Amir H. Payberah - 2026-04-10

One of the bitter ironies of our time is that someone like Donald Trump, who represents chaos and destruction in the world, calls others "terrorists" or supporters of terrorism. But who is a "terrorist"?

In today's world, the word "terrorist" has become a tool in the hands of those in power, allowing them to more easily suppress their opponents. In other words, this label is a way to take away legitimacy from opposing groups.

When a person, group, or even a country is labeled as "terrorist," their actions (whether violent or not) are separated from their historical, political, and social context and reduced to pure violence. In this process, the reasons and motivations behind those actions disappear, and only an image of "threat" remains; an image that makes repression, sanctions, military intervention, and even physical elimination seem justified.

The word "terrorist" also plays a strong role in shaping public opinion. In many societies, the term "terrorism" is closely linked to fear and strong moral condemnation. Because of this emotional weight, once a group is labeled this way, people are more likely to accept harsh or violent actions against them without seriously questioning those actions. The media also reinforces this by repeating the same language and creating one-sided narratives.

At the political level, this label becomes a tool for justification. Governments can refer to the "fight against terrorism" to present their violent actions as necessary for security, rather than as political choices. In this process, human rights are pushed aside and replaced by a logic of control and elimination.

In such a situation, if we return to the original question, "who is a terrorist?", we should say that the real issue is not who is labeled as a terrorist, but who has the power to give that label. Because in the end, it is this power that decides which violence is seen and condemned, and which violence is treated as normal, necessary, or even invisible.