Did Repression in Chechnya Breed the Boston Bombing?
Chip Berlet printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 08:44:40 AM EST
The repression in Chechnya by invading Russian troops was brutal and deadly. In 2002 Human Rights Watch issued a report stating that "Russian forces in Chechnya arbitrarily detain, torture, and kill civilians in a climate of lawlessness."

Some Chechen Muslims suggest that Russia and the United States reached an understanding whereby the US would not pay attention to human rights abuses in Chechnya as long as Russian forces were fighting radical Muslims.

Richard H. Schultz, Jr. and Andrea J. Dew in Insurgents, Terrorists, and Militias: The Warriors of Contemporary Combat, note "the growing significance of Sufi Islam in the social, political, cultural, and economic life of Chechnya."

The Sufi form of Islam around the world is a pacifist religious movement, and Sufis generally stay out of politics, and sometimes are persecuted by the more orthodox Muslims.

According to Schultz & Dew, in Chechnya an aberrant form of Sufism developed.

Schultz & Dew suggest that after the Russian invasion of the North Caucuses, the "idea of ghazzavat or holy war made it easier for Chechens to take on" the Russian invaders.

"By labeling the Russians 'infidels,' the ghazzavat doctrine" infused the Muslim fighter with a "feeling of worthiness and moral supremacy." In addition, it "provided fighters with safe passage to the afterlife" by "eliminating fear of death and the unknown."

For some Muslims in Chechnya, terrorism was the only viable form of resistance. According to Shultz & Dew, "radical Islamists from various Arab and Muslim countries" joined the Chechen resistance, and saw the fight as "part of the international holy war."

What began as a resistance by Chechen nationalists seeking independence from Russia eventually morphed into a religious campaign dominated by Muslims. According to Shultz & Dew, "radical Islamists from various Arab and Muslim countries" joined the Chechen resistance, and saw the fight as "part of the international holy war." In 2003, the authors note, "the U.S. State Department designated three Chechen groups as terrorist organizations and charged they had links to al-Qaeda." This has been disputed by some experts. Clearly, not all Chechen resistance fighters were Muslim; some were simply nationalists opposed to the vicious Russian campaign against Chechnya. And not all resistance fighters turned to terrorism.

Nonetheless, the question remains, did repression in Chechnya breed the Boston Bombing?



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Chip, that is an important question to debate... It is obvious that there are impacts - but who significant we will likely never agree upon. Another significant question involves the history of the Soviet-Afghanistan War. If we remember, this war took place while the cold war still dictated US foreign policy and the Soviet Union was considered our most important "enemy". We would like to forget the CIA's involvement in training Ben Laden and other activists to disrupt the Soviet effort. This long way - with Afghanistan was likely more effective at bringing the Soviet Union down, than any thing which American foreign policy accomplished during the cold way. Chechnya and Russia conflict was greatly shaped by their location and participation in that Soviet-Afghanistan war. Fast forward to America's war on terror - and our fight in Afghanistan - our role now seems like that of the old Soviet Union - Chechnya again feeling battered by a super power fighting against their interests. Temporary support of international conflict for short term interests almost always do more harm than good - and as fascinating as what role this may have played in setting the stage of the Boston act of terrorism, I am more concerned about the divisions - the economic concentration of wealth in the hands of few, while a tax burden escalates on the many - and the casual way our politicians, media, and a significant portion of the public looks to violence as a possible road to peace and prosperity. Until there are clear voices calling for better responses in international affairs than simply "measured violence" to get our own way, we had better be prepared for a bumpy road. Violence breads violence - it's time for a better idea.

by chaplain on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 01:58:42 PM EST

I'm not knowledgeable on Islam but you mentioned Sufi Islam as an influential religion in Chechnya. My understanding is that Sufis are pacifists.

by Villabolo on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 04:21:36 PM EST

_ _ _

Chip Berlet: Research for Progress - Building Human Rights
by Chip Berlet on Fri Apr 19, 2013 at 10:17:08 PM EST
Parent


I think this post is very helpful to know the exact situation that has been going on presently. Actually I had many thoughts regarding this topic, but after reading this article I got stuck in the middle of the article getting confused. cheese curd   

by dona on Sun Jan 31, 2016 at 10:55:36 PM EST

The article sheds light on the complex dynamics in Chechnya and raises an important question about the connection between repression and the Boston Bombing.  diamond bridal sets It highlights the brutal repression by Russian forces and the development of an aberrant form of Sufism in Chechnya. Understanding these factors is crucial in analyzing the motivations behind acts of terrorism.

by isabelladom on Sun Jun 18, 2023 at 12:36:17 AM EST


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