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What do you think is unique about the experience of victims of terrorism?
Terrorism is, in the broadest sense, the use of intentional violence to achieve political aims. It refers to violence against civilians (non-combatants).
Under EU law, a terrorist offence is defined as follows. Terrorist offences are intentional acts which, given their nature or context, may seriously damage a country or an international organization, where committed with the aim of (a) seriously intimidating a population or (b) unduly compelling a government or an international organization to perform or abstain from performing any act or (c) seriously destabilizing or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a country or an international organization. This definition is accompanied by a list of intentional acts.
American political philosopher Michael Walzer, in 2002, wrote: “Terrorism is the deliberate killing of innocent people, at random, to spread fear through a whole population and force the hand of its political leaders”.
The type of people targeted by terrorists depends upon the ideology of the terrorists. A terrorist’s ideology will create a class of “legitimate targets” who are deemed as its enemies and who are permitted to be targeted. This ideology will also allow the terrorists to place the blame on the victim, who is viewed as being responsible for the violence in the first place.
Victims of terrorism are attacked in a non-personal manner, for being part of a certain group. Yet, the impact of the attack is very personal for them.
Mental health practitioners often hear from victims of terrorism that they think their experience differs from that of victims of other crimes. What do you think?
We would like your input – What do you think is unique about the experience of victims of terrorism?
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