Protests and terrorism

• Political repression and lack of democratic rights can also lead to protests.
• Social injustice and inequality can be major causes of protests.
• Economic grievances, such as high unemployment or inflation, can spark protests as well.
• Violence and terrorism are not the same. Terrorism is a specific form of violence that is politically motivated and intended to create fear and panic in a population.
• The right to gather together and protest is a fundamental democratic freedom.
• UK law allows for peaceful public protest but sometimes protects can turn violent and become a riot.
• Christians often protest unjust laws or for other forms of justice but would rarely advocate the use of violence in protest.
• ‘An unjust law is not a proper law’ (St Thomas Aquinas)
• Quote bible for violence: "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth"
• Quote bible against violence: "Do not kill"
• Qur'an quote against violence: "Do not take life which God has made sacred"
• Bible quote against violence: " The lord examines the righteous but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion"
• Quote from Qur'an for violence: "Kill them wherever you find them and drive them out from where they drove you out. Persecution (prejudice)is worse than slaughter."
• Christian quote for violence: "He said to them, "But if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag, and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one".
• Muslims believe they have a duty to not be violent towards others, as Islam translates from Arabic to "Peace"
• The aim of terrorism is to make society aware of a cause or issue and to make people frightened to go about their business.
• Christians don’t promote political violence + believe terrorism is wrong as it targets innocent people, so it goes against the just war.