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October 15, 2008
Exclusive: Doctor Evil? Physicians & Scientists – Terrorists & Murderers in an Era of Global Terrorism (Part Two of Four)
Click here for Part One.
Contemporary Threats and the Fifth Column
‘The doctor has a big say and great weight in influencing his patients and in righteously
guiding their orientation. Besides, he should be actively involved in propagating true Islam among Muslims and non-Muslims.”
Mahmoud Abu Saud in The Role of a Muslim Doctor in Shahid Athar’s Islamic Medicine
As the planes were crashing into the World Trade Center Towers on 9/11, radical physicians were seen crowded in front of television screens cheering in delight. What’s wrong with this image – beyond the obvious that physicians should NEVER cheer human carnage? It is the reality that the Hippocratic Oath and the moral commitment we as physicians pledge – with our lives if needed – to preserve the sanctity of life has been subordinated. It is also the reality that living and working among us in the West is a group of people who support our destruction. Yet these are people we thought were our friends, colleagues we depended upon and shared our patients with – our patients depend upon them! It gives one pause to consider just who do some of our potentially radicalized colleagues ultimately work for, what do they believe in and how far will they go in support of those beliefs? Calls by extremist web sites for physicians to battle inside the United States continue to be spread via Internet chat room discussions.
Physicians and Scientists as Terrorists: We Ask Why?
“Decisions are complex, and there are always competing factors. To look for simple explanations is the bias of the human brain, but it doesn’t correspond to reality. Nothing is ever as straightforward as it appears.”
Richard Stengel
Whenever we read about a pediatrician masterminding the bombing of school children or other physicians planning terrorist attacks, the first questions invariably are “why?” and “how could a healer become a killer?” Too often we try to answer this from our Western perspective. Physicians and scientists by definition are a social good. They heal, or discover cures. Then we take the approach that non-Western societies are barbaric so of course their scientists get co-opted, recruited, perhaps even brainwashed by nefarious leaders to do their evil bidding. Both answers are too simplistic, and neither is accurate.
The 2007 London and Glasgow bombings conducted by health care professionals – mostly physicians – demonstrate the “no boundaries of decency” the terrorists are willing to exploit in pursuit of their objectives. But the problem of physicians as terrorists is far more insidious and widespread than that handful of extremists using vehicles as weapons. The potential threats extremist physicians and other health care professionals pose to the United States: from direct risks to patients and our health care system, to economic, political and technical support of terrorist violence as well as fronting illegal enterprises, performing as “agents of influence” or direct architects or participants in violent events. At the very least extremist physicians and scientists represent a formidable information gathering network operating inside the United States. To be sure, given the number of physicians sympathetic to or supportive of Islamic extremism residing in the United States, there is little time left to ignore this fifth column.
Islam, Medicine and Science
How do physicians become terrorists? While there may be a complex, dynamic interplay of emotions and reasons why people join terrorist organizations (or some will be tempted to say “freedom fighters” or “holy warriors”), to get a better understanding how physicians are seemingly willing participants in extremist terrorism that plagues the 21st century, we need to recognize the historic, religious and culture influences that are significantly different from our perspective.
Historically, religion and medicine were closely aligned in Islam; medical practice was viewed as a service. Verses from the Koran are often invoked as part of healing practices.
Just a few short centuries after the death of Mohammed, Islam would enjoy an age of science and art unheard of since the Greeks. Under the leadership of the Abbasids, Persian-led, Shiite-backed descendents of Mohamed’s uncle Abbas, the caliph Harun al-Rashid fostered an age of enlightenment that would last for 500 years. What the extremists of today fail to realize or embrace, early Islam was not an era of regression and oppression but of art, literature, science and intellectual curiosity, not blind obedience. In fact much of the advances the West enjoys in astronomy, mathematics, medicine and philosophy – owe their foundation to Islam, just as Islam owed much to the ancient Greeks. From this 8th century emergence of the Islamic Empire, Muslim teachings exhorted seeking knowledge as a way to more fully experience God. As such, scientists – professionals in the medical arts, engineering, chemistry, physics or other allied field have historically occupied elevated positions in society, regardless of geopolitical regions. Beyond the immediate value to a community or nation – economic, social, medical - these individuals are accepted, respected, even revered by a wide range of citizens, rich and poor, educated and illiterate. Nowhere has this been truer than in the Islamic tradition.
Of note, some Islamic scholars suggest that Muslim leaders are often chosen for their stature in society and charisma. Medical doctors are thus among the elite in Muslim cultures; as such they can readily influence others – even usurping religious authority from more moderate spiritual leaders. Physicians with ambitions for broad roles in society are ideally suited especially to participate in extremist activities. Consider the 1979 Islamic Revolution; the most influential Iranian political movements originated at the medical, technical and engineering schools. Perhaps this is why Pol Pot eliminated physicians and scientists in his killing fields of Cambodia, lest this influential and skilled group challenge his revolution. Fast forward to the present, a well-positioned or well-spoken physician has significant influence within a community. In the U.S., physicians with extremist leanings raise funds, through work at universities and in the community and/or assist in the takeover of moderate mosques to impose more radical ideologies.
Physicians and Scientists as Terrorists: We Ask How?
The idea of doctors turning to terrorism remains unsettling. In the face of great evil, it is tempting to seek logical answers, such as identifying the convergence point between ideology, theology and terror. In essence, what would make someone do such evil?
Conventional wisdom would like to attribute ideological conversion as the catalyst for physicians and scientists joining “the cause.” It is tempting to look at this from a “Western” perspective; cause and effect, serial events – become a physician or scientist then become a convert, or become a convert, then become a physician or scientist. That may account for a small percentage of new recruits. What we fail to realize is that Islam is not a “Western” religion – separable from other domains of daily life, which is how most Americans consider religion. It is part of their world or society, but doesn’t necessarily define it. Americans understand and live with a clear separation of church and state. Religion may guide, but doesn’t govern, our laws or daily activities. The framers of the United States were painstakingly clear about their concerns over religion as a governing influence and so made every effort to guarantee individual liberty of religious pursuit while at the same time ensuring a separation of church and state. They understood the risks and saw the challenges when one religion predominates or governs society.
Islam and most of the nations that practice it do not enjoy such a separation. There are in fact few truly secular nations where Islam is the majority religion. Turkey is one of the fragile exceptions.
Islam, especially extremist practice is based upon the Koran, the hadiths and Sharia. The Koran, according to Muslim tradition, is the book of God’s revelations to Mohamed, the last of the prophets. Hadiths are supposed to be quotations from the Prophet Mohamed and are revered among a wide range of Muslims, even moderates. Hadiths, similar to the Koran, offer guidelines to everyday activities, and advise how to live a faithful life. Most Muslims adapt these to 21st century sensibilities – not unlike modern Christians and Jews in their regard for the New and Old Testaments respectively. Extremists like Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders frequently quoted militant hadiths such as “Islam is a dominant force and is not to be dominated” or “I have been ordered to fight against people unless they testify there is no God but Allah and Mohamed is His messenger,” and “I love to be killed in the way of Allah then to be revived again then to be killed and then to be revived and then to be killed.”
Islamic law is called the Sharia – “the path leading to the water” or source. It is a code of religious, civil and social rules based on the Koran and hadiths. Some consider it divine; God’s last Word! The Sharia is interpreted by an ulama – a group of religious scholars. Most ulama consider it inviolate – this Sharia or code, completed in the 11th century is unchangeable. To attempt such an act is considered a bida or “act of innovation” which is tantamount to heresy. Unlike the West where our laws have been molded by society, Sharia law molds society. What is worrisome is the inextricable nature of extremist teachings where Sharia governs all. It is disconcerting to have 11th century teachings rule social behavior. Yet extremist and radical groups are promoting Sharia. Imagine the impact on women and other members of Western society if Sharia became prevalent dogma in the West?
Given this trio, Islam through the Koran, Sharia and hadiths can govern every aspect of life; there is no clear separation of one’s faith and ones existence. Islam influences religious, legal and civil activities. Thus there is no divide between the religious belief and the daily behavior as often viewed by most Christians. It is tempting to attribute the conduct of Muslim extremists, including extremist physicians as a protest against the “depravity” or “excesses” of the West or a reaction to some perceived injustice to Palestine or Iraq. Though this may be an inciting factor for certain events, there are little data to support this as the overarching catalyst. Radical Islam clearly was not a driver for Mengele, Shiro or Shipman.
To understand the “conversion” from healer to murderer, one must understand the social context. Physicians, engineers and men of science occupy positions of power within all societies but especially Muslim society, not unlike the importance the shaman or medicine man enjoys in tribal cultures. Because of their importance, skills and often wealth, radical ideologues target physicians and scientists.Savvy revolutionaries such as Castro and Osama bin Laden embrace the talents and social value physicians and scientists bring to the table; not surprisingly the number two man in each regime was a doctor.
Given Islam through the Koran, hadiths and living under Sharia law is all encompassing in the life of a Muslim, especially one born or early raised in a more extreme society, the acquisition of scientific skills, especially to promote both the tenets and advancement of the religion is a natural extension of Islamic practice. It is worth remembering that those with talent often seek to lead or exert influence, and acquire power; that is perhaps a universal across societies. But those radicals seeking scientific or medical training, who were raised to believe Islam is the only way and acts which promote the faith are blessed will not see a distinction between good medical practice and killing. Even basic issues such as providing end of life care, reproductive rights to women or using alcohol based hand sanitizers – each unsavory to extremist interpretations of Western medical practice, are not seen as wrong or failing to uphold medical standards to the radical physician.
As with other threats to society, it is important to think from the perspective of our adversary. Viewing extremist actions through the prism of Western thought may filter out critical information and delay appropriate interpretation. Our analysis must incorporate insights into the context of our adversaries; their history, society, culture and objectives.
Part Three will continue with Immediate Domestic Vulnerabilities.
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Dr. Robin McFee is a physician and medical toxicologist. An expert in WMD preparedness, she is a consultant to government agencies, corporations and the media. Dr. McFee is a member of the Global Terrorism, Political Instability and International Crime Council of ASIS International. She has authored numerous articles on terrorism, health care and preparedness, and coauthored two books: Toxico-Terrorism by McGraw Hill and The Handbook of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Agents, published by Informa/CRC Press.
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