Terrorism or sabotage committed in the name of environmental causes. Code as politically motivated violence perpetrated in a clandestine manner against noncombatants. Risk and liability, says cruise ships and ferry lines need more protection against terrorism attacks because they meet terrorists prerequisites for an attack. It also replaced parts of the criminal justice terrorism and conspiracy act 1998. The las vegas shooting has again raised questions about domestic terrorism. A music video ode to friendly neighbors across the sea cant patch over. Under section 2 of the homeland security act of 2002. It superseded and repealed the prevention of terrorism temporary provisions act 1989 and the northern ireland emergency provisions act 1996. It is used in this regard primarily to refer to violence during peacetime or in the context of war against noncombatants mostly civilians and neutral military personnel. Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully. The definition of terrorism has proved controversial. The difficulty in defining terrorism is in agreeing on a basis for determining when the use of violence. According to 6 uscs 101, the term terrorism is any activity thata involves an act thati is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources.
But crafting a watertight, commonly accepted definition has. Apr 08, 2014 department of homeland security dhs definition of terrorism. This definition states that terrorism is a violent act or an act dangerous to human life in violation of the criminal laws of the united states or of any state to intimidate or coerce a. Information and translations of terrorism in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. The manner, in which the terrorist attack was launched, had shaken the entire world in general and united states of america in particular. There is no universal agreement on the definition of terrorism. The patriot act provides a definition, but because there are no actual criminal charges, some prefer not to use the term. It is for this reason that a comparison is necessary to clarify the scope of the operation of the terrorism risk insurance programmes. Terrorism definition, the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes. Definitions of terrorism wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Terrorism is the use of violence, especially murder and bombing, in order to achieve. International terrorism violent, criminal acts committed by individuals andor groups who are inspired by, or associated with, designated foreign terrorist. Any definition of terrorism should differentiate it from the struggle for selfdetermination of peoples. Various legal systems and government agencies use different definitions. The use of violence, threats, or intimidation to incite fear, or to coerce action, for political purposes. See the list below for various definitions of terrorism and take note of not only the inclusions, but also the possible exclusions within each definition. Moreover, the international community has been slow to formulate a universally agreed. Terrorism definition and meaning collins english dictionary. This subtitle subtitle g 66016604 of title vi of pub. Before examining the meaning and associated concepts and principles of international criminal justice and international criminal law as they. The terrorist attack on world trade center and pentagon has given a new dimension to terrorism. Nov 27, 2003 terrorism is defined by title 22 of the u. The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property in order to coerce or intimidate a government or the civilian population in furtherance of political o.
Jan 07, 2006 the key elements to terrorism are obvious to many violence, noncombatant targets, intention of spreading fear, and political aims. According to the details issued here by inter services public relations ispr on sunday out of the 546 finalized cases, 310 terrorists were awarded death penalty while 234 were awarded rigorous imprisonment of varied duration, ranging from life imprisonment to a minimum duration of five years. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Terrorism is violence or the threat of violence directed against civilians for the purpose of creating intense fear, which the terrorist hopes to exploit to attain political or ideological goals. The conflict, or much rather conflicts, in syria have exploded a flurry of definitions for terrorism with practically all fighting factions in the wider armed conflict in the wartorn country calling their enemies terrorists to justify their carpet bombings, barrel bombings, rocket shelling and even the indiscriminate deployment of chemical weapons against the other side. Apr 22, 2014 two proposed laws would expand the definition of terrorism under the egyptian penal code, introduce new procedures for prosecuting terrorism offenses and make a cluster of new crimes including. The terrorists plan their attack to obtain the greatest publicity, choosing targets that symbolize what they. Terrorist definition is an advocate or practitioner of terrorism as a means of coercion. In the final law, the revised definition of terrorism reads as follows.
For a better understanding of the definition of terrorism in the draft law, one needs to look at how this term is defined globally. Terrorism is a criminal act that influences an audience beyond the immediate victim. Oct 02, 2017 the las vegas shooting has again raised questions about domestic terrorism. Chinas first comprehensive antiterrorism bill, passed at the end of 2015. The revised academic consensus definition of terrorism. In the united states, for instance, references to terrorism are made in numerous contextspecific federal statutes and regulations. Terrorism definition is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.
The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. The key elements to terrorism are obvious to many violence, noncombatant targets, intention of spreading fear, and political aims. The definition of terrorism will affect communication and response to this issue and so have consequences for society and politics. Although work began on a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism by the end of 2000, the definitional impasse has prevented its adoption. However, it did the correct thing by going around this problem. The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property in order to coerce or intimidate a government or the civilian population in furtherance of political or social objectives. Terrorist definition of terrorist by merriamwebster. Department of homeland security dhs definition of terrorism.
Notice, for instance, the specificity of the language within each u. Ecoterrorism definition of ecoterrorism by the free. It is for this reason that a comparison is necessary to clarify the scope ofthe operation of. Why it is not easy for the united nations to define terrorism. The present definition of terrorism used in uk legal systems is to be found in section 1, terrorism act 2000,as amended4. The patriot act provides a definition, but because there are no actual criminal charges, some prefer not. The definition of terrorism world news the guardian. Army manual definition terrorism is the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful.
The terrorism act 2006 uses the definition of terrorism contained in the terrorism act 2000. Definitions of terrorism and the canadian context memorializing. Experts on terrorism also include another aspect in the definition. Interestingly, the american definition of terrorism is a reversal of the words original meaning, given in the oxford english dictionary as government by. May 07, 2001 interestingly, the american definition of terrorism is a reversal of the words original meaning, given in the oxford english dictionary as government by intimidation. The damage would be highly visible, would kill many people, would destroy costly property and would interrupt trade. While there are many national and regional definitions, there is no universal legal definition approved by the general assembly of the united nations the one proposed by the security council in res. The use of violence as a means of achieving a goal. There are two broad definitions of statesponsored terrorism.
Terrorism act 2000, section 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 02 march 2020. These aggrieved groups share two essential characteristics. Section 34 amends that definition slightly, to include specific types of actions against international. One refers to governments that support or conduct terrorism against other governments. Various legal systems and government agencies use different definitions of terrorism. The very word terrorism is charged with emotion, and politically loaded. It is for this reason that a comparison is necessary to clarify the scope ofthe operation of the terrorism risk insurance programmes. Oct 07, 2005 any definition of terrorism should differentiate it from the struggle for selfdetermination of peoples. The strategy of terrorists is to commit acts of violence that draws the attention of the local populace, the government, and the world to their cause.
There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Ali khan terrorism sprouts from the existence of aggrieved groups. Terrorism meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Human rights, terrorism and counterterrorism ohchr. Ive often written that terrorism is the most meaningless, and thus most manipulated, term in american political discourse. He said islam had nothing to do with the instigation of harm to innocent peoples. Two proposed laws would expand the definition of terrorism under the egyptian penal code, introduce new procedures for prosecuting terrorism offenses and make a. Chinas comprehensive counterterrorism law the diplomat. Ive often written that terrorism is the most meaningless, and thus most manipulated, term in american. Definition of terrorism social and political effects.
From longman dictionary of contemporary english related topics. There have been some definitional differences in the use of the terms terrorism and act of terrorism between oecd countries. Terrorism is, in the broadest sense, the use of intentional violence for political or religious purposes. G overnments are often the targets of terrorism, but they can also sponsor terrorists or use the tactics of terrorism. Defining the las vegas shooting people scramble for shelter at the route 91 harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was heard on october 1, 2017 in las. Terrorist definition of terrorist by medical dictionary.
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