Religious militancy and our security

Although the focus was religious militancy, the topics discussed covered a very wide spectrum of issues that impact the security profile of the region.

The seminar was much enriched by the participation of a number of very erudite scholars, not only from the region, but also from France and Germany as well, the co-sponsors of the seminar.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The main topic for consideration was "Religious Militancy and Security in South Asia." One would take it to mean that the phenomenon of militancy is predicated upon scriptural motivations or the misuse of the scripture by the protagonist of these movements, in furthering their aims and objectives, and the purpose of the academic exercise, as one understood from the background papers, was to reflect on the entire gamut of religious militancy, not exclusively as it manifests itself in our region, but also those that are in vogue outside it, and its impact on our region.

However some participants were averse to the use of the phrase "religious militancy" and felt that "militancy in the name of religion" might have been more appropriate. This view stemmed perhaps from the notion that militancy in Bangladesh has no relationship with religion. That may be so, but the purpose of the seminar was exactly that -- to assess whether militancy in the region is motivated by religious imperatives or otherwise.

One understands the genuine apprehension of those that see in the phrase "religious militancy" suggestion of a situation where militant activities are mandated and legitimised by religion and scripture. Thus, they felt that "militancy in the name of religion" would perhaps have been more appropriate.

In this context one could take issue with those that assert, "for the religious terrorist, violence first and foremost is a sacramental act or divine duty executed in direct response to some theological demand or imperative," but one cannot rule out the existence of groups or individuals that are naturally predisposed to violence and seek legitimacy of their acts in religion and the scriptures. Examples of use and indeed misuse of religion for the sake of so-called pious deeds are many, not only in the region, but also all over the world. Therefore, one need not have any reservation about the phrase "religious militancy" per se.

The seminar provided a unique opportunity to thrash out the issue and come to some sort of a conclusion as to the exact character of militancy in the region and on that count one would have liked to see a more comprehensive treatment of the main topic, particularly on the causal link, if any, between militancy and religion in South Asia.

Insofar as the matter of scripture influencing militancy is concerned, it may surprise those that refuse to see the connection, but history shows an elemental link between the two. According to Bruce Hoffman, an authority on terrorism, there is etymological association with many of the words that are in vogue in the English language, derivative of the activities of religious groups many centuries ago. For example "zealot" is associated with a millenarian Jewish sect who fought against the Roman occupation of what is now Israel between 66-73 A.D. The Zealots waged a ruthless campaign of both individual assassination and wholesale slaughter, employing a primitive form of chemical warfare: poisoning wells and granaries used by the Romans and even sabotaging Jerusalem's water supply.

Similarly the word "assassin" is linked to the word hashish and associated with a radical Shi'a branch who, between 1090-1272 A.D, fought the Christian Crusaders attempting to conquer present-day Syria and Iran. The assassin, meaning hashish-eater, would ritualistically consume hashish before committing murder, an act obligated, they believed by religion, something that would hasten the new millennium. Of course, the attraction of martyrdom that would get them to heaven was an additional motivation. This ethos of self-sacrifice is evident in some Muslim terrorist movements today.

Closer to home, the term "thug" comes from an Indian religious gang of professional robbers and murderers who, for almost six hundred years, made victims of wayfarers by sacrificing them at the pedestal of Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction. Estimates of the number of persons murdered by the Thugs during their six hundred-year existence put the death toll between five hundred thousand and a million.

In fact, some experts and scholars of the subject assert that until the nineteenth century and the advent of nationalism, anarchism, and Marxist ideology, "religion provided the only acceptable justifications for terror. Researchers contend that today, "at least twenty percent of the approximately fifty or so known terrorist groups active throughout the world can be described as having a dominant religious component or motivation whereas none of the 13 identifiable terrorist groups active in 1968 (the year credited with having marked the advent of modern, international terrorism) could be classified as religious."

However, in recent times, notwithstanding the age-old symbiosis between terrorism and religion, ethnic and nationalist-separatist ideologically motivated terrorism has overtaken religiously motivated militancy.

Also, one felt inclined to think that the word militancy was being used as a euphemism for terrorism. Admittedly, terrorism has come to acquire a sensitive connotation, and any attempt by scholars to associate terrorism with religion is fraught with difficulty. While there is a very subtle difference between terrorism and militancy, the methods and means to stem the fulmination of the phenomenon and its negative impact is perhaps not different at all.

It must be remembered that religion in South Asia plays a very important role in the lives of the people of the region. However, poor governance and the resultant weakness of the state is exploited and religion is used by some to motivate the less empowered but more gullible section of the population by seeking legitimacy in religion for their acts.

In view of the post 9 /11 developments, hedging the issue of religious militancy in South Asia would be to the detriment of not only Bangladesh but also the region.

The author is Editor, Defence and Strategic Affairs, The Daily Star