossible for the United Nations to conclude a Comprehensive Convention on International terrorism that incorporates a single, allencompassing, and legally binding, definition of terrorism. Nonetheless, the international community has adopted a series of sectoral conventions that define and criminalize various types of terrorist activities. Moreover, since 1994, the United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly condemned terrorist acts using the following political description of terrorism: "Criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstance 2

unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or any other nature that may be invoked to justify them."

Conclusion

The primary factors which differentiate religious from secular terrorism can also serve to make religious terrorism much more dangerous. When violence is a sacramental act rather than a tactic for achieving political goals, there are no moral limits to what might be done and seemingly little chance for a negotiated settlement. When violence is designed to eliminate an enemy from the face of the earth, genocide cant be far behind. So, If anyone thinks that the above scenario is unreal and never will happen, think again?
What would a New Yorker have said on September 10th, 2001, if someone had told him/her what was going to happen to the Big Apple on September 11th? Beloved brothers and sisters loyal to the True and Living God, the God of Love and Mercy, join us in prayers, and then, some more prayer for the conversion of Religious Fanatics. Only God can deliver them from the power of Satan. He taught us to "Pray for our enemies and persecutors" and we obey while claiming His promises for the deliverance of those for whom there is still hope. - Thank You Dr.Ahmed

References
1. Bruce Hoffman, Inside Terrorism (New York: Columbia Univ. Press, 1998). 2. PaulWilkinson, Terrorist Targets and Tactics: New Risks to World Order,

(Washington: Research Institute for the Study of Conflict and Terrorism, December 1990).
3. Hoffman, Inside Terrorism. 4. David C. Rapoport, Fear and Trembling: Terrorism in Three Religious Traditions,

American Political 5. Bruce Hoffman, Holy Terror: The Implications of Terrorism Motivated by a Religious Imperative,
6. Mark Juergensmeyer, Terror Mandated by God, Terrorism and Political Violence. 7. D. W. Brackett, Holy Terror: Armageddon in Tokyo (New York: Weatherhill, 1996).

8. Ellens J. Harold, Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity,

and Islam.

9. Farr, Thomas. "Islam's Way to Freedom." 10. Johnson, J. T. "Opinion, Jihad and Just War." 11. Selengut, Charles. Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence. Lanham:
Rowman & Littlefield, 2008.

12. Shafer, Grant. "Hell, Martyrdom, and War: Violence in Early Christianity." 13. Steffen, Lloyd. Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious
Violence. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.

14. Tanks deployed over Dhaka Mutiny. Reuters. 26 February 2009.