The freedom fighter: a terrorist's own story

Foreword by Francis T. Cullun -- Part I. Terrorism in Context : 1. Meeting Deniz -- 2. The History of the Kurds and the PKK -- Part II. The Freedom Fighter's Own Story : Section A. Becoming a Terrorist : 3. The Early Years -- 4. Joining the PKK -- 5. Mission Training -- Section B. Being a Terrorist : 6. Rangers and My First Mission -- 7. Turkish Oppression toward the Kurdish Villagers -- 8. The PKK Organization -- 9. On the Way to Damascus, Syria -- 10. War against Barzani's Peshmerghas -- 11. The Chaotic Situation at Central Headquarters Command -- 12. The Women Guerillas of the Organization -- 13. The War against the YNK -- 14. Internal Conflict within the Organization -- 15. That's All She Wrote! -- 16. The Trip to Amed -- 17. Recruiting New Guerillas -- 18. Decision to Keep My Hands Off -- Section C. Prison and Beyond : 19. Leaving the PKK -- 20. The Prison and the General -- 21. Penitence (Second Thoughts) -- 22. The Turks, the Kurds, and the Last Chance -- Part III. Conclusion : 23. Lessons from a Terrorist's Own Story

Part Part I Terrorism in Context -- chapter 1 Meeting Deniz -- chapter 2 The History of the Kurds and the PKK -- part Part II The Freedom Fighter{u2019}s Own Story -- chapter Section A Becoming a Terrorist -- chapter Section B Being a Terrorist -- chapter Section C Prison and Beyond -- part Part III Conclusion -- chapter 23 Lessons from a Terrorist{u2019}s Own Story.

The ability of terrorist groups to inflict death and destruction has markedly increased with technological advances in the areas of communication, transportation, and weapon capability. Using these new tools and networks, terrorists now seek to inflict mass casualties worldwide. Given these realities, it is essential to research the factors that undiferlie a terrorist group{u2019}s origins, grievances, and demands. Such insights might help others respond more effectively to insurgencies, especially when military campaigns to capture or kill every terrorist have proven unsuccessful. The Freedom Fighter: A Terrorist{u2019}s Own Story explores why so many Kurdish people{u2014}especially young adults{u2014}join the Kurdistan Workers{u2019} Party (PKK) and conduct terrorist acts. Inspired by the ground-breaking classic, The Jack-Roller: A Delinquent Boy{u2019}s Own Story, by Clifford R. Shaw, the author explores the issue of radicalization into terrorist organizations through the life-history method, enabling a PKK terrorist{u2014}or 2freedom fighter3{u2014}to tell his story. Over a five-month period, the author interviewed 2Deniz,3 a high-level PKK terrorist in a Turkish prison, who during his time in the PKK rose from the lowest level to near the top in terms of terrorist operations. This riveting life history, told in Deniz{u2019}s own words, provides unique insights into why someone becomes a 2freedom fighter3 and what such a life entails. The account provides extensive information on the PKK, including the group{u2019}s recruitment, ideological and military training, armed strategies, internal structures and code of ethics, treatment of women, and goals for peace. Deniz{u2019}s story not only explains why more Kurdish 2freedom fighters3 will be recruited to engage in terrorist acts, but also facilitates undiferstanding of how 2normal people3 can become involved in conflict and organizations that are designated as 2terrorist groups.3 A foreword by renowned criminologist Francis T. Cullen helps contextualize the material. This book will interest students of criminology, terrorism/counterterrorism, political violence, and security.