Human Sciences

International Organizations

The role of International Organizations in

Counter terrorism

Prepared by:

Mirza Mujagic 1030327

Ellida Fauziah Ahmad 0927854

Abdul Hadi Bin Haji Baharom 1012769

Muhammamd Fahmi B. Abd Kadir 1013243

Ahmad Fauzi bin Ishak 1018887

 1. Introduction

In this paper we are going to discuss about the role of International Organizations in counter
terrorism. After defining the concept of terrorism and counter terrorism we will approach to
study case. Study case will be based on namely two international organizations that are dealing
with this kind of problems. We have taken UN and INTRPOL for our study case.

In the further text we will define differences between realist and idealist perspective on
terrorism. However, for better understanding we will provide also Western and Islamic
perspectives regarding this issue. Those differences need to be elaborated and fully understood
so that we can see what are the cases and consequences of terrorism and similar problems. Also,
using this approach and taking in to consideration all aspect of particular problem will lead to
best solution.

The main objective of this paper is to prove that there are, in today’s international system,
organizations that are dealing with problems of collective and international importance such as
terrorism. Another objective is to provide satisfactory explanation of what terrorism is and how it
should be dealt with using different perspective and different understanding of concept itself.

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 2. Definition of terrorism and counter terrorism

Terrorism as a word in its usage has connotation of brutality and violence. There are multitudes
of definition given for terrorism. However, It also can be defined as the calculate use of unlawful
violence or threat of unlawful violence to instill fear. Terrorism could involve individuals,
groups or states and attacks could be random or selective. This action is mostly used to force or
threaten government or societies in the pursuit of certain objectives that are generally political,
religious or ideology.

Terrorism can be categorized by levels and types of its activity. It also can be differentiated by
what goal they actually pursue. The first type is religious dissident. It includes groups that make
use of terrorist attack in order to attain goal to create religious freedom for their group, or it may
also bring their group to power because they see themselves as more theologically correct. Some
terrorist organizations have also been developed from particular ethics groups in which they
want to seek liberation from colonial situation or repressive government. Moreover, there are
also types of terrorism undertaken by or on behalf of government. It mostly involves unofficial
groups that use terror or violence to reinforce government policies. Furthermore, terrorist actions
are sometime divided into domestic terrorism and international terrorism. In international
terrorism, the target being attacked is from another country, whereas domestic terrorism is an
internal affair.

Even though terrorism may be too complex for only one solution, it is crucial to prevent or give
solution dealing with threats. Any effort in response to or dealing with terrorism is called
counterterrorism. There are some possible ways to deal with terrorist act. First, increasing
security is one of the ways to prevent terrorist or limit the damage generated from attack, for
example, improvement in airport security to avoid hijacking. Second, intelligence gathering is
another possible solution to battle against terrorism. Third, financial support has been crucial for
many terrorist groups. Thus, effort to eliminate the flow of financial support is important. Having
known the fact that Osama bin Laden gained wealth from the support from Muslim contributor,
it gave him more possibility to be dangerous. Therefore, elimination their financial flow will help
to reduce their attack. Another option might be striking back or pre-emptive strike. Strike can be
against the terrorist’s training camps like what happened in 2012 when Taliban camp in

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Afghanistan was attacked. In addition, international agreement from diplomacy is counted to be
an effort at dealing with terrorism.

2.1. The examples of terrorist attack

2.1.1. International terrorism

The September 11 terrorist attacks were the first major assault on the mainland United State
since the war with United Kingdom in 1812. For many Americans, this was a day that changed
the world. These attacks did not come out suddenly but they had a long history. Osama bin
Laden was believed to be the one who must be responsible in this accident. He was raised from a
very wealthy family and he opened al-Qaeeda for weary warrior in Pakistan and became military
commander. His first attack to United States was actually happened in August 1998 where he
struck US embassy in Kenya. On 9/11, four US commercial aircraft were hijacked and they were
used to crash three different places: WTC building, Pentagon and rural area of Pennsylvania. The
hijackers have been linked to Al-Qaeeda.

However, conspiracy theory arose from this event. Question like who really did it?, came out.
Majority of Arabs did not believe that it was done by Arab group. Instead, they argued that it was
carried out by the Israeli intelligence service. Some also believed that it is impossible that the
destruction was result from aircraft only. They believed that some explosives must have been
placed inside the building. Another question like how the hijacked aircraft allowed to remain on
air without scrambled by US plane and how could it be so quick for US government to create
over three hundred pages of ‘the USA PATRIOT Act’ within forty five days aftermath.

In aftermath of the September 11, there are more measurement affecting citizens and residents. It
is believed that US government needs to have greater awareness and detention of suspicious
individuals. Thus, civil liberation in United Stated was reduced. Muslim and people from middle
became suspected communities in the United State. This event also led to the changing of US
policy during Bush administration, especially in the use of military force. Moreover, Non-
Governmental Organization with an interest of social justice also gave respond to the September
11. The NGOs have tried to take action aimed to reduce the cause of violence such as poverty
and human right abuse. There is no civil war happening when one country has full employment,
thus they believed that there will not be poverty. However, it must be remained in mind that

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Osama bin Laden came from wealthy family. Ending poverty will not end threat of terrorism, but
it might help to reduce its existence.

2.1.2. Domestic terrorism

The breakup of Yugoslavia led to the violence in many forms. Communal violence happened in
many part of Bosnia and Herzegovina as the country wanted to establish its own government and
to control territory. Many violent actions were undertaken especially in area where Serbs were in
large number to drive out the Bosnian Muslims and the Croat populations.

Bosnia is a heterogeneous country where there are three largest groups: the Serbs who have been
with Greek Orthodox Church, the Bosnian Muslim, and the Croats who have affiliation with the
Roman Catholic Church. However, the Bosnian Muslims have become a self-identified
communal group because they are the largest community in the country.

As the second largest ethnic, the Serbs feared that the domination of Bosnian Muslim would give
disadvantages for them, for example: employment reduction and losing political control.
Therefore, many of Serbs preferred to incorporate into what remained of Yugoslavia or to argue
that areas must be organized based on who is dominated in that area in order to weaken central
government power in local affair. But the presence of large number of Muslims in many area
meant that the Serbs could not have their dominated area. Thus, the new solution came out to
drive out Muslim and the Croat, ethnic cleansing. The departure of Muslim would rise possibility
for the Serbs to dominate the area.

Cities with the majority of Muslim were attacked by tanks and fire. It also intentionally targeted
children to increase the terror. Attacking in many part of the country created many refugees,
many Muslim escaped and concentrated in Sarajevo. Furthermore, Ethnic cleansing became also
more frightening in some rural area. Muslims were subjected to some kinds of indignities. Serbs
army used mass rape to help in achieving political goal. This violation of Muslim women was
designed to humiliate them and the threat was intended to terrorize any Muslim group who still
stayed in area dominated by Serb.

The ethnic cleansing activities by the Serbs for Muslim finally ended when the external military
force by NATO countries came. Decentralized type of government was finally created with some

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area controlled by Croat-Muslim groups and the other areas were under the domination of Serbs.
However, by the time of the conflict ended, Muslim controlled more territory than the Serbs had.

3. Study case- the role of UN and Interpol in counter terrorism

The terrorist threat evolves and changes continuously. Law enforcement therefore must
constantly develop its understanding of terrorists, their organization, and their infrastructure. The
majority of terrorist groups have developed transnational associations and capacity across a
range of activities including arms, financing, recruiting and training. In all cases it is the
increasingly transnational and globalized nature of terrorist activity that poses challenges to
national criminal police administrations. The more knowledge authorities have about all aspects
of the terrorist threat, the better equipped these authorities will be to counter them.

UN and INTERPOL are the two powerful and influential international organizations in this
world, yet, they are strong overlap between INTERPOL’s expertise and the work of the United
Nations (UN), the cooperation between the organizations over time has become formidable.
Today, the UN is one of INTERPOL’s most valued partners.

Cooperation agreements between UN and INTERPOL especially in counter terrorism are well
established. INTERPOL and the UN work so closely together that in 1996 the UN General
Assembly granted INTERPOL observer status, which allows INTERPOL to participate in certain
aspects of the day-to-day work of the UN. The Special Representative heads the Office and is
supported by a staff with law enforcement and legal expertise. The Office represents INTERPOL
and the needs of law enforcement at the UN, and liaises with the UN in areas of mutual interest –
in particular, those outlined below. To strengthen their cooperation, in 1997, the organizations
entered into an agreement to cooperate and now work together in several broad areas including:

• Responding to international needs related to national and transnational crime;

• Preventing crime through police training and public awareness;

• Assisting states in combating organized crime;

• Cooperating with international courts;

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• Cooperating with police-related work in peacekeeping;

• Assisting UN Security Council Committees in implementing their mandates.

The UN has several specialized tribunals that seek to bring to justice perpetrators of genocide,
war crimes and crimes against humanity. INTERPOL works with four such UN tribunals:

• International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY);

• International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR);

• Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL);

• Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL).

These tribunals have been granted the right to request INTERPOL Red Notices for individuals
against whom the tribunal has issued an arrest warrant, in order to seek their provisional arrest
with a view to extradition.

Firstly, INTERPOL has restructured the counter-terrorism program to focus on new projects and
initiatives, such as the fusion task force, at the general secretariat in Lyon, France. Initiatives
such as the fusion task force and with the same pragmatic approach have produced practical
results such as the largest global database of suspected terrorists and forged and stolen travel
documents. In 2004, INTERPOL opened the Office of the Special Representative of INTERPOL
to the United Nations, in New York. This has strengthened the relationship and streamlined the
work between the two organizations.

Second, INTERPOL has built a state of the art global communications system called i-24/7 that
permits the instant exchange of sensitive police information 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Police
can now send and receive photographs and fingerprints of suspected terrorists around the world
in seconds; the i-24/7 system is expandable so it can be placed in any site or city in any country.

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This is an essential condition for the possibility for police co-operation. The UN Security
Council has several sanctions committees that oversee the implementation of mandatory
sanctions. These sanctions can be issued against an individual or an entity and take the form of
an assets freeze, travel ban and/or arms embargo. In 2005, INTERPOL in cooperation with the
UN created the INTERPOL-United Nations Security Council Special Notice (Special Notice).
Circulated to all INTERPOL member countries, the Special Notice alerts law enforcement
authorities to entities and individuals that are the subject of UN sanctions.

Third, INTERPOL has created a command and co-ordination center that also operates around the
clock – 365 days a year – where we can receive, process and deliver critical police information
from 181 member countries in all of INTERPOL’s four official languages (Arabic, English,
French and Spanish). This is an operational center that is unique in the world.

Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, the UN Security Council established the Counter-
Terrorism Committee (CTC). INTERPOL participates in the CTC’s counter-terrorism work in
New York and around the world.

INTERPOL participates actively in the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task

Force (CTITF). This was created in 2005 to better coordinate the work between the various UN
entities, as well as the UN’s collaboration with regional and international organizations in
fighting terrorism. INTERPOL is a lead entity in its working groups for certain topics.

Fourth, INTERPOL has implemented an electronic system for what INTERPOL calls its red
notices, which are the equivalent of a worldwide lookout system. This means if an arrest warrant
is issued in member countries such as the UK, Argentina, Egypt, or china, then INTERPOL can
create a red notice and circulate a notification that this person is sought by a country for any
serious crime. The process for issuing red notices used to take months – it can now be done in
less than a day.

The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (Global Strategy), adopted in 2006, encourages UN

Member States to use INTERPOL’s information and communications tools and services,
particularly the Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database. The UN has for a long time
deployed police officers to its peacekeeping missions. INTERPOL works with the United

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Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) to strengthen the role of police in
peacekeeping operations.

Fifth, INTERPOL has updated its policy on the crimes for which red notices can be issued. As of
the 18 November 2003, INTERPOL red notices can be issued for the crime of “membership in a
terrorist organization” even though the person sought for arrest have not yet committed any
ordinary law crime. This is a new and important policy change that will help police around the
world to keep citizens safer by helping police to apprehend and extradite more terrorists.

In 2009, INTERPOL co-organized with DPKO the first-ever Ministerial Meeting on Police in
Peacekeeping and Peace building operations. The meeting resulted in the adoption of an
Outcome Declaration calling for an international policing doctrine in post-conflict environments.
There are on-going discussions concerning joint projects to implement the “Action Plan for
International Police Peacekeeping” adopted during the 79th session of the INTERPOL General
Assembly (Doha, November 2010).

INTERPOL has also established close relations with the DPKO’s Police Division (UNPOL) and
attends its monthly briefings. Projects of mutual interest include the West African Coast
Initiative (WACI) led by United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Sixth, orange notices are security alerts to inform members and selected international
organizations and entities of the characteristics of threats like letter bombs. Our first one was
issued one week ago. It gave characteristics of a letter bomb addressed to the mayor of Florence
with photos and a full description within hours after receiving this information from INTERPOL
Rome.

INTERPOL has partnered with DSS on several security projects, specifically the sharing of
threat and risk assessments, an exchange of analysts and the provision of training by INTERPOL
staff to DSS employees. Recently, INTERPOL and DSS jointly launched a project to protect
against the unauthorized use of lost or stolen UN Laissez-Passers, which are travel documents
issued by the UN to its officials.

The INTERPOL Maritime Piracy Task Force works in close cooperation with the UN and others
to improve evidence collections facilitate the exchange of data and build regional capacity.

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These efforts have been recognized by the UN Security Council in resolutions 1950 (2010) and
1976 (2011). INTERPOL participates in the United Nations Sub Working Group on piracy
(SWGP) and has contributed to a large number of UN reports on piracy. INTERPOL also
participates in plenary sessions of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia
(CGPCS).

As a result, the major issue that confronts INTERPOL and UN in this area is the extent to which
countries are prepared to cooperate by sharing counter-terrorism information. At the General
Secretariat they have adjusted their working arrangements and their services to try to meet this
challenge. Their basic premises are that when countries actively participate in global anti-
terrorist efforts, not just national or bilateral efforts, it reduces the risks of terrorist attacks
conversely, not participating increases the risk.

4. Terrorism- Idealist and Rationalist perspective on terrorism

In this section, we are to discuss the view of both idealist and realist ideologies in
understanding terrorism. The reason of why we were decided to elaborate on this sub-topic
is to study the approaches taken by the international states in countering against such
terrorism. Since realist and idealist are the two most dominant ideologies when issues
related to international interest arises, thus, it is critical to analyze the view and the
approaches applied by them.

Dated on the September 11, 2001, world had shaken with a new threat in the field of
security. Planned aircraft crashes toward the building of World Trade Centre, Pentagon and
the White House in the United States’ land marked the start of a new form of war, “War on
Terror”.1 Terrorism, as has defined in the earlier section, became a new threat for the
security and peace of the world and the counter measure on the action has to be taken
quickly. For the common sense, as the attacks taken place in the U.S. territory,

U.S. government has took the main role in opposing the terrorist and take the first hand in
handling such matter. For the purpose of this section, in order to understand the approaches

1
Pham 2004, 92.

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taken by the realist and idealist ideologies, it is easier to make a clear distinction of the
counter measures on terrorism based on the administrations during the reign of George W.
Bush and the reign of Barack Obama.

The George W. Bush administration indicates terrorism as an existential threat and opted for the
realist approach via a largely unilateral military approach. This is because the international
system did more to obstruct U.S. efforts at combating a sophisticated actor from outside the state
system than it did to prevent the attacks of multiple U.S. targets in the first place. It resolved to
stop the U.S. dependence on alliances and international institutions and utilize American power
to shape the international system by promoting democracy even if by force. On the other hand,
the Obama administration opted for a more liberal approach by attaching every tool of American
power with the combined efforts of allies, partners, and multilateral institutions. Compared to the
realist approach, it is a largely multilateral combination of hard and soft power.2

On the beginning of the “War on Terror” campaign, during the Bush Jr. administration, the U.S.
government takes an upper hand in dealing with the terrorism activities. With the attack of 9.11,
the U.S. decided to progress with unilateral strategy, using its own military power to oppress
terrorism. This action was call to be justified with the view that the U.S. has its right to act upon
the offender as the attack took place in its land. It was stated in the haven of the U.S. that any
kind of intervention into the state’s peace and security shall be respond to attack and to prevent it.

“direct and continuous action using all the elements of national and international
power. Our immediate focus will be those terrorist organizations of global reach and any
terrorist or state sponsor of terrorism which attempts to gain or use weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) or their precursors”.3

In the above statement, the U.S. government is not hesitates to use its resources as to pursue the
offender in the international level. Apart from that, the U.S. also resorted to justify their action to
attack country as they presume being the sponsor of such terrorist attack. In general, it is argued
that the terrorist groups can be classified as the transnational organization which operates at the
international level. As a transnational organization, it has no justified border or land of state that

2
Buros 2011
3
The White House 2002, 6. As cited in Beyer 2006,6.

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legalize such military action to be made upon another country. It is not the country’s agenda to
make an attack towards U.S. For that, it raised countless of questions on the justification of the
U.S. on its action in Iraq and Afghanistan. Somehow, under the presumption of these states being
the sponsor of the terrorist group, such as the operandi lands, giving arms support, dealt
transaction with the group and others, the U.S. claimed its legal action onto those lands.

The action of the U.S. government unilaterally dealing with terrorism shows that the U.S. tries to
express its power to the world. As the realist view that there exist no justified world government,
the U.S. opted to act by its own to be the world’s police to protect the peace of the world. It can
be true that in current time, U.S. military power is second to none and it is very overwhelm
surpassed any other country in the world. From the realist perspective, in order for the state to
protect its security, it is necessary to possess hard power in dealing with any threat to the state.
With this view of realist, the U.S. rejects the option to cooperate with other states to suppress
terrorism.

From 2002 invasion in Afghanistan and later in 2003 invasion in Iraq, the U.S. has continuously
send its military supply in combating terrorism. The campaign continues for years but, along with
not taken back the military from the occupied lands, the terrorism seems neither reduced, far from
abolished. The data on international terrorism published by the State Department of the United
States in 2004 has recorded international attacks had tripled in the year 2004 compared to 2003,
from 175 attacks to 655.4 The data from the RAND Corporation recorded there have been 104
international terrorist attacks in 2000, 298 in the year 2002 and 302 in 2005.5 These data
triggered questions upon the realist perspective and approach in combating terrorism. Why the
data shows an increase trend of international attacks rather than the declination?

One of the reliable reasons of such failure of the realist approach on terrorism is that the hard
instrument which applied by the U.S. cause more hatred by the people oppressed by the military
action. More new offender emerged whether linked with existed terrorist groups or by personal
action. This surely indicate that realist approach were less effective and has backfired as it gives
more negative impacts than reducing the terrorist activities. After the shifted reign from the Bush
Jr. administration to Obama administration, U.S. has changed its policy of the “War on Terror”
4
Beyer 2006, 10.
5
Ibid

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completely. The Obama administration was more liberal and imposes more idealist approach in
its operation. The new administration is said as being adopted with the European Union model of
counter terrorism.6

The European Union model of counter terrorism measure is in the form of multilateral approach.
The E.U. model believes in coalition of alliances and the role of international organization in
dealing with international terrorism. With the notion of collective security, the states cooperate
with one another in fighting against the offender state. In the sense of terrorism which with no
justified state boundary, the idealist view that the suitable approach to oppose the transnational
organization should done with all part of globalization community.7 The combination of soft and
hard instruments in international system should be made rather than only rely on the hard
instrument. The soft instrument such as economic pressure and society organization pressure are
important to eradicate the supply towards the terrorist group and to instil consciousness of the
possible threat and danger of terrorism in the society. The hard instrument will always be one of
the important instruments but the mixture of both hard and soft instruments will play an
important role in oppressing the threat.

Another important approach by the idealist is to impose democracy in the states that related with
terrorism. An important aspect need to be understood as the result of the failure of realist strategy
in the campaign is that the realist intends to impose democracy in those states but the action taken
by the Bush Jr. administration works totally opposite to the highest aim of democracy. Violence
and intervention are not quite idealist instruments for pursuing the high aims of democratization.8
Democratization in general meaning is to bring the right to the people. The idiom of democracy
is, when the people of the state have their right preserved and their voice plays role in
administrating the state, they will know better what happen in their own country yard and the
state’s activities will be more transparent to the people, thus such underground organization will
be harder to establish as the well-knowing people will by themselves protect their own safety. If
this democratization success instilled in the heart of the state’s government, terrorism argued to
be controlled.

6
Buros 2011.
7
Ibid
8
Beyer 2006, 11.

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Still, one of the major problems to rely on the idealist approach in combating terrorism through
international institution is the level of cooperation by the state members. The two main factors
that faced by the international institution in commanding cooperation among the state members
are the economic and military powers.9 In reality, all states in the world have a practical problem
due to ambiguous capabilities. Not all states capable to take part in the campaign due to the lack
of economic and military powers. For instance, the U.S. has the ability to maintain about 65% of
its military forces in the field, but the E.U can only maintain about 6%.10 For example, Greece
has to face its own problem, the hiked debt which wrecked its economy and cannot by its power
to help the institution. Other states also face similar problem. Thus, it raised the notion of
responsibility based on the capability of the state members. People may argue the unilateral
behavior of the U.S. in dealing with “War on Terror”, but by realizing the portion of support and
sponsor of the U.S. in international institution, it is hard to deny that the U.S. probably has the
right to do so. For that, however, no matter which approach taken to battle terrorism, it is
important to highly command for preserving human right and international peace.11

5. Terrorism and Jihad

5.1. Understanding Terrorism in Terminology and Contextualized

Terrorism normally is in the way of use or threat of violence to create fear and terror. Terrorists
murder and kidnap people, set off bombs, hijack aero planes, set fires and commit other serious
crimes. But the aim of terrorists is different from those of ordinary criminals. Most criminals
want money or some other form of personal gain. Most terrorists commit crimes to support
political bases.

Terrorists simply choose any target certain to attract newspaper or TV coverage. They
often threaten to kill the hostage if their demands are not met. Bombings make up about half of
all terrorist acts. Most terrorist groups fail to achieve their long range political goals.” Terrorism
may cross national boundaries. A quarrel in one nation may lead to terrorist attacks in several

9
Buros 2011.
10
Ibid
11
Pham 2004, 104.

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other countries. Some governments secretly support certain terrorist groups by providing
weapons, training and money for attacks in other countries. (Abedin)

They believe the threat or use of violence to create fear is the best way to gain publicity
and exposed of their movement. Usually the victims of terrorist kidnappings and assassinations
include diplomats, business executives, political leaders, judges and police. They make some
demand towards certain government in order to achieve their goal. It can be visualize like the
film ‘air force one’, the group of terrorist demand some favors from US government in return for
safety of the President of United States. (P.O.T.U.S)

Another wave of terrorism began during the 1960's. Terrorist groups that surfaced
included the Red Brigades in Italy and the Red Army Faction in West Germany. Before the
independence of Israel in 1948, a Jewish group used terror to speed the end of the British rule in
Palestine and create a Jewish homeland. Since 1960s various Palestinian groups carried out
campaign of terrorism aimed at the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The
provisional Irish Republican Army, established in 1970 used violence in its fight to rid Northern
Ireland of British rule. A Puerto Rican Nationalist group called FALN committed numerous
bombings in US, during 1970's. (Abedin)

The word terrorism first appeared during the French Revolution (1789-1799). Some of the
revolutionaries who seized power in France adopted a policy of violence against their enemies.
An American group, the Ku Klux Klan used violence to terrorize blacks and their sympathizers in
1865 and during 1900's the dictators Adolf Hitler of Germany, Benito Mussolini of Italy and
Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union used terrorism to discourage opposition to their governments.
(Islam and Modernism, 2012)

5.2. Islamic Terrorism

Islam means the religion of peace. A person following Islam will find that he or she is surrounded
by noble teachings, the aim of which is to establish peace between man and Allah, the Creator of
all; between man and man; and between man and the rest of Allah’s creation. (Khan, 1995)

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It is the greatest fairytale nowadays to pronounce of "Islamic terrorism". Since Islam forbids
terrorism, then no terrorist could be labeled Islamic. The groups maybe abandon the Islamic route
to become a terrorist. Islamic movement is always cannot be assimilate same as terrorist group.

In recent years there have been many Islamic acts of terror committed against Western countries.
The bombing of the marine barracks in Lebanon; two US embassies in Africa; the bombing of the
US destroyer Cole in Yemen; the attacks of September 11; The deadly explosions in Bali; the
Madrid train bombings; the subway in London these are just the most publicized attacks. All of
them were openly or covertly supported by most Muslim rulers and are silently condoned by
most of the Islamic communities around the world. (Shamrak, 2006)

Perhaps no issue in contemporary politics is the source of greater misunderstanding and

caricature than Islam’s view on war and terrorism. The indiscriminate bloodshed wrought on
September 11th, the London and Madrid bombings, and the nearly daily suicide bombings that
emanate from Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan, have impressed upon the Western psyche a
terrifying image of the Islamic faith that is perpetuated with remarkable facility by Islam’s
modern antagonists. (Islam’s View on War and Terrorism: A Survey of the Qur’an and Prophetic
Traditions, 2011)

5.3. Terrorist activities

Terrorist activities are not at all compatible with the activities of preaching and establishing
Islam. This is the universally recognized identity of the Muslim Ummah. This fact is well known
to all Islamic personalities, parties and institutions, as well as, to the muslim ummah at large. The
efforts for the establishment of Islam have no connection with the definition, terrorist activities
seen in different ages and the form of terrorism emerged today. Terrorism aims at frightening
people, by causing harm to their life and property, with a view to compelling them to accept an
opinion against their will. (Terrorism : Islamic view point, 2012)

5.4. Terror to defense Islam

The belief that terrorism is justifiable in the defense of Islam, while less extensive than in
previous surveys, still has a sizable number of adherents. Among Nigeria’s Muslim population,

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for instance, nearly half (46%) feel that suicide bombings can be justified often or sometimes in
the defense of Islam. Even among Europe’s Muslim minorities, roughly one-in-seven in France,
Spain, and Great Britain feel that suicide bombings against civilian targets can at least sometimes
be justified to defend Islam against its enemies. (The Great Divide: How Westerners and
Muslims View Each Other, 2006)

The Quran states that Muslims may "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight against
you, but do not transgress limits. Lo! God loves not aggressors..." (Quran 2:190) (Owen)

5.5. Definition of Jihad

The concept of “holy war” does not occur in the term Jihād, which in Arabic would be al-ħarb al-
muqaddasah. Throughout the entire Qur’ān, one cannot find a term that expresses the meaning
“holy war.” Rather the meaning of combative Jihād expressed in Qur’ān or hadith is simply war.
(Owen)

The term Jihād in this time in a way that suits their own whims without realizing the damage that
they are causing Islam and Muslims.

The Arabic noun jihad, whose lexical meaning is “struggle,” has today entered the Western
vernacular with an irredeemably pejorative connotation; to a believing Muslim, however, jihad
has long been associated with chivalry, courage, and a military honor that represents a legacy of
moral and ethical excellence. (Islam’s View on War and Terrorism: A Survey of the Qur’an and
Prophetic Traditions, 2011)

“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even against
yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) the rich or poor: for God is
the Best Patron of both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest ye swerve, and if ye distort
(justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that ye do.” (Qur’an
4:135). On that verse, Muslim should be the one who uphold the justice even towards family and
should never just follow the desire. They speak the truth and never done anything just of their
desire.

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 “If [non-Muslims] withdraw from you and do not war against you and offer you peace,
God allowed you no way to [to war] against them.” (Quran 4:90). While in this verse it is the
base of asylum for people. Muslim is the link of peace and treaty of peace. The war is never first
thing to choose.

The Quran states that Muslims may "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight against
you, but do not transgress limits. Lo! God loves not aggressors..." (Quran 2:190) (Owen)

Survey done by Pew Research Center shows that in Pakistan, despite the recent rise in the
Taliban's influence, a poll conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow in Pakistan in January 2008
tested support for al-Qaida, the Taliban, other militant Islamist groups and Osama bin Laden
himself, and found a recent drop by half. In August 2007, 33% of Pakistanis expressed support
for al-Qaida; 38% supported the Taliban. By January 2008, al-Qaida's support had dropped to
18%, the Taliban's to 19%. When asked if they would vote for al-Qaida, just 1% of Pakistanis
polled answered in the affirmative. The Taliban had the support of 3% of those polled [200]

While the shift has been especially dramatic in Jordan, where 29% of Jordanians are recorded as
viewing suicide-attacks as often or sometimes justified (down from 57% in May 2005). In the
largest majority-Muslim nation, Indonesia, 74% of respondents agree that terrorist attacks are
"never justified" (a substantial decline from the 41% level to which support had risen in March
2004); in Pakistan, that figure is 86%; in Bangladesh, 81%; and in Iran, 80% [200]

*In Iraq, people of all persuasions unanimously reject the terror tactics against Iraqi civilians of
"al-Qaida in Mesopotamia". An ABC News/BBC/NHK poll revealed that all of those surveyed –
Sunni and Shi'a alike – found al-Qaida attacks on Iraqi civilians "unacceptable"; 98% rejected the
militants' attempts to gain control over areas in which they operated; and 97% opposed their
attempts to recruit foreign fighters and bring them to Iraq (Islamic view of terrorism?, 2012)

5.6. Solution

"Moderate Islam is the solution. Militant Islam is the problem. It is important for the US to
develop policies to encourage a different kind of Islam, a moderate and modern Islam, just as in
Germany. We did not destroy Germany, we destroyed the Nazi system. We found a good
German attitude, and created a modern and moderate Germany and similarly today we are

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helping Russia. So the goal in this case must be the development of a modern Islam." (Dr. Daniel
Pipes, 2003)

In order to find the solution, one should not ignore the clear guidance of the Quran. If one does
so, one does it without the approval of Islam. Islam is in no way related to any kind of terrorism.
The question of Islam’s involvement to terrorism does not arise.

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 6. Conclusion

In this paper we have seen that international organizations have important and crucial role in
counter terrorism. Taking into consideration both idealist and rationalist perspective on today’s
international system we can undoubtedly say that there are existing organizations aimed to serve
and protect international peace and security. Issue of terrorism is just one among many treats for
international peace and security and it should be treated as such. As our objective was, we have
seen that there are organizations dealing with this issue. Some of these organizations are
particularly aimed to serve as counter terrorist organizations.

Dealing with problems such as terrorism it is necessary for international organizations to join and
cooperate among themselves, as stated in the text. However, problem of terrorism, due to the
consequences of its actions, should attract more attention in international system then it has
today. Organizations should find better and more effective ways to deal with such problem.

Furthermore, this paper includes different perspectives and different understandings of concept
of terrorism. It is sure to say, education on this issue can be vital part in prevention of this
problem. Also, it can give new ideas how to deal with it.

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 7. References:
1. Dr. Daniel Pipes. (2003, March). Retrieved from Daniel Pipes Middle East Forum:
http://www.danielpipes.org/rss.xml
2. The Great Divide: How Westerners and Muslims View Each Other. (2006, June 22).
Retrieved November 28, 2012, from Pew Research Center:
http://www.pewglobal.org//FEED/
3. Islam’s View on War and Terrorism: A Survey of the Qur’an and Prophetic
Traditions. (2011, March 28).
4. Bangladesh Jamaate Islami’s views on terrorism. (2012, April 10). Retrieved 11 27,
2012, from Paris vision news: http://www.jamaat-e-
islami.org/en/details.php?artid=MTE0
5. Islam and Modernism. (2012, November). Retrieved from http://www.ghazali.net/:
http://www.ghazali.net/book4/Chapter-II/chapter-ii.html
6. Islamic view of terrorism? (2012). Retrieved 11 27, 2012, from Yahoo! Answers.
7. Abedin, M. (n.d.). Middle East, INTERVIEW. Retrieved from Asia Times Online.
8. Khan, A. G. (1995). Islam’s Response to Terrorism. Retrieved Nov 28, 2012, from
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: http://www.alislam.org
9. Owen, D. K. (n.d.). Muslim Public Affairs Council. Retrieved 11 28, 2012, from
TERROR IS NOT ISLAM.
10. Shamrak, S. (2006, 9 25). Terrorism and the West’s path to self-destruction.
Retrieved 11 28, 2012, from BrookesNews.Com.
11. Cornelia Beyer (2006), Why idealist Realism can´t win the War on Terrorism.
12. J. Peter Pham (2004), Human Right & Human Welfare: Law, Human Right, Realism
and the “War on Terror”, Princeton: Princeton University Press, v. 4, p. 91-106.
13. Randi L. Buros (2011), Small Wars: Jurnals Realism vs. Liberalism in the
Development of Counterterrorism Strategy. Access at
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/realism-vs-liberalism-in-thedevelopment-of-
counterterrorism-strategy
14. Lutz, James M. and Brenda J. Lutz, 2004. Global terrorism. London: Routledge.
15. Suter, Keith, 2008. All About Terrorism. North Sydney: Random House Australia Pty
Ltd.

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 16. Internet (http://www.townofstratford.com/filestorage/1296/392/Terrorism.pdf)

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