Terror and terrorism is perhaps the most widely used in today's world. While there's actually no single definition of what "terrorism" means and still there are many, and often, they're incompatible. One most appropriate being and used by law enforcement agencies is : "Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."
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Trying to intimidate and subjugate people and government by group of people through force is terrorism and religious fervor attached to it is the new phenomenon terrorizing humanity in today's era. The unfortunate truth staring mankind is the overzealous vociferous religious bigots(although in minority) prevalent in all religions today. These minority religious fanatics are boisterous and get emboldened due to indifference of silent majority.
These religious extremists aren't confined to one religious group marking there presence in almost all religious groups. Atrocities by extremists Buddhists elements in Burma have made life miserable for Rohingya Muslims, similar stories emerged from Sri lanka where religious minorities were persecuted by extremist Buddhists. Terrorizing Hindu and Sikh communities in USA, Europe ,Australia by Christian bigots doesn't raises eyebrows anymore, vandalism of temples and gurudwara isn't rare. Religious tensions fomented by Hindu and Muslim radicals and resulting riots is an interminable process in some parts of India. All these riots uproot inhabitants and causes friction in the overall mindset of population besides causing irreparable loss to life and property.
The biggest threat to humanity in 21st century is emanating from religious extremism and the biggest organized extremists groups have emerged from Islamic radical groups. These Islamic extremist groups have pan-Islamic ambitions and are incredibly brutal in action .These Islamic fundamentalist groups earlier operated from different Islamic nations and are very well funded but now have established there own country by occupying vast territory between Iraq and Syria. Islamic fundamentalists have ambitions of uniting all muslim countries to form a caliphate initially and then subjugating the world through intimidation and convert the world to Islam.
These Islamic radicals believe in the ultra orthodox interpretation of Koran and justify its implementation through violence. These groups gets fundings and unending stream of volunteers to fight for ignominious cause of there from different sources. Moving on from video and audio cassettes, DVDs today internet has become the most efficient tool for Islamic terrorists for propaganda and publicity. The optimal use of internet by glorifying there abominable acts helps terrorists in alluring gullible people to there ranks. The Internet has arguably replaced the role of the printed media in the field of terrorism, terrorists can take whatever message and images they decide to straight to the online targeted audience, which is global in reach. Internet has become a potent tool for incitement to commit acts of terrorism, radicalization and recruitment of terrorists. Lately terrorists use the Internet ranging from psychological warfare and propaganda to highly instrumental uses such as fundraising, recruitment, data mining, and coordination of actions.
Another tool to further there propaganda by Islamic terrorists is media coverage. In this time and age of 24*7 media coverage Islamic terror groups have successfully exploited it to hilt. They have successfully publicized their political causes, inform both friends and foes about the motives for terrorist deeds, and play victim thus explaining their rationale for resorting to violence. Media has worked as a tool by terrorists to legitimize there ideology create an atmosphere of fear and suspicion, legitimize their acts, and reach greater audiences. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the current leader of al-Qaeda, argues that “[al-Qaeda is] in a battle, and more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media. [Al-Qaeda is] in a media battle for the hearts and minds of the ummah”.
Lone wolf Islamic terror attacks is another byproduct of radicalizing through cyberspace . Most of these Islamic terrorists who operate independently are self radicalized through internet propaganda machinery of Islamic radical groups. Their barbaric acts could have been planned in a single day, have no past history of violence and thus difficult to detect yet they have an impact that provokes as much publicity and fear as any terrorist act around the world. The Islamic terrorist organization that recruits lone terrorists through the Internet are the most difficult and dangerous to confront and only by preaching tolerance such self radicalized terrorist violence can be reduced.
The key to defeating terrorism is prompt action by international community by solving the societal and political failures in terror infested countries. It's equally important to destroy the well oiled propaganda machinery by constant coordinated action to thwart attempts to enroll new recruits by terrorists.The financiers of terror groups are equally dangerous and steps should be taken to throttle finances of terrorists. Terrorism is aggression against society and harsh punishment should be handed over to perpetrators of heinous crime. It will act as deterrent for those who harm innocent people or threaten to destabilize the foundation of society.Equal emphasis should be given on reforming education in madrasa. More skill & modern knowledge should be imparted besides religious knowledge to pupils for better job prospects. Economic disparity creates a fertile ground among young restless population towards victimhood and thus enticed towards extremism hence a comprehensive pro active military, political, financial and reformist strategy is necessary to combat scourge of terrorism erupting around the world.
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