Mark Deitch on Muslim terrorism

Mark Deutsch's article "Green Terrorism", published on July 17, 2003 in Moskovsky Komsomolets, is devoted to Islamic terrorism. The author, putting in the epigraph the phrase "Most Muslims are not terrorists, but most terrorists are Muslims" , claims that today it is legitimate to say that terrorism today represents only one confession - Islam. In support of his own perspicacity, he, in particular, reminds the reader that 10 years ago he was one of the first journalists to support the legitimacy of the term "ethnic criminal group" and was not mistaken. Now, in his opinion, it is legitimate to talk about confessional terrorism. The essay is an excursion into the history of the terrorist movement - from the second half of the 19th century to the present day, and a description of Islamic terrorist groups. The author believes that "the intolerance of Islam is the result of centuries of "processing" of Muslims" . The global statistics of terrorist attacks is supplemented by a selection of terrorist attacks that have occurred in Russia in recent years, which we have already written about (here is a link to the MK article with this selection already available in our feed). "... Still, apparently, there is something in Islam that, with skillful manipulation, allows you to step over the commandment:" Life is given to a person by Allah, and only Allah has the right to take it away, "the author concludes .

Discussion of "international terrorism" has become a hot topic today. But, in our opinion, the assertion that "the majority of terrorists are Muslims" is very doubtful. Perhaps the author has information about a not so significant number of Basque, Irish, Corsican, and numerous Latin American terrorist groups? Then why shouldn't he share his knowledge with the reader, who himself could compare the numbers?

In addition, we are absolutely sure that "with skillful manipulation" any ideological, (religious, philosophical) construction can turn into its complete opposite.

Deutsch Mark. "Green" terrorism: "Clash of civilizations": fantasy or reality? // Moscow's comsomolets. 2003. 17 July.