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Religious terrorism - Definition and Overview |
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Religious terrorists use violence to further what they see as divinely commanded purposes. (see also Religious intolerance).
Examples of Religious Terrorist Groups:
- Abu Sayyaf, Philippines
- al-Qaeda, Worldwide
- Armed Islamic Group (GIA), Algeria
- Aum Shinrikyo, Japan
- Babbar Khalsa, India
- Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Egypt
- Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front (IBDA-C), Turkey
- Hamas, West Bank and Gaza Strip
- Hizballah, Lebanon
- Irish Republican Army, Ireland
- Islamic Movement of Central Asia, Central Asia
- Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
- Jemaah Islamiyah, Indonesia
- Jewish Defense League - (JDL), USA
- Kach, Israel
- Kahane Chai, Israel
- Loyalist Volunteer Force, Ireland
- Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Philippines
- Orange Volunteers, Ireland
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad, West Bank and Gaza Strip
- Red Hand Defenders, Ireland
- Organizations dedicated to Islamist terrorism
- Organizations dedicated to Christian terrorism
- Nagaland Rebels (1948-present) Active in predominately Christian state in Hindu India. Involved in several bombings in 2004. Goal: Independence from Hindu India after annexing parts of neighboring Indian states and Burma if it has Christian majority.
- Ku Klux Klan A racist Protestant Christian organization with a history of violence against blacks, Jews, and Catholics.
- Anti-Abortion Terrorism Activities include bombing abortion clinics, killing doctors and nurses. A member Eric Robert Rudolph was charged with Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the Olympics and a health clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.
- Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **
- Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-present)
- Splinter group of the 'Official' IRA.
- Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
- Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
- Splinter groups:
- Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
- Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
- Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present) *
- Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for Volunteers of Ireland).
- Does not recognize Belfast Agreement.
- Irish National Liberation Army
- Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971-present) **
- Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
- On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
- Splinter group:
- Red Hand Defenders (1998-present) **
- UDA splinter group. Opposes ceasefire.
- Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (May 1966-present)
- Very closely linked with the Red Hand Commandos (1972-present).
- Ulster Defense Force (UVP) **
- Loyalist Volunteer Force (disbanded)
- Orange Volunteers
- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - Sri Lanka. One of the largest terrorist group with 10,000 members. The group has carried out 240+ suicide bombings since early 80s. Tamils are Hindu, unlike the rest of Sri Lankans who are Buddhists.
- Shiv Sena Extremist Hindu political party in India designated by Pakistan as a terrorist group. The group has been involved in several religious riots that lead to the death of several thousands.
- Vishwa Hindu Parishad -- Hindu nationalist organization in India. It is agitating for the construction of a temple to Ram at Ram Janmabhoomi, the site of the destroyed Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.
(Some of these Jewish groups believe that God gave Jews the land of Israel and so they advocate ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Israel, West Bank and Gaza). Most, if not all, however, support the transfer of Palestinians to other regions within the Middle East.)
Other Religions
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