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

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