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Terörle Mücadelede Dekapitasyonun İşlevsizliği ve Sonuçları: İran’da Cundullah Örneği

Year 2025, Issue: 26, 129 - 158, 30.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.54842/ustich.1598665

Abstract

Dekapitasyon, analojik bir yaklaşımla, terörle mücadelenin strateji evreninde terör örgütlerinin varlıklarının, hareket ve eylem kapasitelerinin sonlandırılması veya sınırlandırılması yönelik hedefi karşılayabilecek en önemli strateji olarak konumlandırılmaktadır. Öyle ki bu strateji, çoğunlukla ülkesel ve örgütsel farklılıkların göz ardı edildiği, verili işlevsellik varsayımı ve atfıyla imgelenmektedir. Bu imgelemenin temelinde ise dekapitasyonun terörle mücadelenin kuram ve stratejik evrenine taşınması etkili olan analojik yöntem yer almaktadır. Dekapitasyon, analojik açıdan, terörle mücadelede terör örgütlerini hareketsiz kılma ve hayatlarını sonlandırma varsayımına dayanan bir strateji olarak ele alınması, dekapitasyonun başarısızlığına ve işlevsizliğine dair perspektif ve açıklamaların yetersiz kalmasına büyük ölçüde göz ardı edilmesine neden olmaktadır. Terör örgütlerinin liderlerinin etkisiz hale getirilmesi durumunun, organizmanın baş bölümünün gövde kısmından ayrılması ile ilişkilendirilmesi, başarısızlık ve işlevsizlik bağlamında söz konusu analojik varsayımın ve bakışın sınırlarına işaret etmektedir. Dekapitasyon stratejisinin başarısızlıkla sonuçlanması, ilgili devlet açısından bir malpraktis durumu yaratabilmektedir. Bu durum terörle mücadele bağlamında temel motivasyon ve hedef olan “tehdidin ortadan kaldırılması” arayışının aksine, tehdidin varlığını sürdürdüğü, dönüştüğü ya da büyüdüğü bir süreçle karşı karşıya kalınması sonucunu doğurabilmektedir. Bu durum İran’ın Cundullah örgütüne yönelik olarak uyguladığı dekapitasyon stratejisinde ve dekapitasyon sonrası süreçte kendisini göstermiş ve örneklenmiştir.

References

  • “Ansar al Furqan”, Global Terrorism Database (GTD), 2024.
  • “Iran Spotlight: Sunni Insurgents Jaish ul-Adl Warn Tehran To End “Crimes Against Oppressed Peoples Of Iran, Syria”, EA Worldview, Erişim 10 Eylül 2024. https://eaworldview.com/2013/12/iran-spotlight-sunni-insurgents-jaish-ul-adl-warn-tehran-end-crimes-oppressed-peoples-iran-syria/
  • “Iran Sunni Baloch Insurgents: “Union With Hizbul-Furqan Strengthens Our Front Against Safavids”, EA Worldview, Erişim 10 Eylül 2024. https://eaworldview.com/2013/12/iran-sunni-baloch-insurgents-union-hezb-ul-forqan-strengthens-front-safavids/
  • “Jaish al Adl”, Global Terrorism Database (GTD), 2024.
  • “Jundallah: Iran’s Sunni Rebels”, Al Jazeera, Erişim 20 Ekim 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/6/20/jundallah-irans-sunni-rebels
  • “Jundallah”, Global Terrorism Database (GTD), 2024.
  • Abrahams, Max, Mierau, Jochen. “Leadership Matters: The Effects of Targeted Killings on Militant Group Tactics”, Terrorism and Political Violence, 29, (2017): 830-851.
  • Balcı, Çağatay. “The Future of Ethno-Sectarian Extremism in Iran: Characteristics of the Post Jundallah Era”, ULİSA-TAIPS, 18, 2024.
  • Cronin, Audrey Kurth. How Terrorism Ends: Understanding the Decline and Demise of Terrorist Campaigns, Princeton University Press, 2009.
  • Czulda, Robert. “Terrorism and Jihadism in the Islamic Republic of Iran”, Przegląd Strategiczny, 12, No.15, (2022):89-104.
  • Dashti, Naser. The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan: Aspects of a National Liberation Struggle, Trafford Publishing, 2017.
  • Dear, K. Patrick. “Beheading the Hydra? Does Killing Terrorist or Insurgent Leaders Work?”, Defence Studies, 13, No.3, (2013):293-337.
  • Dudoignon, Stéphane A. The Baluch, Sunnism and the State in Iran: From Tribal to Global, Oxford University Press, 2017.
  • Freeman, Michael. “A Theory of Terrorist Leadership”, Terrorism and Political Violence, 26, No.4, (2014):666-687.
  • Grabowski, Wojciech. “Targeting Terrorist Leaders: Limits and Opportunities”, The Polish Quarterly of International Affairs, 22, No.1, (2013):28-33.
  • Hofmann, David C. “Quantifying and Qualifying Charisma: A Theoretical Framework for Measuring the Presence of Charismatic Authority in Terrorist Groups” , Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 38, N.9, (2015):710-733.
  • Johnston, Patrick B. “Does Decapitation Work? Assessing the Effectiveness of Leadership Targeting in Counterinsurgency Campaigns”, International Security, 36, No.4, (2012): 47-79.
  • Jordan, Jenna. “Attacking the Leader, Missing the Mark: Why Terrorist Groups Survive Decapitation Strikes”, International Security, 38, No. 4, (2014): 7-38.
  • ____. “When Heads Roll: Assessing the Effectiveness of Leadership Decapitation”, Security Studies, 18, (2009):719–755.
  • ____. Leadership Decapitation: Strategic Targeting of Terrorist Organizations, Standford University Press, 2019.
  • Langdon, Lisa, Sarapu, Alexander J. And Wells, Matthew. “Targeting The Leadership of Terrorist And Insurgent Movements: Historical Lessons For Contemporary Policy Makers”, Journal of Public and International Affairs, 15, (2004): 59-78.
  • Libront, Karolina. “Targeting Leaders: No Easy Short-cuts”, The Polish Quarterly of International Affairs, 22, No.1, (2013):41-48.
  • Milton, Daniel, Price, Bryan. “Too Central To Fail? Terror Networks and Leadership Decapitation”, International Interactions, 46, No.3, (2020): 309-333.
  • Noraiee, Hoshang. Religion, Politics And Ethnicity in Iran: Investigating The Case of The Sunni Deobandis, Europe Books, 2022.
  • Price, Bryan C. “Targeting Top Terrorists: How Leadership Decapitation Contributes to Counterterrorism”, International Security, 36, No.4, (2012):9-46.
  • Shayan, Fatemeh. “A Critical Perspective on Terrorism: Case Study of Jundallah and Jeish ul-Adl in Iran”, Critical Studies on Terrorism, 13, No.3, (2020): 441-463.
  • Yaoren, Kenneth Y. “Leadership Decapitation and the Impact on Terrorist Groups”, Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses, 11, No.3, (2019): 7-12.
  • Zambelis, Chris. “A New Phase of Resistance and Insurgency in Iranian Baluchistan”, Combating Terrorism Center Sentinel, 2, No.7, (2009): 1-4.
  • ____. “The Evolution of the Ethnic Baluch Insurgency in Iran”, Combating Terrorism Center Sentinel, 7, No.3, (2014): 17-20.
  • Zech, Steven T. “Decapitation, Disruption, And Unintended Consequences in Counterterrorism: Lessons From Islamist Terror Networks in Spain”, Defense & Security Analysis, 32, No.2, (2016):177-191.

The Dysfunctionality and Consequences of Decapitation in the War on Terror: The Case of Jundullah in Iran

Year 2025, Issue: 26, 129 - 158, 30.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.54842/ustich.1598665

Abstract

In an analogical approach, decapitation is positioned as the most important strategy in the strategy universe of counter-terrorism that can meet the objective of terminating or limiting the existence, movement and action capacities of terrorist organisations. In fact, this strategy is often imagined with the assumption and attribution of a given functionality where national and organisational differences are ignored. At the basis of this imagery is the analogical method that has been effective in bringing decapitation into the theoretical and strategic universe of counter-terrorism. The analogical treatment of decapitation as a strategy in the fight against terrorism based on the assumption of immobilising terrorist organisations and ending their lives leads to the inadequacy of perspectives and explanations on the failure and dysfunctionality of decapitation, which are largely ignored. The association of the neutralisation of the leaders of terrorist organisations with the separation of the head from the body of the organism points to the limits of this analogical assumption and perspective in the context of failure and dysfunction. The failure of the decapitation strategy may create a malpractice situation for the state concerned. This may result in a process in which the threat persists, transforms or grows, as opposed to the main motivation and goal of ‘eliminating the threat’ in the context of counter-terrorism. This situation has been exemplified in Iran's decapitation strategy against the Jundullah organisation and in the post-decapitation process.

References

  • “Ansar al Furqan”, Global Terrorism Database (GTD), 2024.
  • “Iran Spotlight: Sunni Insurgents Jaish ul-Adl Warn Tehran To End “Crimes Against Oppressed Peoples Of Iran, Syria”, EA Worldview, Erişim 10 Eylül 2024. https://eaworldview.com/2013/12/iran-spotlight-sunni-insurgents-jaish-ul-adl-warn-tehran-end-crimes-oppressed-peoples-iran-syria/
  • “Iran Sunni Baloch Insurgents: “Union With Hizbul-Furqan Strengthens Our Front Against Safavids”, EA Worldview, Erişim 10 Eylül 2024. https://eaworldview.com/2013/12/iran-sunni-baloch-insurgents-union-hezb-ul-forqan-strengthens-front-safavids/
  • “Jaish al Adl”, Global Terrorism Database (GTD), 2024.
  • “Jundallah: Iran’s Sunni Rebels”, Al Jazeera, Erişim 20 Ekim 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/6/20/jundallah-irans-sunni-rebels
  • “Jundallah”, Global Terrorism Database (GTD), 2024.
  • Abrahams, Max, Mierau, Jochen. “Leadership Matters: The Effects of Targeted Killings on Militant Group Tactics”, Terrorism and Political Violence, 29, (2017): 830-851.
  • Balcı, Çağatay. “The Future of Ethno-Sectarian Extremism in Iran: Characteristics of the Post Jundallah Era”, ULİSA-TAIPS, 18, 2024.
  • Cronin, Audrey Kurth. How Terrorism Ends: Understanding the Decline and Demise of Terrorist Campaigns, Princeton University Press, 2009.
  • Czulda, Robert. “Terrorism and Jihadism in the Islamic Republic of Iran”, Przegląd Strategiczny, 12, No.15, (2022):89-104.
  • Dashti, Naser. The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan: Aspects of a National Liberation Struggle, Trafford Publishing, 2017.
  • Dear, K. Patrick. “Beheading the Hydra? Does Killing Terrorist or Insurgent Leaders Work?”, Defence Studies, 13, No.3, (2013):293-337.
  • Dudoignon, Stéphane A. The Baluch, Sunnism and the State in Iran: From Tribal to Global, Oxford University Press, 2017.
  • Freeman, Michael. “A Theory of Terrorist Leadership”, Terrorism and Political Violence, 26, No.4, (2014):666-687.
  • Grabowski, Wojciech. “Targeting Terrorist Leaders: Limits and Opportunities”, The Polish Quarterly of International Affairs, 22, No.1, (2013):28-33.
  • Hofmann, David C. “Quantifying and Qualifying Charisma: A Theoretical Framework for Measuring the Presence of Charismatic Authority in Terrorist Groups” , Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 38, N.9, (2015):710-733.
  • Johnston, Patrick B. “Does Decapitation Work? Assessing the Effectiveness of Leadership Targeting in Counterinsurgency Campaigns”, International Security, 36, No.4, (2012): 47-79.
  • Jordan, Jenna. “Attacking the Leader, Missing the Mark: Why Terrorist Groups Survive Decapitation Strikes”, International Security, 38, No. 4, (2014): 7-38.
  • ____. “When Heads Roll: Assessing the Effectiveness of Leadership Decapitation”, Security Studies, 18, (2009):719–755.
  • ____. Leadership Decapitation: Strategic Targeting of Terrorist Organizations, Standford University Press, 2019.
  • Langdon, Lisa, Sarapu, Alexander J. And Wells, Matthew. “Targeting The Leadership of Terrorist And Insurgent Movements: Historical Lessons For Contemporary Policy Makers”, Journal of Public and International Affairs, 15, (2004): 59-78.
  • Libront, Karolina. “Targeting Leaders: No Easy Short-cuts”, The Polish Quarterly of International Affairs, 22, No.1, (2013):41-48.
  • Milton, Daniel, Price, Bryan. “Too Central To Fail? Terror Networks and Leadership Decapitation”, International Interactions, 46, No.3, (2020): 309-333.
  • Noraiee, Hoshang. Religion, Politics And Ethnicity in Iran: Investigating The Case of The Sunni Deobandis, Europe Books, 2022.
  • Price, Bryan C. “Targeting Top Terrorists: How Leadership Decapitation Contributes to Counterterrorism”, International Security, 36, No.4, (2012):9-46.
  • Shayan, Fatemeh. “A Critical Perspective on Terrorism: Case Study of Jundallah and Jeish ul-Adl in Iran”, Critical Studies on Terrorism, 13, No.3, (2020): 441-463.
  • Yaoren, Kenneth Y. “Leadership Decapitation and the Impact on Terrorist Groups”, Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses, 11, No.3, (2019): 7-12.
  • Zambelis, Chris. “A New Phase of Resistance and Insurgency in Iranian Baluchistan”, Combating Terrorism Center Sentinel, 2, No.7, (2009): 1-4.
  • ____. “The Evolution of the Ethnic Baluch Insurgency in Iran”, Combating Terrorism Center Sentinel, 7, No.3, (2014): 17-20.
  • Zech, Steven T. “Decapitation, Disruption, And Unintended Consequences in Counterterrorism: Lessons From Islamist Terror Networks in Spain”, Defense & Security Analysis, 32, No.2, (2016):177-191.
There are 30 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Regional Studies, International Security, Terrorism in International Relations
Journal Section Special Sction: State Crime, Propaganda, and Cultural Destruction
Authors

Çağatay Balcı 0000-0001-6553-4888

Publication Date September 30, 2025
Submission Date December 9, 2024
Acceptance Date March 20, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Issue: 26

Cite

Chicago Balcı, Çağatay. “Terörle Mücadelede Dekapitasyonun İşlevsizliği Ve Sonuçları: İran’da Cundullah Örneği”. Uluslararası Suçlar Ve Tarih, no. 26 (September 2025): 129-58. https://doi.org/10.54842/ustich.1598665.