Making a case against modern terrorism: critical analysis of the warfare principles under Islamic International Law

Abstract

The word ‘jihad’ means ‘struggle’ or ‘striving’ (in the way of God) or to work for a noble cause with determination, but the word has been conceptualised to include ‘warfare principles’ as one of the forms of jihad. Since the event of 9/11, the term jihad and even the religion of Islam have been associated with fanaticism, intolerance, violence and wars of aggression. As such, jihad is perhaps the most misrepresented of ideas in the West’s understanding of Islam. Jihad has been used by terror groups as a defence for their acts of terror as evidenced by the ‘Declaration of the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders’ by Osama bin Laden. This article seeks to analyse the concept of jihad (warfare principles) under Islamic international law, the relationship between jihad and modern terrorism being carried out by Muslim extremists or if it is merely a misappropriation and distortion by Muslim extremists as part of their violent campaign against the West and their own governments, and the foremost religious terror group known as al Qaeda so as to have insight into the emergence of religious terror groups, their beliefs, operations and structure.

Keywords: Jihad, Terrorism, Modern Terrorism, al-Qaeda