When is a terrorist a rebel ?

[mouthpipette]

Just that really.

Lots of different connotations for each word, so it makes a difference which is used.

I don't know what country you are thinking about or what happened and don't condone violence.

But put yourself in the position of the people you are thinking about - on both sides - if the same thing that happened affected you, your family and your community. If you fought back would you be a terrorist or a freedom fighter? Maybe frame it in the terms of the WW2 - if we had been occupied by German forces and resisted is it terrorist? If we then hurt a load ordinary people in the Germany, were we terrorists?

It is complicated and utterly tragic - everything that is going on. But the truth of it is the ordinary people only want to go on with their everyday lives, just like us, whatever side they are. Mad men in power are the enemy and manipulate the lives of ordinary people for their own means.

Normally it is decided by the winning side, the suffragettes were terrorists initially and now they are heroes

It's posted today and it's under conflict in the Middle East and you don't know?

Someone who deliberately targets and murders children, rapes women, tortures, mutilates and murders civilians, takes babies, children and elderly people hostage, takes the dead bodies of civilians hostage and gleefully films it all while shouting that their god is great is an evil demonic subhuman scum terrorist whichever way you want to look at it.

A rebel stands up to and fights against authority but not by doing the above.

HTHs.

The definition of rebel is straightforward, its someone who disobeys someone in authority or control. That can be a positive thing if the authority is illegitimate or you just don't agree with it. So you can have rebel heroes. There is nothing in the definition of 'rebel' which contains any sort of moral judgement. So a rebel can murder, rape, torture etc. Or they might conduct peaceful protest. A rebel could also be a terrorist. A terrorist by definition uses fear & violence to further political/ideological ends.

I was a bit taken aback when I realised as an adult that Starwars, we’re the rebels/terrorists.
Though back then I was more trusting in the system. I’d be less shocked now!

It’s a good question, and often the rebels/freedom fighters are no better than the regime that’s keeping in line.

This.

Anyone who behaves like this are little better than animals.

Actually, that's an insult to animals.

there is something related with this in bbc

If Abu Mohammed Al-Jawlani, the leader of HTS, the main victorious rebel group, is true to his word, then there is a chance for this country to transition to a more pluralistic, democratic future, supported by the UN and others.
But HTS, and some of its fellow travellers, have a violent past, rife with allegations of human rights abuses. It is a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UN and several governments.
Already al-Qaeda is urging the rebels to now turn on ‘Jews and Crusaders’ (their term for all Christians).

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for being a terrorist.....
all depends on who is branding them a terrorist and why really.

I don't think he was charged under terrorism offences actually. He was arrested and convicted for sabotage - which he was undoubtedly involved in. He & the ANC bombed buildings/infrastructure at night to avoid civilian casualties. He was also convicted for treason & conspiring to overthrow the government. Some people called him a terrorist but they never really got to the guerilla war stage they'd been planning. The Americans had him on their terrorist list more because of his links to communism than violence.

@SmashedBaubles - this I understand

This.

Vile scum.

So do you brand Hamas as terrorists then? After all you reckon it depends on who's branding them.

Anyone that calls Hamas rebels has frankly lost the plot in my opinion.

The German occupiers viewed the Resistants as terrorists.

The resistants' actions against them put the civilian population at huge risk of reprisals. Should we celebrate the Resistance?
I don't think it is black and white.

I think it's very black and white with a group such as Hamas. A group that entered another country to slaughter, rape, torture, kidnap and take dead bodies as trophies whilst shouting Allah akbar and filming their joy. No grey area for me with Hamas. Do you view hamas as terrorists or is that a grey area for you? I think it's pretty black and white and Hamas are terrorists.

No room for equivocation on Hamas. Definitely terrorists. And they aren't rebels because they were in charge in Gaza.

This lot aren't Hamas though are they. They wanted rid of Assad and have fought their way in.

Indeed.

Hamas ran gaza. They are also terrorists. No one sane could possibly put them in a grey area. Hamas had control of gaza already. No need to take over since they were governing.

The Syrian groups taking down assad didn't run around raping, kidnapping and slaughtering in another country.

Glad the US and west stayed well clear. Hopefully they might have free elections. Then wait and see what's next.

Which groups are you referring to as rebels not terrorists op?

It's pretty obvious that the OP is talking about the Syrian rebels that have captured Damascus and are saying Assad has fled - it's all over the front of the BBC this morning.

She's clearly trying to understand why they're considered rebels by the BBC and not terrorists - but some people are so obsessed with Hamas they they can't see beyond them and have to make everything about them.

I don't hold out much hope for this group. I can't think of a country where rebels have taken over and things have worked out well.

ANY group of men that cart women of in the back of trucks for sexual slaves and beheaded people in the street are terrorists

You can give them any name you like - rebels - freedom fighters - resistance - terrorists - mentally ill - They are ALL the same.

Despite doing all the above when they are called ‘rebels’ it’s usually be star the person who is talking about them has sympathies towards them.

Yes, we should celebrate those who risked their lives to resist the Nazi occupation of France. I never thought I would have to actually say this.

Actually it's not. The OP posed a question as the thread title. She didn't make a statement but a question.

We all know how some support Hamas and make excuses for them. We've even seen people I'm the UK and the US wear their colours, have signs of support, make excuses, chants of support to another terrorist group the Houthis as well.

I think there is no grey area and it's black and white with Hamas. Do others. They are stand out terrorists. They were running their country and could have made it much better they chose to not to.

The Syrians who have taken down assad are viewed completely differently.

It's pretty obvious that the OP is talking about the Syrian rebels that have captured Damascus ....... @Tess150

Exactly.

HTS are an organisation defined as terrorist by the UK, US and the EU. Yet they are referred to by the media as "rebels" .
It's almost as if there are "good terrorists" and "bad terrorists", depending on which cause they are fighting for.