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Terrorism

Caless (2012) describes terrorism since ” the threat or use of physical violence to further a political goal for modify by inducing widespread fear”. However , authorities have been discussing over a clear definition intended for terrorism for more than 100 years. Although the word was initially used over 200 yrs ago when discussing the Reign of Dread (Whitaker, 2001).

Consequently, there have been over 95 definitions offered for terrorism (Laqueur, 1977, cited in Martin, 2013). Alex Schmid’s (2004) study also demonstrates the lack of quality surrounding the definition.

And most specialists believe that a great impartial and universal recognized definition are never agreed upon (Ganor, 2002). With all the lack of clearness surrounding the definition, a further query arises, who will be classed as being a terrorist? This is certainly reflected in the well known phrase “one mans freedom mma fighter, is another man’s terrorist. ” (Gerald Seymour, 1975, cited in Ganor, 2002). Total, it is agreed, that this depends on the subjective point of view of the individual (Ganor, 2002, Knutson, 2008, Raja, 2007).

The needed War cortège is an “ideal and moralistic philosophy” (Martin, 2013). It asks questions such as “what types of power are morally acceptable? inches and “who can morally be thought as an foe? ” This kind of notion is normally used by ideological and religious extremists, in order to justify their own acts of extreme violence. A chief example of religious extremists is a , jihadi Islamic fundamentalists’, the term jihad means a sacred “struggle” but is definitely manifested simply by some major Muslim clerics as a o war and therefore perceived that their conflict is a “just war” (Martin, 2013).

This paper can endeavour to resolve the question, Do University College or university London (UCL) further radicalise Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab? There are many arguments, theories and investigations encircling this query, many of which will be analysed throughout. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (born 22 December 1986) is known as a Nigerian Islamist who attempted to detonate plastic-type explosives in the underwear while travelling coming from Amsterdam to Detroit, on Christmas Day 2009, around the Northwest Airlines Flight 253. In January 2005 Abdulmutallab joined a great Islamic discussion board under the pen name “Farouk1986” (Now Public, 2009).

He usually contributed to the forum. His postings normally gave guidance to different forum users, although once in a while he portrayed more personal views. These types of included his “jihad fantasies”, describing just how “Muslims will certainly win and rule the world” and prays to Allah to “unite all of us Muslims and present us win over people who do not believe”. The majority of his postings demonstrate his isolation and his fight to contain his “sexual drive”, and he goes on to urge fellow community forum users to limit their very own activities to “Islamically good” and to only “hang around with great Muslims whom enjoy studying”.

Throughout his postings inside the forum he maintains that he is memorising the Quran (Islamic Discussion board, 2005). These postings illustrate that Abdulmutallab’s views on the Islamic faith, are very similar to Salafism or Olivier Roy’s neo-fundamentalism (see: Social Research Research Council). This is proven with his fixation on personal faith, and is also described when he praises Shaykhs Saud as-Shuraim and Abdul Rahman as Sudais (Islamic Discussion board, 2005). One more radical Muslim he describes is Abdullah el-Faisal, who is currently in prison in the UK for impacting on his proponents to murder Jews, Hindus and People in america (Forest, 2012).

Some of the media (Gardham, 2009) focused on Abdulmutallab’s love intended for football and this is obviously seen inside his postings online. Nevertheless , by The fall of 15th 2005, he had flipped against that stating “Let’s save our honor and religion trying to stay away from football and do sports activities that are even more Islamically beneficial¦ running, paintball, archery (or any other sport of the like that teaches [how to] concentrate on and aim).  (Islamic Forum, 2005). There are many different ideas as to wherever Abdulmutallab was further radicalised, the one that will be discussed in this paper is the possibility hat University College or university London (UCL) and it’s Islamic Society had been the perpetrators. During the analysis of the tried attack of Flight 253, the University College of London (UCL) had held their own exploration of their Islamic Society and although the facts holds firmly against them, as will be seen through this daily news, they came to their own summary that there was “no evidence to suggest both that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalised while a student at UCL, or that conditions for UCL during that time or perhaps subsequently had been conducive towards the radicalisation of students. (UCL, 2010). Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab began college or university, in September 2005, throughout a peak of Islamist activity in the UK, there are events organised by Ikhwan (Ikhwan Net, 2005)and Jamaat-e-Islami inspired groups that were becoming held every week and their effect over British Islam was steadily increasing (Hitchens, 2010). This year is an important one, as the breakthrough of the 1st Islamic militant groups in Bangladesh (Kabir, 2005) been seen in and Islam became the state religion of Iraq (Islamopedia Online).

United kingdom Islamists had been exploiting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and implicating the Western government authorities with the “war on Islam and Muslims,  (Hitchens, 2010). In respect to Islamist’s, Western Muslims, had a obligation to stand for their religion and fight using calm methods (O’Connor, 2012). The “Stop Law enforcement officials Terror address was given by simply Awlaki with the East Birmingham Mosque in 2003 (YouTube, 2011). The listed supporters of this group could be on the Stop Political Terror site, and oddly enough UCL was among this list (Stop Political Horror, 2003-2005).

The aims of the campaign was to urge Muslims to combat against the “anti-terrorist police and alert these people of “the deteriorating condition in the UK and the scale of arrests, raids and mistreatment meted away [against Muslims] by Anti-Terrorist Police.  The campaign statement also included a clear alert: “Britain’s Muslims, as a community, will usually cooperate while using law enforcement authoritiesifthis abuse proceeds.  (Stop Political Fear, 2003-2005). During this period, the Federation of Pupil Islamic Societies (FOSIS) went another advertising campaign alongside “Stop Political Fear., issuing further explicit transactions -“previously, it was Muslims themselves under attack, now the agenda [is] to strike Islam, its principles , New laws making it a great offence , aim to split and weaken the Muslim community. inches And “The relative notion of ‘extremism’ is being used to condemn Muslims coming from very various political opinions. ” (Hitchens, 2010). The perception of any Western “war on Islam is one of the important recruitment equipment of global jihadist groups like al-Qaeda (Home Office, 2011).

Therefore , it is clear that Abdulmutallab was absorbed in an protesting setting, and this seemed to him to provide value and objective, to his currently pre-existing neo-fundamentalist attitude and personal discontent (loneliness). It is also noticeable from his previous on the net statements, that he was vulnerable to the indoctrination, “I wish to get over my loneliness when I go to university¦ where there are often Islamic organizations [and] golf equipment with very good Muslims (Islamic Forum, 2005).

His infatuation with Islam is plainly illustrated with all the amount of time he devoted to the group, and after a year of starting college or university he was already president of UCL’s Islamic Society (Irvine, 2009). Terrorist groups can also be known to make use of the media with their advantage. As terrorism is “not limited to specific locations or regions” and the mass media has allowed everybody to see some form of dread. Knowing this terrorist teams can for that reason understand the benefits of the images and manipulate those to their benefits (Martin, 2013).

Gus Martin (2013) talks about the multimedia frenzy around terrorism, and describes the 21st century to be “an age of globalized terrorism”. One other key recruiting tool that jihad groupings use is the web (US Division of Defense, 2007). Sites such as Facebook, (Torok, 2011) and the creation of websites that can be regionalised. Although government authorities monitor web sites and, if required shut them down, an additional website could be made as well as the process can begin again (McNeal, 2008). It really is clear that Abdulmutallab was a fan of internet use, with his frequent posts on the Islamic Forum.

Awlaki could also be an key element in the “jihad internet recruitment” method. The press present him as the “Bin Filled of the internet” (Madhani 2010, CNN, 2011). He wasa Muslim lecturer and spiritual leader who had been accused penalized a older al-Qaeda “effective global recruiter” (Telegraph, 2012) and driving force. He is considered to have given a series of online video link classes at the East London Mosque (Gilligan, 2010). They nevertheless , categorically refuse this ever before took place, and deny that Abdulmutallab also attended the Mosque (East London Mosque, 2010). The University of Westminster Islamic Society will be alleged to include ties with Awlaki.

An additional Islamic Community forum announced him as a visitor at College or university of Wc2 Islamic Contemporary society Annual Evening meal in 2006 (Ummah Forum, 2006). Along with these contacts Awlaki is additionally suspected to obtain had “recruited” Abdulmutallab ahead of the attack. In accordance to Fox News, an FBI message states that Awlaki showed Abdulmutallab “how to detonate the bomb” (Catherine Herridge, 2011). Exploration carried out by the University of Cambridge claim that “the most young United kingdom Muslims will be opposed to personal Islam, and therefore are more likely to sign up for Amnesty International” (Cambridge University, 2008).

This is criticised, when ever Anthony Glees accused Cambridge of looking to prove that British universities are generally not “hotbeds of Islamic radicalism” and referred to as the research “flimsy and uncompelling” (Lipsett, 2008). Their research was asserted against by Centre pertaining to Social Cohesion (CSC), who have stated that “Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalised in University College or university London”, and goes on to describe British colleges as the “breeding reasons of Islamic extremism”(Centre intended for Social Combination, 2010).

That they describe themselves as the “Centre [that] has been at the forefront in the debate in what part Universities should certainly play in ensuring that British students do not fall victim to the ideology of violent Islamism. inch (Centre for Social Cohesion, 2010). They went on to completely contradict Cambridge Universities report, and recommended within the statement that Islamic extremism is going to “flourish”. This kind of statement was further backed when Abdulmutallab became the fifth leader of a UK Islamic world to face terrorist charges (Weiss, 2011).

The vulnerability of Abdulmutallab combined with recruitment tools of jihadist groups illustrate how conveniently individuals may slip past this porous boundary quickly and very often unnoticed. Considering that the September eleventh attack within the World Trade Center, it may be apparent that Al-Qaeda will be focusing on mobilising Western Muslims to dedicate “lone-wolf” horror (RUSI, 2012). This facts is supported by the ICSR (2011) who also describe Awlaki’s role as “ideological rather than operational” and explain that the greatest menace he postures is the mobilisation of Western Muslims through his sermons and therefore broadening the jihadi movement.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s extremist opinions are noticeable very in early stages. Although, as his loneliness grew, therefore did his radical sights. It appears that having been trying to fight his urges to act upon these types of views again and again. Abdulmutallab was quite plainly an “extremist” turned “terrorist”, as it is precise by Martin (2013), “extremists” who strongly act out their very own extremist morals are “terrorists”. It is clear that his time at UCL and within the Islamic Society undoubtedly played a part in Abdulmutallab’s further radicalisation when reviewing the evidence talked about.

It is also amazing to see that UCL was among the list of followers of the Quit Police Terror campaigns, almost condemning themselves of the radicalisation. They contradicted themselves after they released their very own findings that “no proof to recommend , that conditions for UCL , [are] conducive to the radicalisation of college students. ” (UCL, 2010). It can be noted that Cambridge University’s , flimsy’ research may support the UCL’s end result, but then could this analysis, with their , bad press’, also minimize their studies.

Overall, there are many factors that led to the radicalisation of Abdulmutallab, his state of mind, his vulnerability, plus the people that having been associated with inside the Islamic Society. Therefore , the UCL has not been completely at fault, it was likewise the fundamentalists, that compromised the system and took benefit of a vulnerable, young Muslim. References Caless, B (2012) , Terrorism and Personal Violence: Introduction, Overview plus the Problem with Definitions. (Accessed: five December 2012). Cambridge College or university (2008) , Campus radicalism fears as well extreme? , Available at: http://www. cam. ac. k/research/news/campus-radicalism-fears-too-extreme/ (Accessed: 5 12 , 2012). CNN Online (2011) , Al-Awlaki: Who was he? , CNN Online, Offered by: http://security. blogs. cnn. com/2011/09/30/al-awlaki-who-was-he/ (Accessed: your five December, 2012). De La Liar, L (2007) , Explaining Terrorism: A Psychosocial Approach’Perspectives on Terrorism, North America, Volume. No . two [Online] Offered at: &lt, http://www. terrorismanalysts. com/pt/index. php/pot/article/view/8&gt,. (Accessed: 5 Dec. 2012). East London Mosque (2010) , East London, uk Mosque and London Muslim CentreStatement on Anwar Awlaki’ [Online] Available at: http://www. astlondonmosque. org. uk/uploadedImage/pdf/2010_11_07_15_44_46_Awlaki%20Statement%206%20Nov10%20-%20Full%20Statement. pdf format (Accessed: 5 December, 2012) East Greater london Mosque (2010) , Saturday Mirror submit ELM letter’ [Online] Sold at: http://www. eastlondonmosque. org. uk/archive/news/243 (Acccessed: 5 December, 2012). Forest, T (2012) , Perception Difficulties Faced simply by Al-Qaeda on the Battlefield of Influence Rivalry. , Perspectives on Terrorism, North America, Volume. 6, Number 2 . [Online] Available at: &lt, http://www. terrorismanalysts. com/pt/index. hp/pot/article/view/forest-perception-challenges&gt,. (Accessed: 05 Dec. 2012). Ganor, N. (2002) , Defining Terrorism- Is 1 Man’s Terrorist Another Mans Freedom Mma fighter? ,. International Institute pertaining to Counter-Terrorism [Online]. Available at: http://www. ict. org. il/ResearchPublications/tabid/64/Articlsid/432/Default. aspx#Defining_Terrorism: _The_Present_Situation (Accessed: 1 December 2012). Gardham, Deb. (2009) , Detroit bomber: internet forum traces journey from depressed schoolboy to Islamic fundamentalist’, The Telegraph, 30 Dec 2009 [Online]. Sold at: http://www. telegraph. o. uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6910776/Detroit-bo mber-internet-forum-traces-journey-from-lonely-schoolboy-to-Islamic-fundamentalist. code. (Accessed: your five December 2012). Gilligan, A (2010) “East London Mosque: the terrorist question and the lies”, The Telegraph, two November 2010 [Online]. Available at: http://blogs. telegraph. co. uk/news/andrewgilligan/100061920/east-london-mosque-the-terrorist-connection-and-the-lies/ (Accessed: 5 Dec 2012). Gregory S. McNeal (2008). “Cyber Embargo: Countering the Internet Jihad” Case American Reserve Journal of International Law, vol. 9, pp. 789-826. [Online] Available at: http://works. bepress. com/gregorymcneal/15 (Accessed 1 December 2012) Herridge, C (2011). , Awlaki Educated Suspected Christmas Jet Bomber How to Detonate Underwear, Doc Reveals’. Fox News, four October 2011 [Online] Sold at: http://www. foxnews. com/us/2011/10/04/al-awlaki-trained-suspected-christmas-day-jet-bomber-how-to-detonate-underwear/#ixzz2ECpGaSXS (Accessed: 5 January 2012). Hitchens, A (2010) , The Making in the Christmas Working day Bomber’, Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, Vol. 12 [Online]. Available at: http://currenttrends. rg/research/detail/the-making-of-the-christmas-day-bomber (Accesed: 29 November 2012). Home business office (2011) Competition: The United Kingdom’s Strategy for Countering terrorism. London: The Stationery Workplace. (Cm. 8123). [Online] Offered by: http://www. homeoffice. gov. uk/publications/counter-terrorism/counter-terrorism-strategy/strategy-contest? view=Binary (Accessed: 2 January 2012). ICSR (The Intercontinental Centre to get the Study of Radicalisation)(2011) , ICSR Insight: Just how Anwar al-Awlaki Became the face area of European Jihad’. [Online] Available at: http://icsr. nfo/2011/09/icsr-insight-how-anwar-al-awlaki-became-the-face-of-western-jihad/ (Accessed: 5 12 , 2012). Irvine, C (2009) , Detroit terror assault: suspect director of university Islamic society’, The Telegraph, 29 January 2009 [Online]. Offered at: http://www. telegraph. co. uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6902785/Detroit-terror-attack-suspect-president-of-university-Islamic-society. html (Accessed: 5 Dec, 2012) Ikhwan Web (2005) International Spiritual Freedom Report 2005. Sold at: http://www. ikhwanweb. com/article. php? id=13543&ref=search. php

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