Islamic terrorism is terrorist acts committed by groups or individuals who profess Islamic or Islamist motivations or goals.[1] Islamic terrorists justify their violent tactics through interpreting the Quran and Hadith according to their own goals and intentions.[2][3]
The highest numbers of incidents and fatalities caused by Islamic terrorism occur in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria.[4] In recent decades, such incidents have occurred on a global scale, affecting not only Muslim-majority states in Africa and Asia, but also Europe, Russia, and the United States. Such attacks have targeted Muslims and non-Muslims.[5] In a number of the worst-affected Muslim-majority regions, these terrorists have been met by armed, independent resistance groups,[6] state actors and their proxies, and politically liberal Muslim protesters.[7]
Although the literal existence of Islamic terrorism is not disputed, some have criticized what they perceive to be the blanket usage of the term. Such use in Western political speech has variously been called "counter-productive," "unhelpful," "highly politicized, intellectually contestable" and "damaging to community relations."[8] This view, in turn, has been criticized by those who perceive it to be an act of evasion.[9]