Why You Can’t Profile A Muslim Terrorist
WANT to know why you can’t profile a Muslim terrorist?
They may not be kids. They may not be Pakistani, they might not even be brown or black. The 72 virgins theory is a no-go, and neither is the ‘deprived neighbourhood’ idea. In other words, there are no easy answers. The other point about this report should be obvious: profiling doesn’t work, and could be counter-productive.
It can be. But what picture of a Muslim terrorist do you hold in your mind’s eye, and what is that image based upon?
In the meantime, the lack of simple answers inevitably makes simpletons turn around and say: ‘well, the unifying factor among all these terrorists is that they’re Muslim, so undoubtedly the problem must be Islam itself‘. There’s various problems with this theory too.
Indeed.
For a start, as the MI5 reports points out and as has been said before, these people don’t actually know much about their professed religion. So when some Muslim groups say ‘we need more Islamic education, not less, to tackle extremism’, they may have a point.
But they kill in the name of Islam.
Secondly, if Islam was the unifying factor, then these terrorists would spend less time killing other Muslims. But most attacks by Al-Qaeda and their anger is directed at other ‘moderate’ Muslims, who they see as heretical or standing in the way of their power grab.
They kill lesser Muslims.
Thirdly, religion is no indicator of suicidal terrorism since the Sri Lankan Tamils (Hindus) have the biggest numbers of dead people in a conflict under their belt. Similarly, some of the suicidal terrorists against Israel’s occupation of Lebanon were Christian and even atheists.
Indeed. It’s just that only Muslims have committed acts of terror in the War On Terror…
No?
Posted: 22nd, August 2008 | In: Twitterings, War On Terror Comments (9) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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October 9th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
The fact is if these people weren’t spoon fed religious rubbish from the moment they’re born then they would realise their life is precious and are likely not to throw it away killing innocent civilians in a war for a god that doesn’t exist.
All religion is evil. They all basically say “we’re right, they’re wrong” and any such policy will continue to divide mankind. Never mind more teaching of Islam, I would suggest more teaching of general education. No religious scho0ls or teaching of religion to children period. Surely a child should make their own choice of their beliefs at an educated age. Without indoctrination in schools religion would die within a generation but we seem obsessed with stamping our beliefs on children in the same way we do with our favourite football team. It’s shameful.
It amazes me how some of the most respected people in religion, and particularly islam, seem to be held in high regard for learning one book from cover to cover. Ridiculous when you think about it in that context. How do we even take these people seriously?
August 24th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Sunny
Use of torture by a government isn’t terrorism - it’s use of torture by a government.
If an organisation deliberately targets civilians in order to frighten them in order to put pressure on a government - it’s terrorism.
If a government targets civilians it’s oppression.
August 24th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Sunny you poor mixed up person you. Kidnapping a reporter, a missionary, or some other civilian, torturing them, and then hacking off their head is terrorism. Invading Sadam’s personal torture facilities is liberating the Iraqi people from a despotic dictator.
Does that include waterboarding, using white phosphorous on civilians, Guanatanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib?
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
With Old Mr Anorak around are there 72 virgins left?
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:22 am
If you can profile a serial killer you can profile a terrorist. Either the science of profiling is wrong (wouldn’t surprise me) or it’s ok to use it on anyone.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 am
For a start, as the MI5 reports points out and as has been said before, these people don’t actually know much about their professed religion. So when some Muslim groups say ‘we need more Islamic education, not less, to tackle extremism’, they may have a point.
I think you are reading too much out of their findings.
A simpler explanation is that people better educated in Islam would naturally be people of some stature, and hence be less inclined towards actually carrying the violent acts themselves. Especially when there are new recruits who are eager to prove their allegiance to the faith.
Furthermore, you theory fails to explain the religious intolerance of the people in Islamic countries. I hope you understand that the majority (>90%) of muslims outside of America are: (1) for the punishment of apostates, whether by death or imprisonment, (2) against open discussions of all matters related to Islam (check http://www.iheu.net for how OIC has been taking away freedom of speech in the UN Human Rights Council), (3) for the establishment of Sharia.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Ah but Vladimir - you said to Sunny:
“Neither you nor anyone else can rationally equate murdering Muslims while praying with killing those that perpetrated that murderous act.”
Since these disturbed and seemingly deranged minds CAN and DO make this equation, “irrational” is the word.
And we are responding rationally to such as these. That’s liberal democracy for you. We should enjoy it whilst it’s ours.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Sunny you poor mixed up person you. Kidnapping a reporter, a missionary, or some other civilian, torturing them, and then hacking off their head is terrorism. Invading Sadam’s personal torture facilities is liberating the Iraqi people from a despotic dictator.
Neither you nor anyone else can rationally equate murdering Muslims while praying with killing those that perpetrated that murderous act.
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
It’s just that only Muslims have committed acts of terror in the War On Terror…
Oh really? How many Iraqis have died through US bombing missions? Or do they not count?