Weapon of Peace
How Religious Liberty Combats Terrorism

This book shows that attempts to repress religion produce the very violent religious extremism that states seek to avoid.

Nilay Saiya (Author)

9781108474313, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 August 2018

240 pages
23.5 x 15.6 x 1.7 cm, 0.46 kg

'The argument displays a mastery of the research literature, is very clearly and systematically delivered, and is fairly original - at least in its scope. Everyone with an interest in terrorism should read this book.' Lorne L. Dawson, Political Science Quarterly

Religious terrorism poses a significant challenge for many countries around the world. Extremists who justify violence in God's name can be found in every religious tradition, and attacks perpetrated by faith-based militants have increased dramatically over the past three decades. Given the reality of religious terrorism today, it would seem counterintuitive that the best weapon against violent religious extremism would be for countries and societies to allow for the free practice of religion; yet this is precisely what this book argues. Weapon of Peace investigates the link between terrorism and the repression of religion, both from a historical perspective and against contemporary developments in the Middle East and elsewhere. Drawing upon a range of different case studies and quantitative data, Saiya makes the case that the suppression and not the expression of religion leads to violence and extremism, and that safeguarding religious freedom is both a moral and strategic imperative.

Introduction: religious resurgence, repression and resistance
1. A global view of religious repression and terrorism
2. Minority religious discrimination and terrorism across faith traditions
3. Majority religious cooptation, terrorism and the Arab Spring
4. A weapon of peace
5. Religious liberty and American foreign policy
Appendix
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Social law [LNT], International criminal law [LBBZ], Public international law [LBB], Law & society [LAQ], Comparative law [LAM], Law [L]