Will more repression scare away terrorism?
THE belief that a repressive policy is the only way to get rid of terrorism has taken root among many Egyptians, who are calling for broadening such a policy and imposing crueler measures against citizens suspected of terrorism. If this premise were true, Egypt would have been free of terrorism long ago.
The large segment of the population that sanctions repression is trying to live in peace at the expense of other citizens who share their desire but have a different outlook on life. Ordinary crimes and terrorist activity cannot be conflated.
In the case of the former, perpetrators know the risks are limited while the probable rewards are high. Very often they engage in illegal activities to improve their living standard, while always doing their utmost to hide their misconduct.
In contrast, terrorists know they risk losing their lives when carrying out terrorist acts, or eventually facing prosecution. Perpetrating terrorism necessitates a certain state of mind, so it cannot be defined simply as a law-breaking incident. Terrorism may be a reflection of some deficiency in a society that enabled terrorists to emerge.
Dealing with people who are willing to kill innocent citizens, and to give up their lives doing so, requires a proper understanding of the motive for their behavior, which in turn could help society pre-empt engagement in terrorist acts in the first place. Society must work to limit the likelihood of people committing terrorist activities by depriving them of motives, not by threatening them with more severe penalties.
The Egyptian state must strive to reduce the number of angry and disgruntled people who harbor hatred for everyone. We may think we are protecting society against potential crimes by detaining suspects in prison for years, based on police investigation. But sooner or later, those suspects will be released, and will have developed strong feelings of hatred toward the state and the entire community, and a desire to take revenge on both.
It may very well be that the repressive policy initially applied by the state will have contributed to any terrorist behavior adopted by those discharged from prison. The Egyptian media, endorsed by like-minded citizens, regularly call for the application of a more repressive policy. They may be motivated by a genuine desire to ensure a secure life, but their approach is misguided.
Since terrorists typically do not watch such media programs, they will not be aware that the state is expanding its repressive measures. Even if they did watch them, such programs would only harden their resolve. Virtue and sin have existed in all societies for centuries. Individuals can find reasons that impose either trait.
Still, it is essential to differentiate between citizens who may be tempted to briefly engage in an ordinary criminal act, and those who completely disregard the rules that govern society. Egypt needs to expand its system of ethical values, because strengthening virtuous principles might prevent citizens from committing terrorist acts. Reinforcing virtue in society should go hand in hand with proper and durable security measures; both actions are equally needed.
Many Egyptians today are extremely frustrated for a variety of reasons, including the current economic crisis and the inability to foresee the future. Even though citizens may be in complete agreement with the ruling regime, they are still affected by challenges. Administering a stronger dose of repression will not scare or deter terrorists; it will intensify the frustrating environment in which many Egyptians are living.
The Egyptian state needs to work on improving people’s daily lives, thus lessening the possibility of seeing them recruited by terrorist groups. Sending a clear message of fairness, promoting freedom of expression, the proper application of the rule of law, and creating more employment opportunities are key to reducing potential terrorist activity.
Threatening terrorists with higher levels of repression is more liable to trigger and accelerate violent extremism and active terrorism among the more frustrated segments of society. Full-fledged democracy may take a while to take root, but before that happens something can be done to stem terrorists’ advance: Justice and better living conditions. Mohammed Nosseir, a liberal politician from Egypt, is a strong advocate of political participation and economic freedom. He can be reached on Twitter @MohammedNosseir.