The Martyr's Oath: The Apprenticeship of a Homegrown Terrorist

by Stewart Bell

"In The Martyr's Oath , Stewart Bell, Canada's most respected journalist covering terrorism, tells how Mohammed Mansour Jabarah, a teenaged Canadian, was selected by the Al Qaeda leadership to coordinate a powerful attack in Southeast Asia that would have led to more destruction than 9/11. There is no better way to understand how Western youth are being drawn to terrorism than to read this story of the rise of a new generation of terrorist."
— Rohan Gunaratna, Author of Inside Al Global Network of Terror (Columbia University Press) " The Martyr's Oath provides a unique vignette into the recruitment, training and operational deployment of young Canadian Muslims by Al Qaeda terrorists. it couples a biographical account of their personal and family experiences, culminating in capture, interrogation, and death, with some extraordinarily detailed accounts of counter-terrorism operations across the Middle East, Southeast Asia and North America. This will be a must-read for anyone and everyone interested in the challenges of international terrorism in our times."
— Dr. Martin Rudner, Director, Canadian Centre of Intelligence and Security Studies, The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Ottawa, ON Acclaim for Stewart Bell's first book, Cold How Canada Nurtures and Exports Terrorism Around the World "an arresting look at the reality of terrorism"
—The Gazette (Montreal) Every responsible citizen of Canada, the US, the UK and other Western Countries should read this book."
— Christopher Ondaatje, Times Higher Education Supplement "Cold Terror will shock the conscience of the nation... This book is not just an exposé it is an urgent call to action."
—David Frum, Author of The Right The Surprise Presidency of George W. Bush "The most important Canadian book of 2004."
— Western Standard

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Alex Linschoten · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first glance you'd think this book has something to say: supposedly interested in its subject, the author taking requisite time to meet with family, travelling around etc. Unfortunately, it doesn't deliver. The author's frequent asides about the nascent evils in everyone he meets are just the beginning. There's also some pretty cringe-worthy orientalising, cracking out of stereotypes and surface-level analysis. The facts outlined in this book could be summarised on an A4 piece of paper. The rest is fluff, and dangerously misleading fluff at that. Read it if you must, but bear all the above in mind.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journalist Stewart Bell examines the growing reality and allure for some to terrorism. His investigation entrenched in facts focuses on an Al Qaeda member: Mohammed Mansour Jabarah and the why and how he became a terrorist.

Mohammed was an ideal pawn for Al Qaeda. Born in Kuwait and raised in Canada, he appealed to Al Qaeda for two reasons: the possession of a Canadian passport and for his cunning intelligence.

Retracing his remarkable journey and looking at all sides; Mr Bell gathered information through interviews, letters, documents, intelligence reports and videos to provide a glimpse into the psyche of an extremists. It gives the reader a unique and fascinating look into the recruitment, training and operational deployment of young Muslims by Al Qaeda terrorists. A view that is revealing, highlighting one of the most disturbing trends in modern terrorism - the growing number of youths in North America and Europe who are being drawn into what appear to be violent radical Islamic groups.

This book is excellent; it stimulated a gamut of emotions. Why are laws so complacent and why are we so ignorant and not pro-active. Every one should read this book; it is so revealing, very absorbing and difficult to put down. Mr Bell your work has given us a frightful account and an eye opener into a troubled generation.