NCJ Number
205601
Journal
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2004 Pages: 207-233
Date Published
May 2004
Length
27 pages
Annotation
After examining the current status of historic schisms among islamic sects and the progress of efforts to mend the schisms, this study examined the influence of terrorist organizations on reunification efforts, the influence of terrorist organizations on the use of religiously motivated violence, and the effect of the media in assisting terrorists in their agenda of violence.
Abstract
This study builds on the author's (2003) findings regarding the delineation of the relationship between Hizbullah, Islamic Brotherhood, and Jihad organizations, the unification of 45 to 57 Islamic nations, and International Islamization Terrorism (IIT). Although the scope and dimension of IIT's upcoming threat is being introduced in this study, it was predicted in previous studies. This study sampled some of the individuals who are being reached by Al-Manar's (Hizbullah's TV station) TV broadcasts. The study hypothesized that a considerable number of Muslims in European Union and non-Union countries who are being called to Islamism and IIT are tuning to Al-Manar and are, for the first time, more likely to answer its calls and march against Israel and its embassies on Jerusalem Day. As predicted, for the first time marches and parades were permitted and took place in 11 European Union capitals (except Brussels) and 9 non-Union capitals and cities. Marchers in eight of the cities provided the researcher with an opportunity to sample the effects of the free media and that of a terrorist organization on a cross-cultural, cross-sectarian, militant Muslim population. Between December 6, 2002, and January 1, 2003, a total of 2,619 questionnaires supplied by 8 different groups of respondents who resided in 8 European Union countries completed the study questionnaire. The questionnaire solicited information on character attributes, personality traits, levels of religiosity, and propensity for violence and terrorism. Out of the study's 2,619 participants, 722 marked particular cells on the questionnaire that indicated a propensity for violence and terrorism. All 722 respondents believed that there is an ongoing Islamist movement that may not be limited to the Middle East, given that "the Media are the minarets of Islamic Jihad" that call Muslims to Jihad as the minarets call Muslims to prayers. This study recommends that future research not only assess the viability of Hizbullah to become the impetus for the inspiration and promulgation of its franchises and its "netwar" into IIT, but also to replicate the current study in assessing the impact of the media on similar groups and the populations that are addicted to its coverage. 4 tables, 56 notes, 54 references, and appended questionnaire