Human Rights Protection: A Panacea for the Use and Involvement of Women in Terrorism

Abstract

A large number of people tend to distinguish terrorism from other violent crimes; as some form of holy war or Jihad, however, it is strongly opined that this sheer wicked and brutal crime against humanity can only be categorised as murder – cold blooded, unjustifiable murder. One inherent attribute about humans is that people seek to justify their actions and inactions by backing it with some sort of rationale; those who go to the extreme hide under divine deities to perpetrate things concocted in their twisted minds to suit their own selfish interests and aspirations. It is only most unfortunate that these heartless criminals have successfully over the years hidden behind religion to perpetrate unholy and inhuman deprivation of life which has now come to be referred to as terrorism. The history of terrorism is as old as humans’ willingness to use violence to affect politics. This dates as far back as the 11th to 13th century. The Sicarii were a first century Jewish group who murdered enemies and collaborators in their campaign to oust their Roman rulers from Judea. The Hashhashin whose name gave us the English word ‘assassins’ were a secretive Islamic sect active in Iran and Syria at about that time. Zealots and Assassins were not, however, really terrorists in the modern sense. Terrorism is best thought of as a modern phenomenon. Its characteristics flow from the International system of nation-states, and its success depends on the existence of a mass media to create an aura of terror among many people. The attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 caused a resurgence of interest in terrorism studies in the United States and throughout the world. Although scholars have examined many factors related to terrorism, including nationalism and globalisation, the influence of gender on terrorism has received comparatively less attention. Alan Bairner (2001:21, 26) argues that such studies have endeavoured relatively successfully to neglect the issue of gender, but adds that they cannot be fully understood without reference to gender. In discussing gender and terrorism in recent times, Nigeria has experienced a high number of female suicide bombings in the past couple of months. Female suicide bombing have developed into a worrying trend and a destabilising factor in north-eastern Nigeria. This is an anomaly that cannot be ignored. Jama’at Ahl Sunnahlid – dawa wal-Jihad (JAS) known widely as Boko Haram has employed suicide bombers as a terrorist tactic in the insurgency against the Nigerian government since 2011. By the middle of 2014 however, reports began to emerge of an alarming new dimension; the use of women and girls in suicide missions. The first reported case of a female suicide bomber occurred on June 8, 2014 when a woman detonated a bomb near an army barracks in Gombe State of Nigeria. Despite the fact that this aspect of Women’s rights where women and young girls are being wired up as suicide bombers is quite novel and has inadequate literature, this paper does intend to lend a voice to this cause by considering the use and involvement of women and girls in violent crimes; using terrorism as a case study. Factors contributing to the involvement of women in violent crimes will be also be looked into. Another point which will arise for discussion is the rationale for the protection of the rights of women as a group. Since the women involved are predominantly from the north, the rights of women as guaranteed under the Islamic and Sharia law will also be looked at. Finally, the paper concludes and makes recommendations on how this scourge can be controlled and curbed. This paper is not just another feminist ranting; it is rather a call to action and further research into this evil that has suddenly become prevalent in our immediate environment.