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Before terrorism, came domestic abuse
Domestic violence must be taken more seriously in the context of improving counterterrorism efforts.
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Domestic violence must be taken more seriously in the context of improving counterterrorism efforts. (Shutterstock/File)
T
errorism has become more spontaneous, unpredictable and is as deadly as it was a decade ago during the days of alQaeda and its allies around the globe. Anytime an Indonesian steps out of the country, he or she faces the risk of terrorism, be it in Europe, North America or the Asia-Pacific.
We often associate “terrorism” with Islamist terror groups for a couple of reasons. Over the last 30 years, terror groups appropriating the name of Islam had replaced the nationalist and left-wing terror groups that were in power and prominence.
In Indonesia, Islamist terror groups have always been a major threat, from Darul Islam in the 1950s to pro-Islamic State (IS) individuals today.
American press and authorities often distinguish “terrorism,” related to Islamist terror groups, from “domestic terrorism,” which in the United States today is related to white supremacist groups or anti-government militia.
This month, in the span of just a couple of days, we heard about how terrorists used cars to kill people in the United States and Spain. We worry that Indonesians could be hurt in the incidents; at the time of writing, an Indonesian-Australian is in critical condition in Barcelona following the latest attack that killed 13 people and injured about 100 others.
White supremacists and followers of the IS movement and its ilk have more in common than they — and we — would like to admit. They believe Jews are responsible for their misery through complete Jewish control of global finance, media and even governments. They believe Jews are both capitalists and socialists and that they are fighting against such “Jewish ideologies.”
They are radicalized online, yet they are still reliant on global consumer products such as video games and major sports leagues. Their idealized society is a preindustrial, patriarchal and militaristic one.
