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‘Mistreated migrants can turn to terrorism’

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A psychologist says terrorists are often people who feel oppressed and believe they have no avenue to express feelings of oppression.

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KUALA LUMPUR:
A social psychologist has warned Malaysians that ill-treatment of migrant workers may turn them into terrorists.

“Studies conducted on the psychology of terrorists reveal that a vast majority of them are those living far away from home and are taken out of a context where they feel most familiar,” said independent scholar and researcher Ananthi Al Ramiah at a forum at the University of Nottingham here yesterday.

She said terrorists were often people who felt oppressed and who believed that they had no avenue to express their feelings of being oppressed.

“There are an enormous number of migrant workers in Malaysia who have dangerous jobs and don’t have much healthcare,” she said. “These are the people most likely to be recruited” by terrorist organisations.

According to the Human Resources Ministry, there are about two million registered migrant workers in Malaysia. Some believe the number of those staying in the country illegally may be close to four million.

Ananthi shared Georgetown University psychology professor Fathali M Moghaddam’s theory on terrorism as stated in his 2005 paper “The Staircase to Terrorism”.

According to the theory, individuals become terrorists through a series of steps, beginning from perceptions of unfairness and ending in the overcoming of inhibitions about harming others.

Ananthi said authorities would often focus on those who were already in the final stage but, she added, some experts had suggested focusing on those still at the first step.

Ananthi herself suggests supporting contextual democracy and allowing people to voice their discontent, educating against “us versus them” mentalities and encouraging intercultural dialogue.

“People need to be comfortable with opposing views,” she said. “Unfortunately, the education system in the country doesn’t teach that. But that’s where we can start.”

Maszlee Malik, a professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia, also spoke at the forum.

He said religious arguments were often used in justifying terrorism because religion “gives hope”.

“The oppression of the Jews by the Europeans created Zionism,” he said. “Similarly, Muslims become terrorists because they believe they are being oppressed.

“Why do they resort to terrorism? Because of hope. That’s what IS promises. They say that none of the Muslim leaders are doing anything for oppressed Muslims but they can bring the hope” of liberation.

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