Religion and Terrorism: Is Far-Right Terrorism Another Form of Religious Terrorism?

Ahmed, S. and den Heyer, G. 2023. Religion and Terrorism: Is Far-Right Terrorism Another Form of Religious Terrorism? in: Birch, P., Murray, C. and McInnes, A. (ed.) Crime, Criminal Justice and Religion A Critical Appraisal Routledge.

Chapter titleReligion and Terrorism: Is Far-Right Terrorism Another Form of Religious Terrorism?
AuthorsAhmed, S. and den Heyer, G.
EditorsBirch, P., Murray, C. and McInnes, A.
Abstract

This chapter examines how the construction of Islamist terrorism, as a non-secular religiously inspired form of terrorism, has amplified the constructed risk of Islamist terrorism and how the construction of far-right terrorism and extreme nationalism, as secular non-religious ideologies, have contributed to minimising and reducing the threat associated with these ideologies. It is argued that the ideological construction of religious terrorism has contributed to Islamophobia and the introduction of draconian national and international policies within the ‘war on terror’. In contrast, it is demonstrated how the construction of non-religious-inspired terrorism and extreme nationalism, as secular ideologies continue to not only mask the threat posed by these ideologies, but also underplay their ability to radicalise individuals. Through exposing how religion obscures the construction, risk and policy responses to terrorism, the chapter demonstrates the equally pervasive ability of religious and non-religious terrorism to gain support for ideologies premised on replacing existing social and political structures.

KeywordsReligion terrorism
Book titleCrime, Criminal Justice and Religion A Critical Appraisal
Year2023
PublisherRoutledge
Publication dates
Published in print2023
Published30 Dec 2022
ISBN9781032232898
9781032232881
9781003276593
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003276593-18

Related outputs

Institutional Racism: Colonialism, Epistemic Injustice and Cumulative Trauma
Ahmed, S. 2024. Institutional Racism: Colonialism, Epistemic Injustice and Cumulative Trauma. Routledge.

The undeniable reality of the ‘war on terror’, radicalisation and sanity
Ahmed, S. 2021. The undeniable reality of the ‘war on terror’, radicalisation and sanity. in: Bhui, K. and Bhugra, D. (ed.) Terrorism, Violent Radicalisation, and Mental Health Oxford University Press.

The ‘War on Terror’, State Crime & Radicalization: A Constitutive theory of Radicalization.
Ahmed, S. 2020. The ‘War on Terror’, State Crime & Radicalization: A Constitutive theory of Radicalization. Palgrave Macmillan.

A Cosmopolitan response to the 'war on terror'
Ahmed, S. 2019. A Cosmopolitan response to the 'war on terror'. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology. 11, pp. 64-78.

British Muslims perceptions of social cohesion: from multiculturalism to community cohesion and the ‘war on terror’
Ahmed, S. 2018. British Muslims perceptions of social cohesion: from multiculturalism to community cohesion and the ‘war on terror’. Crime, Law and Social Change. 71, p. 581–595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-018-9804-9

Citizenship, belonging and attachment in the ‘war on terror’
Ahmed, S. 2016. Citizenship, belonging and attachment in the ‘war on terror’. Critical Criminology: an International Journal. 24 (1), pp. 111-125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-015-9279-2

Reflections on conducting research on the ‘war on terror’: religious identity, subjectivity and emotions
Ahmed, S. 2016. Reflections on conducting research on the ‘war on terror’: religious identity, subjectivity and emotions. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 19 (2), pp. 177-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2014.976488

The 'emotionalization of the 'war on terror'': counter-terrorism, fear, risk, insecurity and helplessness
Ahmed, S. 2015. The 'emotionalization of the 'war on terror'': counter-terrorism, fear, risk, insecurity and helplessness. Criminology & Criminal Justice. 15 (5), pp. 545-560. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895815572161

Constitutive criminology and the ‘war on terror’
Ahmed, S. 2014. Constitutive criminology and the ‘war on terror’. Critical Criminology: an International Journal. 22 (3), pp. 357-371. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-014-9235-6

(In)security, risk, Muslim communities, policing and the 'new terrorism'
Ahmed, S. and Spalek, B. 2011. (In)security, risk, Muslim communities, policing and the 'new terrorism'. in: Doolin, K., Child, J., Raine, J. and Beech, A. (ed.) Whose criminal justice? State or community? Hook, Hampshire Waterside Press. pp. 123-140

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/w4w2x/religion-and-terrorism-is-far-right-terrorism-another-form-of-religious-terrorism


Share this

Usage statistics

33 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.