Prosecuting terrorism in international tribunals

Abstract

This Article explores the feasibility of prosecuting terrorism in international tribunals considering, respectively, the above three principles. Part I shows that terrorism comprises willful acts of violence directed against civilians with the intent to spread terror within a civilian population, plus the further intent for such terror to be the instrument through which the perpetrators seek to intimidate the powers that be into submitting to certain (mostly) political, ideological, or religious demands. Part II shows that the subject matter jurisdiction of some, but not all, international tribunals includes international terrorism. Part III seeks to discredit the view that a certain noble cause can legitimize terror violence as an instrument to realize such causes.