Willingness to sacrifice among convicted Islamist terrorists versus violent gang members and other criminals

Angel Gómez,Alexandra Vázquez,Saulo Fernández,Richard Davis,Laura Blanco,Scott Atran,Hend Bautista,Alfredo Ruíz-Alvarado,Juana Chinchilla,Borja Paredes,Beatriz Alba,Mercedes Martínez,Lucia López-Rodríguez,José Luis González-Álvarez,María Alonso,Sandra Chiclana,Florencia Pozuelo-Rubio,José Luis López-Novo,Héctor Valladares-Narganes

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06590-0

Abstract

Is terrorism just another form of criminal activity, as many nations’ justice systems assume? We offer an initial answer using face-to-face interviews and structured surveys in thirty-five Spanish prisons. Recent theories of extreme sacrifice inform this direct observational and comparative study. Islamist terrorists display levels of self-sacrifice for their primary reference group similar to that of Latino gangs, but greater willingness to sacrifice for primary values than other inmates (non-radical Muslims, Latino gangs, and delinquent bands). This disposition is motivated by stronger perceived injustice, discrimination, and a visceral commitment to such values (risk/radicalization factors). Nevertheless, state authorities, prison staff, and families are (protective/de-radicalization) factors apt to reduce willingness to sacrifice and keep foreign fighters, now being released in large numbers, from returning to terrorism.

Highlights

Is terrorism just another form of criminal activity, as many nations’ justice systems assume? We offer an initial answer using face-to-face interviews and structured surveys in thirty-five Spanish prisons
For example: (1) research suggests that terrorist offenders can have much in common with criminal offenders when it comes to risk factors[8], there may be a significant overestimation of the similarity between Islamist terrorism and gang behavior; (2) empirical data is still seriously lacking in regard to claims about the similarities and differences between jihadist and non-jihadist criminal groups in terms of the psychosocial factors that motivate their respective b ehaviors[8,9], and what may affect recidivism[10,11]; (3) there has
Our research indicates that policies for dealing with Islamist terrorists, inside prison and outside, should focus on what distinguishes them from other violent offenders and criminals: (1) greater commitment to their primary values, which is strongly associated with costly sacrifices; (2) longer-lasting commitment to their primary values and the group representing those values, undiminished by time in prison; and (3) stronger perception of unfair and hostile treatment by the state and mainstream society, which reinforces the link between commitment to value and group and willingness to sacrifice

Summary

Introduction

Is terrorism just another form of criminal activity, as many nations’ justice systems assume? We offer an initial answer using face-to-face interviews and structured surveys in thirty-five Spanish prisons. Islamist terrorists display levels of self-sacrifice for their primary reference group similar to that of Latino gangs, but greater willingness to sacrifice for primary values than other inmates (non-radical Muslims, Latino gangs, and delinquent bands). This disposition is motivated by stronger perceived injustice, discrimination, and a visceral commitment to such values (risk/radicalization factors). The interest in studying violent extremism and radicalization is a global ambition, in addition to difficulty accessing samples of terrorists, gaps in the current research literature arguably require more focused investigation, regarding the characterization of terrorist violence as criminal behavior. Others argue that some inflate similarities between gangs and terrorists for the added attention and assistance that claims of “terrorism” can bring, when : “Mara [MS-13] is not really a transnational organization [and] its relationship with Al Qaeda and terrorism is overblown.”[16]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion