Religious extremism and youth recruitment in terrorist organizations

Terrorism is explained as the adoption of actions which prompt violence and hatred among the social, cultural, and ethnic and religious divisions, the social bifurcations are usually exploited through terrorist means which hare aimed for securing political goals. In this entire explanation the word religion had secondary association with the motivations and forces that ignite terrorism (Walter, 2001). The terrorist activities are attributed with political objectives. Religion has never supported the adoption of violent course of action; it has always supported the use of peaceful means for the resolution of the dispute. The terrorist networks have unfortunately affiliated their practices with the religious teachings, and have justified their actions in the light of religious books. The religion has been exploited, and it is wrong to suggest that religion motivates and nourishes practices of terrorists (Colin, 2002).

Use of religious ideals to fuel terrorist action

In many of the cases it has been observed that vigilant and aggressive youth has adopted the course of terrorism, and have played major role in such activities. The attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 was actually fabricated by Muslim youth who entered USA for academic purposes. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the series of deadly terrorist attacks are conducted by the young militants, it was reported that the association of the youth with terrorist organizations has improved the performance and operations of the terrorist organizations, and has further expanded their network. The question then rises that what makes the youth fall the victim of such sick mentality, which his based on acts of barbarism, massacre of innocents, and social disequilibrium (Leon, 2005). Ideal is the simple explanation of it, the research has concluded that at the age of 20-30 the individuals are likely to choose such role and profession, which was previously followed by their favorite personality, and the youth is extremely motivated to adopt such course through which can they can imitate their role models or inspiration. The extremist forces have been able to successfully mould the mentality and influence the approach and psyche of the youth so as to develop for themselves their inspirational models. In Muslim developing countries including Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia the youth still have strong affiliation and likeness towards Osama Bin Laden, and other leaders of Al Qaeda network, the affiliation is based because the religious clerics have been able to interpret their actions and justify their actions and conduct in accordance with the teachings of Quran i.e. Holy Book of Islam (Bernard, 2003). Such terrorists have emerged as religious role models, success stories for the youth, which can completely, devoted their services towards misguided interpretation of Islam (Jessia, 2003). According to the local newspapers of these countries, the mentality of the youth has been vandalized, and their approach and understanding has been restricted to what the religious books have mentioned. In some of the cases the religious clerics have tried to capture the focus and attention of the youth by promising them heavy rewards after their death, so called martyrdom, the youth is encouraged to sacrifice their lives which will bring blessing for their families. The religious clerics have adopted strong measures which are linked which a form hypnotism so as to take over the mentality of the youth. The services of the youth are then used purely for the political gains, which is against conformity of Quran and other Holy books.

Terrorism has emerged as a complex issue, and it has been researched that people in particular youth victim of psychopathology are more likely to participate in such violent actions, without giving it a second thought. Normal people have emerged as staunch supporters of the terrorist practice which is purely because of their ignorance about the social, political and economic situations, the terrorist networks have been able to capture the support of mainly those who are ignorant about the international development, and are regarded illiterate. The geographical affiliations have also emerged as another reason for supporting the terrorist networks, and all such practices have been carried by the religious clerics, who try to relate this with service to god and mankind, an utter nuisance.

The psychologists have concluded that the religious clerics have played fundamental role to influence and invoke aggression, emotional values onto the public, and then try to instrument these aspects in their favor.

Confluence

The integration of the two different forces which have different motivation, and has further set them on the same conquest i.e. opposition of the state and government through inhumane means, is likely to evolve common understanding between the two groups with differences in ideology, but commonality in their objectives. It has been reported that the people of Iraq are seeking ouster of the American forces, and it is their personal prejudice against the American that have convinced them to adopt stern course of action against the Iraqi transitional government. The Al-Qaeda network which dominated in the surrounding regions of Iraq successfully penetrated into the Iraq, and was bale to develop understanding with the Iraqi militia to continue their joint struggle against the American forces. The efforts and struggle of the Iraq militia against the American forces have no religious justification, it is just that these force is trying to secure the support of the local population for bringing the real Iraqi people into the power. The Al Qaeda network has created differences and conflicts with the American forces on the basis misinterpreted religious teachings, and have tried to justify their authority through abuse of religious knowledge and fundamental. In the case of Iraq we have observed the existence of strong coalition of the local militia with Al-Qaeda network, which has proved every deadly in recent past. The convergence of the religious elements and those who have prejudice against the state is therefore dangerous, and can prove deadly if the government failed to react sharp towards such atrocities, and inhumane practices of the terrorist networks, targeting the innocent public.