COVID19 PANDEMIA: DID JIHADI TERROR MOVEMENTS REDEFINED THEIR MODUS OPERANDUM OR IS IT AN IMPLEMENTATION OF A CALCULATED RATIONALE DESIGNATED TO REGAIN TERRITORIES & ASSETS?

Barak Bouks

Barak Bouks Senior Research Fellow The Europa Institute Bar-Ilan University

Keywords: Keywords: COVID19, Religious Terror, ISIS, Suicide Attacks.

Abstract

61.236.4:28 323.284:28 616.98:578.834

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37458/ssj.1.1.4

Review Paper

Religious terror movements have long since been associated with violent Jihad and suicide bombings. As such, associated Jihadist perpetrators operate according to specific Muslim Fatwas (Clerical permissions), in order to carry out suicide attacks against their chosen targets. These perpetrators proclaim their willing to die for a definitive cause, regardless of any danger, as they expect an affluent after life in heaven. As COVID 19 erupted, the world came to a standstill and closure. The new situation affected terror movements globally. While previously Jihadists used to be regarded as fearless towards any death threat, COVID 19 is changing such former thoughts. Radical clerics issued new warnings for these Jihadists, to be aware of infected areas, temporarily making Europe practically a non-target for terror operations. This new significant modus operandum is an important topic for research. For the first time suicide bombers and Jihadists implement self-preservation techniques, while death itself is being considered as a threat rather than an achievement. This study finds that these perpetrators implement rational, calculated tactics, as religion is considered to be a part of this tactic, yet, they are not monolithic. They operate differently from one country to another, while having to review constantly the effectiveness of their operation vis-à-vis the support of the local population.

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