Terroristisch

Terroristisch is a Dutch adjective used to describe things related to terror or terrorism. In Dutch, it is applied to actions, organizations, or rhetoric that aim to instill fear and to coerce political, ideological, or religious objectives.

In law and policy, terroristische acts and entities are addressed as terroristische misdrijven (terrorist offenses), terroristische organisatie (terrorist organization), or terroristische financiering (terrorist financing). The term signals not only violence but also the intention to influence a population or government through fear.

Origin and usage: The word derives from terror with the suffix -istisch, similar to the English -istic. It appears in formal, judicial, and media Dutch and is often paired with daden (acts), aanslagen (attacks), or groeperingen (groups).

International context: Governments and international bodies categorize groups as terrorist; Dutch-language documents translate and apply these classifications, using terroristisch to describe declarations, propaganda, or support for such activities, as in propaganda voor terrorisme or terroristische aanslagen.

Ambiguities and debate: The term can be contested or politicized, especially when designating groups or acts as terrorism. Legal definitions typically hinge on factors such as intent, organization, violence, financing, and propaganda, with varying thresholds across jurisdictions.