Key Vocabulary of Terrorism - this will enlighten you

Key Vocabulary of Terrorism

Here we have compiled  a  list  of  key  terms  used  both  to  describe  ideological  and  regional issues. The purpose of this basic definitions list is not to create a fixed or alternative definition of the terms but rather  to  clarify  their  nature  and  how people may use them.

In  a  discourse  where  precision  is  necessary  it is  important  to  have  a  clear  semantic understanding of these terms, and avoid generalisations andleavingnegative implications on any country, group, religion or region in the process.

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Ideological

Islamism

Islamism is also known as Political Islam, and is a set ofideologies holding that Islam should guide social and political as well as personal life. The term is a source of major controversy especially because of the divergence in Islamic interpretations. Also its wide  application  has  engulfed  some groups  that  advocate  the  implementation  of  Sharia  law(see  below),  pan-Islamic  unity  and  undermining  Western  interests in  the  Muslim world. 

However  in  reality  political  Islam  in  its inception under  the  Muslim  brotherhood (1928) was  not  a  radical  force  and  should  possibly  be applicable to those  willing  to  respect  the  democratic  process  and  form  political  parties  with  a  Muslim  core  rather  than  a fundamentalist militant force.

Jihadism

In Arabic, the word means "effort" or "struggle". In Islam, it could be an individual's internal struggle against more basic instincts, the struggle to build a good Muslim society, or a war for the faith against “nonbelievers”.

An  important  clarification  for  the  above  definition  is  the  fact that  Jihad  engulfs  a  sense  of  struggle  in  Arabic engrained in the holy Qur’an.  Jihad  does not  necessarily  mean  violence  and  can  also  refer  to  the  pursuit  of knowledge  considered  a  model  example.  Thus  despite  its  frequent  use  to  describe  the  actions  of  suicide bombers and radical militants it can engulf a much richer and wider meaning.

Since the 1980’s the term has been used frequently as a prime means of legitimacy by the global Al-Qeada network.

Salafism

Salafism takes its name from the term salaf ("predecessors", "ancestors") used to identify the earliest Muslims, who, its adherents believe, provide the epitome of Islamic practice.The term above has lost its initial meaning of piety due its frequent association with militant groups that are trying to  draw  parallels with the early  Muslims: The  Prophet  Mohammed  and  his  Companions.  It  is  particularly  the affiliation with Wahabism, that has set controversy around the term. 

Sharia  (law)

Sharia, or Sharia  law,  is  the Islamic  legal system  derived  from  commands in the basic texts of Islam, the Qur’an and Hadith. An important point for understanding Sharia is that despite it being the interpreted Islamic law,it does not have a precise text or book which one can refer to in totality. 

Thus it has been theorised as an amalgamation of interpretations and may differ depending on the country and individual Islamic scholars/clerics.The enforcement of such divine laws is also subject to dispute with regards to accounting for other religious minorities in acountry or land. Groups such as the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria have both tried to enforcean illegitimate interpretation of sharia law and used in their state building plans in Syria. This is evident in key towns and cities under their control e.g. Raqqa.

Shia

Shia Is the short form of the historic phrase Shi’atu Ali meaning "followers", "faction" or "party" of Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin Ali, whom the Shiites believe to be Muhammad's successor in the Caliphate.The most significant Shia population exists in Iran, but can be also found in Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain,Syria and Iraq. The term ‘Shia expansion’has gained relevance due to the rise of Iran and Shia-centric non state actors in Iraq, the Gulf and the Levant.

However it is important to clarify that there also various branches (such as Zaidi Shiites in Yemen) that do differ in beliefs and practices to others around the regionforexample.Therefore it is not a homogenous group even if to some extent Shia groups are politically and strategically alignedacross the MENA region.

Sunni

They  are  the  majority  in  most  Islamic  countries  outside  of  Iran, Iraq,  Yemen,  and  Bahrain. Sunna, translated variously as the "trodden path", "the way", "example", or "habitual practice", refers to the example or path of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers.

Despite being the mainstream majority of the Muslim world,Sunni populations have been commonly associated with  extremism  and  an  enmity  towards  other  minorities  like  Shiites.  However,as shown by  various statistical surveysmany Sunnis across theMiddle East, Europe and North America are quite “moderate”in their beliefs and practices -only to be tainted by the actions of aradical minority.

Sufism

Sufismor Tasawwufas it is a particular aspect or dimension of Islam. Sufi orders (Tariqas) can be found inSunni, Shiaand other Islamic groups.Sufism is based on  the idea of being pure in the devotion to God and retracting from the everyday  pursuit of “common men”.

It has distinct mystical rituals attached to it and is followed in considerable numbers in the South-East Asia region and some parts of the Middle East.

Takfirism

An accusation of apostasy by a Muslim to another Muslim (or an adherent of another Abrahamicfaith).The accusation itself  is called takfir, derived from  the  word kafir(infidel), and is described as when "one, who isor claims to be a Muslim, is declared impure."Takfiri policies inciting violence and hatred towards Muslims and non-Muslims have been incessant in light of recent Islamic State or Al-Qaeda inspired operations.

Most commonly, it is influential clerics that insight such religious justifications to which people prone to radicalization can be  mobilized to afflict harm to whomever the Kaferor infidel, is pointed out to be.

Terrorism

Terrorism is commonly defined as violent acts (or  the  threat  of  violent  acts) intended to create  fear  (terror), perpetrated  for an economic,religious, political, or ideological  goal, and which deliberately targets or disregards the safety of non-combatants(such as neutral military personnel or civilians).    

Another common definition sees terrorism as political, ideological or religious violence by non-state actors.Terrorism is  another term that is in many cases misused and involves various definitions rather than one fixed concept. 

However, terrorism cannot/should not be solely attributed to fundamentalist groups across the Near East but rather can even describe state measures or state-sponsored terrorism. To dictate violent actions spreading fear amongst the populous is something that has not only happened during the recent rise of militant non-state  actors  but  rather  can  be  traced  back to the earliest stages of human civilisation. In this manner terrorism can be used to describe many government measures  today, particularly under undemocratic or authoritarian-style regimes.

Geography and Regions

Sham

The word used by the local people of the region bordering the eastern Mediterranean Seato describe their region, usually known as the Levantor: the region surrounding Syria. It includes Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus and the Turkish Hatay Province.

Levant

The Levantis an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the eastern Mediterranean. 

In its widest historical sense, the Levant included all of the eastern Mediterranean extending from Greece to Egypt. Nowadays it is more commonly used to refer to Lebanon and the area around it.

Maghreb

TheMaghrebis  usually  defined  as  much  or  most  of  theregionof  western North  Africa or countries west of Egypt: Libya, Tunisia, Algeria; Morocco, and Mauritania.

Mashri

The Mashriq is the region of Arab countries to the east of Egypt including Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt. 

Thanks to OTHER SOLUTIONS Consulting (www.othersolutions.eu) for the information above. Sources: All  the  above  definitions  have  been  extracted by using  open  sources.

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