Religion and

Terrorism
 Introduction
Terrorism is an ancient phenomenon, as it comes from
classical Antiquity. However, its global version only started
in the last decades of the 19th century, after the fall of Paris
Commune and the murder of the Russian tzar, Alexander
the second. Global terrorism is a phenomenon in which,
according to Rapoport, we can consider four waves, with
religious one as its present phase. A ubiquitous feature of
contemporary terrorism discourse, observable in a great
many political, academic and popular texts, is the deeply
problematic notion of ‘Islamic terrorism’, a term which
comes laden with its own set of unacknowledged
assumptions and embedded cultural narratives.
 Religion and Terrorism
Terrorism in the name of religion has
become the predominant model for political
violence in the modern world. This is not to
suggest that it is the only model because
nationalism and ideology remain as potent
catalysts for extremist behavior. However,
religious extremism has become a central
issue for the global community.
 Defination of Terrorism
“Criminal acts, including against civilians, committed
with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury,
or taking hostages, with the purpose to prove a state
terror in the general public or in a group of persons or
particular persons, intimidate population or compel a
government or an international organisation to do or to
abstain from doing any act, which constitute offences
within the scope of and as defined in the international
conventions and protocols relating to terrorism.”
UN security council resolution 1566 (2004)
 Characteristics of Religion-based
Terrorism
• War analogy
• Cosmic war
• Demonization of the enemy
• Conspiracies
• Empowering of alienated individuals
• Truth vs. lies
• Linkage to mainstream issues
 Terrorist attacks
• 12 March 1993 – 13 bombs killed 257
• 6 December 2002 – Bus bomb in Ghatkopar, killed 2
• 27 January 2003 – Bicycle bomb in Vile Parle, killed 1
• 13 March 2003 – Train bomb in Mulund, killed 10
• 28 July 2003 – Bus bomb in Ghatkopar, killed 4
• 25 August 2003 – Two Bombs near the Gateway of
India and Zaveri Bazaar, killed 50
• 11 July 2006 – Seven train bombs killed 209
• 26 November 2008 to 29 November 2008 –
Coordinated series of attacks, killed 172.
• 13 July 2011 – Bomb explosions at three locations,
killed 26