Every time a violent attack hits the news, a familiar and damaging narrative begins to form, especially if the perpetrator has a Muslim name. The conversation immediately pivots to “radical Islam,” and entire communities find themselves bracing for a backlash that is both unfair and unsupported by evidence. In fact, recent data shows a staggering 740% increase in Islamophobic attacks following a single terrorist event.
But what if this entire framework is wrong? What if the link between faith and terrorism is a persistent myth, distracting us from the real issues?
In a recent podcast, we sat down with Dr. Wesam Charkawi, a sociologist and expert with a PhD in countering violent extremism, to dismantle this myth. Using decades of empirical data, Dr. Charkawi exposes the true root causes of terrorism and explains why focusing on religion is not only inaccurate but dangerously counterproductive.
Disclaimer: This article discusses sensitive topics related to violence and extremism. The goal is not to diminish the horror of these acts but to foster an evidence-based understanding that can lead to effective, long-term solutions.
The Persistent Myth: Is There a Link Between Islam and Terrorism?
For decades, media narratives and political rhetoric have forged a seemingly unbreakable link between Islam and violent extremism. However, academic research paints a starkly different picture. When we move beyond headlines and look at the data, the myth begins to crumble.
Dr. Charkawi points to several landmark studies that challenge the conventional wisdom:
- The Foreign Occupation Factor: One of the largest studies on suicide terrorism, conducted by Robert Pape, found that 95% of attacks were motivated by a desire to remove foreign military occupation from the perpetrators’ perceived homeland. The primary driver was foreign policy, not faith.
- The Missing Islamic Education: A 2006 study by Marc Sageman analysed 172 Al-Qaeda-linked individuals and found that over 85% had little to no formal Islamic education. This directly contradicts the idea that deep religious knowledge is a precursor to extremism.
- The Ideology “Add-On”: Research by Donald Holbrook in 2015 on 100 UK individuals charged with terrorist offences concluded that ideology was not the trigger for violence. Instead, faith was often attached to the story afterwards to explain violence that was already driven by political, social, or personal factors.
Most surprisingly, a 2020 national study in Australia found that greater religiosity led to a greater rejection of violence. This suggests that Islam, rather than being a risk factor, often serves as a protective mechanism against extremism.
If Not Faith, Then What? The Real Root Causes of Terrorism
If religion isn’t the catalyst, what are the true root causes of terrorism? The academic consensus points to a complex interplay of political, social, and individual factors.
Political and Social Drivers
As early as 1981, scholar Martha Crenshaw identified key drivers that remain relevant today: perceived injustice, political exclusion, and blocked participation. Dr. Charkawi builds on this, highlighting several key areas:
- Foreign Policy & Geopolitics: As seen in Pape’s research, foreign intervention is a massive driver. Scholar Olivier Roy states, “What radicalises individuals is not religious doctrine but political events, wars, and the perception of injustice.”
- Hostile Rhetoric: Politicians who frame issues as “us vs. them” (e.g., John Howard’s “They’re attacking us for who we are”) create a divisive environment that fuels alienation.
- Negative Media Framing: Media outlets that consistently portray a “free, noble West vs. backward, repressive religion” narrative contribute to a hostile environment and can profoundly impact social identity.
Individual and Environmental Factors
Terrorism is not just a geopolitical issue; it’s also deeply personal. Researchers have identified several individual-level factors that can create vulnerability:
- Social alienation and humiliation
- Family conflict or disengagement
- Perceived double standards in law enforcement
- “Hybrid threat environments,” where global injustices feel connected to local experiences of discrimination.
By focusing on these contexts, we can begin to address the environments that give rise to violent extremism, rather than misattributing the problem to a global faith of billions.
So, Why Do Extremists Quote Religious Scripture?
This is a critical question. If faith isn’t the root cause, why is religious language so prevalent among some perpetrators?
Dr. Charkawi clarifies the distinction between a cause and a justification.
“Faith is attached to explain the violence that has already been pushed by other facets,” he explains. “It’s utilised as a justification, but not as a root cause.”
Think of it this way: a person who feels politically disenfranchised, socially isolated, and personally aggrieved has already reached a point of wanting to commit violence. At that stage, they may hijack and exploit religious scripture to legitimise their actions, frame their violence as a noble cause, and recruit others. The faith isn’t the vehicle that drove them there; it’s a banner they raise once they’ve arrived.
The High Cost of Misdiagnosis: Consequences for Communities
When governments and law enforcement agencies misdiagnose the root causes of terrorism, the consequences are severe and counterproductive.
Flawed Definitions and Draconian Laws
In Australia, the inclusion of “ideology” and “religion” in the legal definition of terrorism has had chilling effects. It allows authorities to infer intent from what a person reads, views, or writes. This leads to policing thought instead of action.
A shocking real-world example is the case of a 13-year-old autistic boy with an IQ of 70. After his parents called the police for help, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) groomed him, encouraging his extremist path instead of providing the support he needed. This is the tragic result of a system that views ideology as the problem.
Counterproductive Security Measures
A purely security-centric approach, heavy on surveillance and raids, creates more problems than it solves.
- Targeting Communities: Between 2005 and 2010, 65 out of 83 federally funded countering violent extremism (CVE) programs in Australia specifically targeted the Muslim community, deepening the very conditions of alienation that extremists exploit.
- Eroding Trust: When a community feels it is under siege, trust in law enforcement plummets. This makes partnership and genuine prevention impossible.
- The “Sellout” Construct: Research shows that Muslim organisations accepting CVE grants are often labelled “sellouts” by their own community, as it implies an acceptance of the false narrative that their faith is the problem.
| Myth-Based Approach | Evidence-Based Approach |
| Focuses on religious ideology as the primary driver | Addresses political, social, and individual root causes |
| Targets specific faith communities with surveillance | Builds partnerships across all of society |
| Views religion as a risk factor | Recognises religion as a potential protective factor |
How to Effectively Address Extremism
To move forward, we need a radical shift away from fear-based policies toward evidence-based solutions. Dr. Charkawi offers three actionable recommendations for governments, policymakers, and community leaders.
- Ground Policy in Evidence, Not Fear. Decisions must be based on decades of academic research, not populist rhetoric. The data is clear: the problem is located in societal dynamics, such as political, social, and individual, not within a single faith community.
- Focus on Behaviour and Context, Not Ideology. Shift the focus from what people believe to what they do. Instead of policing books and videos, concentrate on addressing the enabling environments and behaviours that lead to political violence. Having extreme views (cognitive radicalism) does not automatically lead to violence; in fact, non-violence is the norm.
- Recognise Religion as a Protective Factor, Not a Risk. Stop mischaracterising faith. The research shows that strong community and faith ties often make individuals more resilient to extremist narratives. Engage communities as partners in building a safer society, not as subjects of suspicion.
The Truth Matters for Prevention
The narrative that frames terrorism as a religious problem is more than just inaccurate; it’s a moral failure that actively prevents effective solutions. It allows political decisions, foreign interventions, and structural failures to escape scrutiny while communities are unfairly blamed.
When we misdiagnose the problem, we guarantee its continuance. The real causes, such as injustice, alienation, and political grievances, are left to fester. To build a truly safe and resilient society, we must have the courage to abandon convenient myths and follow the evidence. Only by addressing the true root causes of terrorism can we hope to solve it.