When Faith Kills

This volume emerges from the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Terrorism and Extremism Studies (ICITES), organized by the University of Vienna in cooperation with the University of Indonesia. It brings together selected contributions from scholars, policymakers, security professionals, and civil society actors, offering an innovative and integrative platform to address the multifaceted dimensions of terrorism and extremism.

By combining global case studies with theoretical and theological analyses, the volume examines the political, ideological, and psychological drivers of terrorism, with particular attention to the growing convergence between religious and political extremism. The contributions also highlight policy approaches and practical interventions, especially in education and community engagement.

With this publication, we aim to establish a foundational reference for researchers, practitioners, and students working in the fields of terrorism studies, extremism prevention, and security policy.

 The Editors

Ednan Aslan is Professor of Islamic Religious Education at the University of Vienna, where he has led the development of academic programs in Islamic theology and significantly shaped the discourse on Islam within European educational contexts. His research focuses on Islamic pedagogy, interreligious dialogue, and the role of Muslim communities in secular societies, with a particular emphasis on the study of radicalization processes and Islamist extremism in Europe.

Kamil Öktem, PhD, specializes in Arabic and Islamic Studies, with a focus on Qur’anic exegesis, epistemology, skepticism, and the philosophy of language. His research centers on the post-formative period of Islamic thought, particularly discursive theology and the linguistic turn. He is also engaged in teaching and developing digital formats for Islamic knowledge transfer. His broader interests include policy advising, extremism prevention, and applied theology.