Terrorism & Violent Extremism
Just Security provides expert legal and policy analysis of terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic and international violent extremism.
2,268 Articles

“With a Little Help from Our Friends”: Prosecuting the ISIL “Beatles” in U.S. Courts
Civilian prosecution in U.S. courts remains by far the best option for reliably bringing the two ISIL detainees in U.S. custody to justice. The DoJ should look closely at whether…

The German Constitutional Court on the Right of Self-Defense Against ISIS in Syria
German Constitutional Court concludes that the government has a reasonable claim that the UN Charter permits use of force in self-defense against non-state actors — at least…

18 Years After 9/11, Why Is Guantánamo Still Open?
That a child born on that day the planes hit would by now have gained the right to vote, but there has yet to be a trial of the alleged attackers, serves to highlight how painfully…

Returning Foreign Fighters and Their Families Takes on New Urgency After Trump’s Syria Decision
As countries contemplate what appears to be the potential for an abrupt and unruly dismantling of the SDF camps in Syria, and the likely security, ethical and moral dilemmas that…

New Spy Museum’s Torture Exhibit Glosses Over Depravity
If any visitor to the new International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. leaves the exhibit without a clear understanding that the CIA torture program was immoral, illegal, and counterproductive…

Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism’s ‘Transparency Report’ Raises More Questions Than Answers
The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism doesn’t go far enough in allaying concerns about the negative impacts on freedom of expression facilitated by this opaque, private…

Stop Blaming Immigrants for Right-Wing Extremism
While the connection between immigration and Islamist terrorism has been challenged, the assertion that immigrants are also to blame for right-wing extremism is just as dishonest…

Condemned to Death Abroad: The Case of French ISIS Members in Iraq
Iraq reportedly intends to carry out the execution of seven French nationals who are currently charged with being members of the Islamic State. The Iraqi government has denied…

What’s the New Terror Financing Executive Order All About?
Last week, the Trump administration updated E.O. 13224 to expand both State and Treasury’s ability to wield sanctions against terrorists. What are the practical implications…

Constitution Day 2019: The Hidden Domestic Surveillance Crisis
As we mark the 232nd anniversary of the signing of America’s governing charter, we have ample evidence that it continues to be violated by the federal officials charged with…

Fear and Loathing on the Border: A First-Hand Look at the Travesty
Far from the loophole-ridden sieve described by the administration, the asylum system we saw was a Kafka-esque labyrinth designed to punish migrants who dare to exercise their…

Leaked Documents Contain Major Revelations About the FBI’s Terrorism Classifications
New revelations about the FBI’s classification system for domestic terrorism investigations raise questions about its treatment of the white supremacist threat.