An Argument for the Justification of Terrorism

Society portrays terrorism as an unjustified and cowardly act. They use propaganda to sway the thoughts of the majority and shadow the reality of the fact. Terrorism is justified, when it is within one's beliefs, civilians are not targeted, and it is used as a last resort. Terrorism is neither a cowardly or unjustifiable act. Terrorism is an act of courage and selflessness.

If a person is devoted to their religion and someone is trying to take it away from them, then he or she has the right to protect themselves. When the opposing force is so large that they have no way of defending themselves and they have no one else to stand up for them then they are justified in becoming a terrorist. They risk their lives to protect their beliefs and show selflessness by saving them for others. This is what Kamel Daoudi is doing, he believes that his religion is the"" key target of the U.S. forces and other "iniquitous powers" and that he must protect it,

"The Algerian war, the Bosnian war, the gulf war, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon... all of these events strengthen my conviction that the Judeo-Christian community influenced by atheism has a visceral hatred of the community of Muhammad ... For all these reasons and because of all these events which have left indelible wounds, I went over to the forces of the "dark side"..." (Sciolino)

Being a "Patriot", a terrorist, for ones country because of immanent defeat is also justified. The Japanese Kamikazes felt that the only way to protect their ideals from the invading U.S. was to sacrifice themselves. They were backed into a corner and had exhausted all other resources, their navy had been destroyed and U.S. troops were advancing. They felt that through their sacrifice they would save their country, this justified their terrorist acts.
Civilians are never to be the target of any military action. This is even stated in the Geneva Convention, Article 4, "Protection of Civilian persons and population in time of war", it reads, "Parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants in order to spare civilian population and property. Neither the civilian population as such nor civilian persons shall be the object of attack. Attacks shall be directed solely against military objectives." This means that as long as a terrorist only targets military personnel to further their cause then they are justified. Many civilians may have nothing to do with the oppressions being forced upon the terrorist. By only attacking military personnel the terrorists are attacking the foundation of that which they oppose and become soldiers themselves.

Becoming a terrorist should only be used as a last resort. All other resources available to oneself should have been tried or used up. This includes diplomacy, head to head combat with the opposing army, and diplomacy after that, and if all this fails and the opposing force still suppresses one's beliefs one is then justified in becoming a terrorist. This applies also when the armed forces of ones country have been eliminated and the people are being tortured against the rules of the Geneva Convention. One is then justified in standing up against that government, becoming a terrorist, and helping those being oppressed and tortured.

Becoming a terrorist does not mean becoming a suicide bomber, which is what many have come to view it as. It means to step up against the views of the majority, or those of a government, through the use of force or violence. This is justified when the views of the majority are not moral or correct in the eyes of the minority or the terrorist and all other options have been used. This is why when ideas are being forced upon oneself, one is being backed into a wall, and one has exhausted all other options becoming a terrorist is justified.

Worked Cited

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War." Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2002. 11 Sept. 2006 .
Sciolino, Elaine. "Article: Portrait of the Arab as a Young Radical." NYTimes.com. 22 Sept. 2002. Scholors for Peace in the Middle East. 4 Sept. 2006 .