Holy Terror: Inside the World of Islamic Terrorism

Many Western readers may find it strange that one of the most prominent Moslem writers and intellectuals has devoted a book to " Islamic terrorism."But this, in fact, is one of the strengths of this unusual book. The most important part of the book is the last part in which the author argues a strong case for democratization in the Moslem world. He insists that there will be no victory in the war against terrorism until and unless all Moslem nations develop open, democratic societies.This may sound like a tall order. But Taheri is convinced that the Moslem world will enter the mainstream of international life by adopting democracy.A.K

Sell your rosary and buy a gun! This is the chilling advice given to Moslem youths by Hassan al-Banna, an Egyptian schoolteacher who founded the terrorist organization known as the Ikhwan al-Moslemeen or Moslem Brotherhood.Many took his advice and murdered a string of political leaders and intellectuals in sevberal Arab countries.Over the half a century that followed the Ikhwan moderated their message and are now trying to impose their brand of Islam on Moslem societies through persuasion rather than murder.But their message bred other radical groups- from the Fedayeen of Islam to which Khomeini belonged, to Osama Ben Laden's Al Qaeda.This book tells the story of Islamist terrorism which dates back to 1400 years!In a sense the author shows that Islam and terror are Siamese twins, inseparable.The fact that the author himself is a Moslem, with an impeccable pedigree, makes the book more authoritative.Above all, however, it is the fast pace of the book, the wealth of information it offers, and the honesty of its analysis that are impressive.PBL

" Islam is not Christianity. It is not the religion of offering the other cheek to the aggressor. Islam is the religion of agitation, revolution, blood, liberation and martyrdom." This quote from the late Ayatollah Morteza Motahari, one of he brains behind the Khomeinist revolution in Iran is a graphic definition of what the world now faces in the form of Islamist terror.This is one of many quotes, some of them running into several pages, that the author of this book offers in a bid to provide a direct understanding of the phenomenon. The reader gets a rare chance of directly hearing from those who preach fire and brimstone against non-Muslims.The Islamist is persuaded that he must not accept peace until he has conquered the whole world for " The Only True Faith". He is ready to kill and to die in order to save mankind from what he regards as " jahiliah" or ignorance.All this he does with the best of intentions.Islam means submission to the Will of Allah , as revealed in the Quran, the Divine Book. Anyone who resfues such submission is a Taghut or rebel against Allah and must be converted or put to death.Taheri's book is a fast-paced narrative written by a talented journalist who observed many of the violent events he describes.At the same time, however, the book is based on solId historical and political research. Thus one can read it either as an extended reportage about Islamist terrorism , or as an introduction to a religion, culture and civilisation that covers more than 1000 million people throughout the world." Holy Terror" was originally published many years ago. I found a paperback edition only recently. What is remarkable is that, apart from some details, it has not dated. The Islamic Republic in Iran still features prominently on the list of states sponsoring international terror. And the number of Islamist terror organisation has, if anything increased. President George W Bush's " War on Terror" has so far not even scratched the surface.Anyone who wants to know how people like Osama Bin Laden are produced in the Islamic world should read this fascinating book.Pierre Benedile

As bombs explode in Moscow and the hunt for Islamic terrorists continues in the four corners of ter world , the world is divided between those who deny that Islam has any problem with terrorism and those who wish to use terrorism as a means of blackening the image of all Moslems. It is aainst this background that Amir Taheri's scholarly and balanced study merits special attention. As a Moslem I believe this book must be read by Moslems before anyone else. This is because we should not imitate those Germans who, after the Second World War, claimed that they simply didn't know. The book shows that the overwhelming majority of the victims of Islamic terrorism are Moslems. Thus by denying that there is terrorism in Islam we shall, in fact, leave our people exposed to this evil. The book is specially important because it provides a who-is-who of Islamic terrorism and details the way in which young people are recruited by governments and suppoedly charity organisations to train as professional terrorists. Western policymakers also need to read this book to understand why and how so many Moslem countries have become bases for international terrorism with the capacity to strike from the World Trade center in the heart of New York to a few hundred yards of the Kremlin in Moscow. Having finished reading this book you are bound to ask for more.A READER IN DUBAI

The best book I have read on Islamic Terrorism and extremism of any kind. Neither anti-Islamic nor apologetic towards Islam, Amir Taheri provides a balanced, in-depth look at Islamic Terrorism, including who funds these groups, why they support them, and the reactions of the Muslim world to their violence, tactics and objectives. The importance of democracy and democratic ideals as long-term solutions to political struggles in the Middle-East, rather than fanatical Islamic terrorist "liberation" groups, is stressed. I hope the author writes a sequel.