Terrorism and human rights abuses in the Balkans Essay Example for Free

act of act of terrorism and human rights abuses in the Balkans EssayAbstract This essay aims to explain the history of and the reasons for the existence of terrorism in the Balkans. It also compared the similarity between human rights abuses in Persian gulf nations and Islamic fundamentalist-themed terrorist attacks on the linked States. Lastly, this essay will also answer why the fall of the Soviet Union will slip away to an increase in terrorism in Eastern europium. Terrorism and kind-hearted Rights Abuses in the Balkans, Eastern atomic number 63 and the Persian disjunction The Balkans, despite being a relatively small area, is home to an expansive florilegium of nationalities, cultures and religions (Popescu, 2008). Hence, it is inevitable that any changes in the balance between them will have important political, social and economic consequences that will affect the entire expanse (Popescu, 2008). Terrorist groups took advantage of the instability brought about by t he distrust of Balkan societies in their various(prenominal) governments (Popescu, 2008). As a result, they easily turned the region into a breeding ground for immoderate and fundamentalist groups, as well as a transit corridor for missions in third countries (Popescu, 2008).The war in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s, for instance, originated from the desire of the Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) to establish an Islamic state (Popescu, 2008). They used Islam as a nationalistic rhetoric, par the survival of their country with the restoration of Muslim national identity (Popescu, 2008). The Bosniaks were supported by Islamic countries such(prenominal) as Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Libya and Iran, providing them with weapons and soldiers (Popescu, 2008).From 1992 to 1995, 6,000 Arab-Afghan rebels came to the country to fight in the hostility (Popescu, 2008). After 9/11, majority of the benignant institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina were investigated and closed down due to their a lleged ties with terrorist organizations like the Al-Qaeda (Popescu, 2008). In March 2002, practice of law raided the Bosanska Idealna Futura-BIF, a Sarajevo-based humanitarian organization (Popescu, 2008). They found military manuals, forged passports, weapons and personal correspondence between Osama put in Laden and BIF founder Enaam Mahmud Arnaout (Popescu, 2008). man rights abuses by Persian Gulf nations (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, etc. ) and terrorist attacks against US interests were both think to supress political oppositeness. Despite publicly denouncing American imperialism, the aforementioned countries are notorious for grossly violating the human rights of their citizens (Simbulan, 2002). absolute majority of political prisoners in the Persian gulf nations were detained for speaking out against corruption and totalitarianism in their respective countries (Simbulan, 2002).Prominent Omani playwright and human rights activist Abdullah Ryami was imprisoned on July 2005 for vocally criticizing the Omani governments hook and trial of 31 Omanis belonging to the Ibadi sect for allegedly plotting a coup (Human Rights Watch, 2005). At the time of his incarceration, he had no contact with his family or a legal counsel (Human Rights Watch, 2005). He was also banned from report in newspapers and producing plays for television (Human Rights Watch, 2005).On December 2007, activists in Bahrain staged a series of demonstrations to mark abuses by security forces during political unrest in the 1990s (Human Rights Watch, 2008). Dozens of people were arrested in the violent dispersals that ensued, including opposition political activists who protested the Bahraini governments repression of civil liberties (Human Rights Watch, 2008). In January 2008, detainees complained of being subjected to physical and sexual abuse by interrogators and jailers (Human Rights Watch, 2008).The prisoners communicate for independent physicians to examine the extent of their injuries was also denied (Human Rights Watch, 2008). The collapse of the Soviet Union contributed to terrorist activities in Eastern Europe by making its newly-formed republics much vulnerable to American military intervention (Howstuffworks, 2008). After the Soviet bloc fell, the US emerged as the worlds remaining superpower (Howstuffworks, 2008). The breakup of the Soviet Union granted the US slack access to its natural resources, particularly oil (Howstuffworks, 2008). The paragraph below summarized the regions potentialAfghanistan occupies the central position in the U. S. strategy for the economic control of the oil and bobble resources in the entire Middle East. The U. S. authorizedly imports 51 per cent of its crude oil 19. 5 million barrels daily. The Energy Information Administration estimates that by 2020, the U. S. will import 64 per cent of its crude 25. 8 million barrels a day. Caspian region oil reserves might be the third largest in the world (after Western Sib eria and the Persian Gulf) and, deep down the next 15 to 20 years, may be large enough to offset Persian Gulf oil.Caspian Sea oil and gas are not the only hydrocarbon deposits in the region. Turkmenistans Karakum Desert holds the worlds third largest gas reserves three trillion cubic meters and has six billion barrels of estimated oil reserves. Current estimates evidence that, in addition to huge gas deposits, the Caspian basin may hold as much as 200 billion barrels of oil 33 times the estimated holdings of Alaskas North Slope and a current value of $4 trillion. It is enough to meet the U. S. energy needs for 30 years or more (Yechury, 2001).Hence, it was no longer surprising if the US declared war against the Taliban regime of Afghanistan. But majority of the extremist and terrorist groups in the former Soviet Bloc and in Eastern Europe are allied with the Taliban, as the Taliban provided them with weapons, training and manpower (Godoy, 2001). Therefore, the US will have to face a bigger threat of terrorism in Eastern Europe.References __________. (2002, October). The Oil Equation in the US Bid against Iraq. Education for Development, 1, 15-16. Capdevila, G. (2002, October).Outgoing UN Human Rights Chief Repeats Criticisms against US. Education for Development, 1, 30-31. Deen, T. (2002, October). UN Credibility at Stake over Iraq, Warn Diplomats. Education for Development, 1, 10-11. Godoy, J. (2001, November 15). US polity Towards Taliban Influenced by Oil Authors. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http//www. commondreams. org/headlines01/1115-06. htm. Howstuffworks. (2008). The Fall of the Soviet Union and the Rise of Terrorism. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http//history. howstuffworks. com/cold-war/the-cold-war-timeline4.htm.Human Rights Watch. (2005, July 18). Oman Critics Subjected to Injustices They Had Exposed. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http//hrw. org/english/docs/2005/07/18/oman11343. htm. Human Rights Watch. (2008, January 21). Bahr ain Investigate Alleged Torture of Activists. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http//hrw. org/english/docs/2008/01/21/bahrai17838. htm. Human Rights Watch. (2008, February 16).Bahrain New Allegations of Detainee Abuse. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http//hrw. org/english/docs/2008/02/16/bahrai18083.htm. Lobe, J. (2002, October). US Vision of Might and Right. Education for Development, 1, 3-5. Popescu, Teodora. (2008).Tackling Terrorism in the Balkans. PDF File. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from sparky. harvard. edu/kokkalis/GSW9/Popescu_paper. pdf. Simbulan, R. (2002, October). Why the UN Must Defend Iraq against the US War of Aggression. Education for Development, 1, 48-50. Yechury, Sitram. (2001). America, Oil and Afghanistan. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http//www. hinduonnet. com/2001/10/13/stories/05132524. htm.