Terrorism & Violent Extremism

Just Security provides expert legal and policy analysis of terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic and international violent extremism.

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2,268 Articles
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a press conference for the launch the global "Christchurch Call" initiative to tackle the spread of extremism online at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 15, 2019.

Why the Christchurch Call to Remove Online Terror Content Triggers Free Speech Concerns

In deciding whether to endorse the Christchurch Call, the question for U.S. policymakers was whether the text essentially called on the U.S. or others to act inconsistently with…
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Senegal's President Macky Sall, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a launching ceremony for the 'Christchurch call', an initiative pushed by Ardern after a white supremacist gunned down 51 people in a massacre at two mosques in the New Zealand city in March, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on May 15, 2019.

Christchurch Calls and Washington Isn’t Answering

One of the more predictable diplomatic rituals since 9/11 has been that when terrorists strike a close American ally, Washington stands in solidarity with that country, offering…
Two Pakistani local residents gather around a destroyed vehicle hit by a drone strike in which Afghan Taliban Chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour was believed to be travelling in the remote town of Ahmad Wal in Balochistan, around 160 kilometres west of Quetta. The vehicle is on fire.

‘Flying Ginsu’ Missile Won’t Resolve U.S. Targeted Killing Controversy

Proponents of a new, modified Hellfire missile called the R9X tout it as a game-changer that can spare more civilian lives than traditional Hellfires. But the new technology can…
A copy of the Mueller Report opened to page 166 and 167. Significant portions of the text are redacted.

Enforcing Congressional Subpoenas: A Modest Proposal

A change in the law that would enhance Congress’s ability to extract information from the executive branch is a heavy lift, particularly in the current climate. With that in…
United States Secretary of State John F. Kerry signs the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the first international treaty regulating the global arms trade in conventional arms. September 25, 2013

Why the Arms Trade Treaty Matters – and Why It Matters That the US Is Walking Away

President Donald Trump's decision to "withdraw" from the Arms Trade Treaty is based on a clear misconception of what the treaty is and what it does. To better understand the gravity…
Tents near the entrance to Camp Justice at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base - October 24, 2013. The tents at Camp Justice house media, lawyers, human rights observers, and military personnel.

For the Military Commissions, a Fork in the Road on Torture

“It’s time for everyone to admit that the Guantanamo military commissions have failed.” That’s what Steve Vladeck wrote last month in a characteristically excellent post discussing…
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) chairs the House Oversight Committee as Michael Cohen, former attorney and fixer for President Donald Trump testifies on Capitol Hill February 27, 2019 in Washington, DC.

The Mazars USA Subpoena as an Existential Threat to President Trump

The ‘friendly’ subpoena recently served on the tax and accounting firm Mazars USA seeking client records related to Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization may not have…
Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation concerning Iraq. May 30, 2018

US Counterterrorism Under the UN Spotlight

A United Nations team is visiting Washington this week to conduct its first review of U.S. counterterrorism policy.
A sign reading, "Office of Military Commissions Expeditionary Legal Complex Guantanamo Bay, Cuba" stands close to where pre-trial hearings are being held for the detainees at the military prison on June 25, 2013 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Al-Nashiri III: A No Good, Very Bad Day for U.S. Military Commissions

A stunning, unanimous opinion of the DC Court of Appeals throws out every single pretrial order issued over the past 3 1/2 years in case of Al-Nashiri. What this says about the…
Sudanese anti-regime demonstrators, holding up a banner calling for "Freedom, Peace and Justice" carry on with their protest on April 11, 2019 in the area around the army headquarters in Sudan's capital Khartoum.

Ouster of Sudan’s Bashir Is Only the Beginning

After 30 years in power, Sudan President Omar al-Bashir is finally out. But the coming days, weeks, and months will be precarious: concerns over the military takeover, a proliferation…
Protesters march during the Stand Against Racism and Islamophobia: Fraser Anning Resign! rally on March 19, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. A banner reads, “Mourn the dead. Fight for the living.” and lists the names of those murdered in the Christchurch terror attacks on Friday, March 15, 2019.

The Consequences of Legislating Cyberlaw After Terrorist Attacks

Hastily drafted laws passed under pressure tend to create new problems while doing little to counter threats from terrorists and violent extremists.
U.S. Soldiers stand in formation during a logistics course graduation ceremony.

Transparency on Civilian Harm in Somalia Matters – Not Just to Americans

"Under the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, much of the commentary on the use of lethal force in counterterrorism operations has focused on the importance of transparency…
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