After the 11^th of September’s tragedy, it is now clearly understood that terrorism is international in its nature. Counter terrorism, if it is to prevail, must be equally international.

 

   International Corporation against terrorism stands on common definition of terrorism. But according to some researchers, there are 109 different definitions of terrorism. 

 

   Two different definitions can be usefully distinguished, the conceptual and the administrative. A conceptual definition is the starting point for the systematic treatment of subject and thus for the advance of understanding, while an administrative definition is a basis for action. The administrative definition in the British Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), is simple:

 

Terrorism is the use of violence for political ends, and includes any use of violence for the purpose of putting the public or any section of the public in fear.

 

   Clearly the PTA definition fails the inclusion-exclusion test of distinguishing terrorist from non-terrorist violence. Everything from a politically motivated punch up to a global war falls within.

 

   Terrorism can be divided into two categories:

1. State Terrorism

2. Non-state Terrorism

 

The State Terrorism: According to some analysis, the best 20^th century examples  of the state terror are, the Gestapo, KGB, CIA, the secret Police forces of various totalitarian countries, and the activity of Israel against the Palestinians, Iraqi government against Kurds, and Serbia against Muslims.

 

Terrorism and Freedom Movements

 

   This is important that any definition on terrorism should make distinction between freedom movements and terrorism.

 

   Clearly, De Gaulle, Head of the Free French Movement’s activities against Hitler in the 2^nd world war, Algerian freedom fighter’s against France in the north of Africa, and Palestinian’s activities against Israel as an occupier regime, are all completely different from any kind of terrorism. For freedom movements are against totalitarianism, dictator regimes, new colonialism and occupation. But terrorist activities are against Human rights.

 

   Mao in China, Che Guevara in Bolivia, Fanon and Ben Bella in Algeria,   A’ezzoddin Qassam, Abu Jihad, Seyyed Abbas Musavi, in Palestine and Lebanon, Ahmad Shah Masoud in Afghanistan, are symbols o freedom movements. However, Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy, Stalin in Russia, Milosevic in Serbia Dayan and Sharon in the Occupied Palestine, Franco in Spain, and Pinochet in Chile  Sadam Hussein in Iraq, are symbols of State Terrorism.

   Roots: Some analysts believe that the roots of terrorism might be poverty, inequality, injustice, materialism, spiritual crisis, imperialism, new colonialism, double standard, and America’s foreign policy in the third world especially the Muslim countries

 

   Solutions: The war against terrorism that kills so many civilians is not the best solution to terrorism, and even some times it seems as a terrorist manner for both of them kill civilians and are both against some of the principles of Human rights. Peace, security, freedom and justice for all of world’s population, beyond their religion and nationality, can be the best solution to terrorism. And we can achieve these aims by dialog among civilisation and love and respect towards all cultures and civilisations.

 

Finally, I believe that all religions are against any kind of terrorism. Religion as religion always invites people to love, peace, spirituality, and brotherhood. The Religion’s massage is not the root of terrorism but its solution.