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Terrorism and Human Rights Overview

This document discusses terrorism and human rights from international and national perspectives. It defines terrorism and outlines different types. It explains how human rights are relevant to terrorism as both victims and perpetrators are affected. The international community became focused on terrorism after the 9/11 attacks in the US. In India, major terrorist attacks like on the Parliament in 2001, Mumbai train bombings in 2006, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks shocked the nation. These attacks infringed on people's basic rights to security and privacy. Balancing security laws with human rights is a challenge faced by all countries in addressing terrorism.

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Ashish Agarwal
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
8 views26 pages

Terrorism and Human Rights Overview

This document discusses terrorism and human rights from international and national perspectives. It defines terrorism and outlines different types. It explains how human rights are relevant to terrorism as both victims and perpetrators are affected. The international community became focused on terrorism after the 9/11 attacks in the US. In India, major terrorist attacks like on the Parliament in 2001, Mumbai train bombings in 2006, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks shocked the nation. These attacks infringed on people's basic rights to security and privacy. Balancing security laws with human rights is a challenge faced by all countries in addressing terrorism.

Uploaded by

Ashish Agarwal
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

AND

HUMAN RIGHTS
1. SHRUTI MOHAPATRA - 99
2. ASHWINI BHOSALE - 65
3. JAYNISHA SHAH - 118
4. AKASH SHARMA - 49
5. NIKHIL THAKKAR - 56
6. SAKET KEDIA - 21
7. ASHISH AGARWAL - 02

[Link]- A
1. Terrorism – Meaning
2. Types of Terrorism
3. Human Rights – The Concept
4. Terrorism and Human Rights
5. International Perspective
6. National Perspective
 Terrorism is the systematic
use of terror especially as a
means of coercion.
 The word "terror" was
derived from the Latin
word-terrere , meaning “to
frighten”.
 Terrorism has been
practiced by a broad array
of political organizations for
furthering their objectives.
1) Civil disorder 
2) Political
terrorism 
3) Non-Political
terrorism 
4) Quasi-terrorism 
5) Limited political
terrorism 
6) Official or state
terrorism
 Human rights are “rights and freedoms to
which all humans are entitled.”

 Human rights are relevant to terrorism as it


concerns both, its victims and its
perpetrators. The innocent victims of
terrorism suffer an attack on their most basic
right to live in peace and security.
International
and National
Perspective
International attention became focused on
terrorism with the attack on The World Trade
Centre twin towers and The Pentagon on
September 11, 2001. Since it was the first
time that such attacks were experienced by
the U S A on its surface, it shook up the entire
country from the President downwards. 
WORLD TRADE CENTRE ATTACK
The attacks on The
Parliament on December
13,2001; the Mumbai train
blasts on July 11,2006; the 26
November 2008, Mumbai
attack and the rising Naxal
and Maoist attacks have all
shocked the nation time and
again.
 The 13 December 2001, Indian
Parliament attack was a high-
profile attack by Lashkar-e-
Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad
terrorists against the building
housing the Parliament of
India in New Delhi.
 The attack led to the death of
a dozen people (5 terrorists, 6
police and 1 civilian) and to
increased tensions
between India and Pakistan
and the 2001-2002 India-
Pakistan standoff.
 The 11 July 2006 Mumbai train
bombings were a series of seven bomb blasts
that took place over a period of 11 minutes
on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai.
 A state of high alert was declared in India's
major cities. Both the airports in Mumbai
were placed on high alert. The western line
of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network
was at first shut down, infringing on personal
rights and privacy of the people.
 [Link]
 Every law restricts some rights. Some laws restrict even
human rights as defined by the United Nations. we have to
understand that every act of terrorism infringes on the
human rights of the people. We also have to accept that
laws restrict rights of the people, necessarily or
unnecessarily. But we have to be clear that we have to
define terrorism in the context of our country and have to
devise temporary limitations on the rights of the people.
International pressures may land us in situations which
may push us into the lap of self appointed Inspectors of
the world who need our markets and resources and are
therefore keen to point out 'identity of interests' in
fighting 'international terrorism'. 

Common questions

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Arguments for implementing temporary rights limitations include enhancing national security, preventing imminent threats, and protecting public safety during crises. Such measures aim to provide authorities with tools to efficiently handle emergencies. However, arguments against include the risks of civil liberties erosion, potential for government overreach, and impacting trust in governmental institutions. Temporary limitations must be carefully defined, time-bound, and subject to judicial review to prevent abuses and ensure that they do not become permanent fixtures in legal systems .

Temporary limitations on human rights are sometimes deemed necessary in counter-terrorism efforts to ensure national security and protect citizens. However, these limitations pose significant challenges, including the risk of infringing on fundamental freedoms such as privacy, expression, and movement. Such measures must be clearly defined, proportionate, and scrutinized to prevent abuse and avoid undermining the rule of law. Balancing security needs with human rights obligations requires a nuanced approach, considering both international pressures and the specific national context .

Responding to state terrorism involves significant human rights challenges, as this type of terrorism involves acts carried out by governments against their own people or foreign nations. Such challenges include holding states accountable under international law, protecting victims within authoritarian regimes, and ensuring the enforcement of international human rights standards. State terrorism complicates humanitarian interventions and often involves complexities in international diplomacy, as it blurs the lines between sovereignty and global human rights norms .

The 2001 Indian Parliament attack significantly heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, leading to a military standoff in 2001-2002. India accused Pakistan-based terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad of orchestrating the attack. This escalation in tensions resulted in both countries amassing troops along their shared border, severely straining diplomatic relations and raising concerns about potential conflict, while also pushing India to strengthen its anti-terrorism laws and security measures .

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, international attention on terrorism intensified, leading to the realization of the global nature of the threat posed by terrorism. These attacks highlighted the need for an international collaborative response to counter-terrorism, focusing particularly on preventing further attacks and protecting human rights. This event marked a critical point, prompting countries, especially the USA, to re-evaluate their security policies and the balance between civil liberties and the need for security measures .

The 2008 Mumbai attacks exposed significant national security vulnerabilities, particularly in terms of intelligence failures, inadequate emergency response coordination, and limited preparedness for coordinated urban assaults. These attacks illustrated the need for improved communication networks between intelligence and law enforcement agencies, enhanced counter-terrorism training for security personnel, and better urban security infrastructure. The events highlighted gaps in both prevention and rapid response measures in countering terrorism .

Civil disorder involves disruptive acts in public spaces that challenge governmental authority and can lead to broader societal unrest, potentially justifying restrictive measures on assembly and expression. Quasi-terrorism involves acts that resemble terrorism but lack the core political motivations, like hostage-taking for ransom, primarily focusing on inducing fear or chaos. Both impact human rights by causing psychological trauma and restricting freedoms, but quasi-terrorism often leads to higher immediate confrontation levels with law enforcement .

The July 2006 Mumbai train bombings prompted international attention towards the threat of terrorism in India, resulting in increased global cooperation in intelligence-sharing and support for India's counter-terrorism strategies. These attacks underscored the vulnerabilities of urban transport systems and led to heightened security measures worldwide. They also emphasized the necessity for countries to bolster their defenses against terrorism, influencing international discourse on urban terrorism and transport security .

Defining terrorism within a specific national context enables countries to tailor legal frameworks and security policies to address unique domestic threats while respecting cultural, political, and societal nuances. It allows for the creation of context-specific laws that balance security needs and human rights. However, this can lead to inconsistencies with international standards, posing challenges for cross-border counter-terrorism cooperation and potentially leading to the misuse of anti-terrorism laws for political repression or targeting minority groups .

Political terrorism is associated with the efforts of political organizations to coerce or harm opponents and influence governmental policies to achieve political goals. Non-political terrorism, however, does not focus on political ends but might relate to a wide range of motives, including religious or ideological ones, without a direct intent to alter political structures. Both types of terrorism raise significant human rights concerns primarily because they result in the violation of the right to life and security, often targeting civilians. These distinctions are crucial as they help define the scope and nature of human rights protections and legal frameworks needed to address each type .

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