我們常聽到「恐怖分子」，這確切是指誰呢？1973年，聯合國邀請各方學者專家，試圖探究出「恐怖主義」的明確定義：引起恐慌、恫嚇人民，或迫使政府、國際組織採取或不採取行動為宗旨，意圖造成死亡或嚴重傷害，均為恐怖主義下的犯罪行為。

但是因為每個組織的存在目的皆不相同，沒人能斷定一個追求獨立、不惜與當權者搏鬥的團體，究竟是「恐怖分子」，還是「自由鬥士」︒所以目前為止，全世界對於「誰是恐怖分子」沒有統一說法，只能說「現在有多少國家判定它是恐怖組織」。目前最多國家認定的恐怖組織為伊斯蘭國（IS），超過18個國家和3個國際組織判定其為恐怖組織，其中包含台灣。其次是發起911攻擊事件的蓋達組織。

那阿富汗的塔利班、黎巴嫩的真主黨、葉門的胡塞運動、索馬利亞的青年軍這些是嗎？看你從哪個角度出發。例如美國不認定塔利班為恐怖組織，但日本、加拿大、紐西蘭、俄羅斯都覺得它是。又例如聯合國和歐盟都不認為真主黨是恐怖組織，但美國、以色列、加拿大都覺得它是。另外像聽起來很無害的「世界維吾爾青年大會」，則被中國判定為恐怖組織，全世界僅此一國。

所以沒有誰是「百分之百的恐怖組織」，所謂的武裝勢力、極端主義分子、恐怖組織，這些名詞端看你從哪個角度出發而已。

We often hear the word “terrorist,” but who or what exactly does it refer to? In 1973, the United Nations invited experts and scholars to explore the specific definition of “terrorism”–aim to cause panic, threaten people, or force a government or an international organization to take or not take actions in the attempt to cause death or serious harm are all criminal behaviors of terrorism. 

However, since the purpose of existence is different for each organization, no one can determine for certain whether a group of people who seek independence and are willing to fight the authority for their cause are terrorists or freedom fighters. Therefore, so far, the world has no common agreement on “who is a terrorist,” only “how many countries in the world determine that it’s a terrorist organization.” So far, the most widely recognized terrorist organization is the Islamic State, with over 18 countries and 3 international organizations determining it to be a terrorist organization, including Taiwan. The second most recognized terrorist organization is AL-Qaeda, which initiated the 911 attack. 

What about the Taliban in Afghanistan, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi Movement in Yemen, or Al-Shabaab in Somalia? It all depends on your perspective. For example, the United States does not consider the Taliban to be a terrorist organization, but Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and Russia do. Or, for example, the United Nations and European Union do not consider Hezbollah to be a terrorist organization, but the United States, Israel, and Canada do. There is also the World Uyghur Youth Congress, which sounds harmless but is designated by China as a terrorist organization, the only country in the world that thinks so. 

So there is no such thing as 100% consensus on a terrorist organization in regards to organized armed forces, extremist groups, or terrorist organizations. It all depends on your perspective.