Extremist Groups

“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. “Extremism is an act of taking a belief, political view or ideology to its most literal extreme. The terms “extremism” or “extremist” are almost always applied by others, rather than a group labeling itself as such. There is no sect of Islam that calls itself “Islamic Extremism”; there is no political party that calls itself “Right Wing Extremist” or “Left Wing Extremist”.

Extremism is a term used to describe the actions or ideologies of individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards. In democratic societies, individuals or groups which advocate that democracy should be replaced with some kind of authoritarian regime are usually branded extremists. In an international compilation of terrorist organizations, more than 200 groups have been identified as extremists in different parts of the world. However, the only two international extremist groups are the Al-Qaeda and the International Islamic Front or the World Islamic Front. Al- Qaeda is an Islamist group founded sometime between August 1988 and early 1990. It operates as a network comprising of multinational, stateless arm and a fundamentalist Sunni movement calling for global jihad. Fanaticism, extremism or dogmatism is not normal and not acceptable to any society. We are free to follow our own ideology as long as it does not hamper the lives of the people around us. Killing in the name of an ideology is unforgivable and a serious offence.