Religious terrorism

Religious terrorists use violence to further what they see as divinely commanded purposes. (see also Religious intolerance).

Examples of Religious Terrorist Groups:

• Abu Sayyaf, Philippines
• al-Qaeda, Worldwide
• Armed Islamic Group (GIA), Algeria
• Aum Shinrikyo, Japan
• Babbar Khalsa, India
• Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Egypt
• Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front (IBDA-C), Turkey
• Hamas, West Bank and Gaza Strip
• Hizballah, Lebanon
• Irish Republican Army, Ireland
• Islamic Movement of Central Asia, Central Asia
• Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
• Jemaah Islamiyah, Indonesia
• Jewish Defense League – (JDL), USA
• Kach, Israel
• Kahane Chai, Israel
• Lashkar-e-Toiba, Pakistan
• Loyalist Volunteer Force, Ireland
• Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Philippines
• Orange Volunteers, Ireland
• Palestinian Islamic Jihad, West Bank and Gaza Strip
• Red Hand Defenders, Ireland
• Students Islamic Movement of India, India

Islam

Organizations dedicated to Islamist terrorism

• Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO): Aims for the destruction of the state of Israel, and states supporting Israel.
• Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG): Aims for the establishment of an Islamic state in the Southern Philippines.
• Al-Gama'at al-Islamiya (GI): The violent overthrow of the Egyptian Government and establishment of an Islamic state and the removal of Western influence from the Arab world.
• Al-Jihad Aims for violent overthrow of the Egyptian government and the establishment of an Islamic state in Egypt, destruction of U.S and Israeli interests.
• [[Al Qaida: Led by Osama Bin Laden, its aims are the expulsion of Western forces from Saudi Arabia, the destruction of Israel and non-Islamic societies .
• Ansar al-Islam (AI) Aims to create an Islamic state in Iraq; allied with Al-Qaeda
• Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade Aims for the destruction of Israel and to establish an Islamic Palestinian state
• [[Armed Islamic Group ]](Groupe Islamique Armée) (GIA): The aim of the GIA is the violent overthrow of the Algerian government and the creation an Islamic state in Algeria..
• Asbat Al-Ansar: Aims to establish a fundamentalist Islamic state in Lebanon.
• [[Egyptian Islamic Jihad ]](EIJ): The aim of the EIJ is to overthrow the Egyptian Government and replace it with an Islamic state, global Jihad against non-muslims societies. Allied with Al-Qaeda.
• Gama’a al-Islamiyya Aims to replace Egypt's government with an Islamic state
• Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassem Brigades: Hamas aims for the destruction of Israel and establishment of the Islamic state of Palestine in its place
• Harakat Mujahideen (HM): seeks Islamic control of Kashmir, destruction of US and Western Interests around the world. Allied with Al-Qaeda
• Hizballah: Hizballah is committed to destruction of Israel and the establishment of the Islamic state of Palestine
• Islamic Army of Aden (IAA): The IAA's aims are the violent overthrow of the Yemeni government and the establishment of an Islamic State following Sharia Law.
• Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU): The primary aim of IMU is to establish an Islamic state in the model of the Taleban in Uzbekistan and over the entire Turkestan area.
• Jaish e Mohammed (JeM): JeM seeks the 'liberation' of Kashmir from Indian control as well as the destruction of America and India.
• Jeemah Islamiyah (JI): JI's aim is the creation of a unified Islamic state in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Southern Philippines.
• Kurdistan Workers' Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan) -PKK: The PKK is primarily a separatist movement that has sought an independent Kurdish state in southeast Turkey.
• Lashkar e Tayyaba (LT): LT seeks Islamic control for Kashmir and the creation of an Islamic state.
• Mujaheddin e Khalq (MeK): Aims for a socialist, Islamic republic in Iran.
• [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad – Shaqaqi ]](PIJ): Aims for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state of Palestine in its place.
• Salafist Group for Call and Combat (Groupe Salafiste pour la Predication et le Combat) ]](GSPC): Its aim is to create an Islamic state in Algeria.

Christian

Organizations dedicated to Christian terrorism

• Nagaland Rebels (1948-present) Active in predominately Christian state in Hindu India. Involved in several bombings in 2004. Goal: Independence from Hindu India after annexing parts of neighboring Indian states and Burma if it has Christian majority.
• Ku Klux Klan A racist Protestant Christian organization with a history of violence against blacks, Jews, and Catholics.
• Anti-Abortion Terrorism Activities include bombing abortion clinics, killing doctors and nurses. A member Eric Robert Rudolph was charged with Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the Olympics and a health clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.
• Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **
• Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-present)
  • Splinter group of the 'Official' IRA.
  • Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
  • Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
  • Splinter groups:
    • Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
      • Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
    • Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present) *
      • Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for Volunteers of Ireland).
      • Does not recognize Belfast Agreement.
• Irish National Liberation Army

• Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971-present) **
  • Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
  • On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
  • Splinter group:
    • Red Hand Defenders (1998-present) **
      • UDA splinter group. Opposes ceasefire.
• Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (May 1966-present)
  • Very closely linked with the Red Hand Commandos (1972-present).
• Ulster Defense Force (UVP) **
• Loyalist Volunteer Force (disbanded)
• Orange Volunteers

Jewish

(Some of these Jewish groups believe that God gave Jews the land of Israel and so they advocate ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Israel, West Bank and Gaza). Most, if not all, however, support the transfer of Palestinians to other regions within the Middle East.)

• Jewish Defense League – United States
• Kach and Kahane Chai – Israel and United States. The Hatikva Center is a Kahane Chai front organization.

Other Religions

• Aum Shinrikyo (Aum Shinrikyo)
• Rajneeshee