Terrorism Labeling Definition

In this new period of terrorism the problem of labeling the enemy comes into play when governmental bodies need to create counterterrorism policies. The labeling issue is typically faced with a challenge that is dependent on how a suspect’s status is classified. The methods in which classifications are applied to suspected terrorists can be a conflict-ridden issue. Martin (2014) points out that during the war on terrorism classifications of suspects “is a central legal, political, and security issue” (p. 9). A suspected terrorist’s classification can make him or her eligible for specific protections or rights such as those covered in the third Geneva Convention which outlines codes of behavior for the treatment of prisoners of war. Those who are protected under the Geneva Convention’s protocols must have the same rights afforded to them as the soldiers of the country which has custody of the combatant. What this essentially means is that in the United States, a suspected terrorist who is captured, detained, and labeled as a prisoner of war would have all the same legal rights as any U.S. soldier in this …show more content…
takes in regard to suspected terrorists is to label them with official and unofficial names such as enemy combatants, unlawful, combatants, and battlefield detainees. The logic behind these labels is that suspected terrorists are not engaging in acts of war on the behalf of a country. Acts of terrorism can be initiated by groups rather than entire countries and can be motivated by the political or religious views of a group, not a country. Given the above mentioned labels, the suspected terrorists are not protected nor afforded any rights outlined in the third Geneva Convention’s protocols. With this in mind, Martin (2014) notes that some suspected terrorists “could be held indefinitely, detained in secret, transferred at will, and sent to allied countries for more coercive interrogations” (pg.