Problem

Political hostage-taking

Other Names:
Political kidnapping
State-sanctioned hostage-taking
Nature:

The taking of a person or group of persons as hostage and threatening to kill or mutilate them if certain demands (such as the release of prisoners, the granting of political asylum, the publicity for the group or the donation of money) are not met, is often used by dissident minorities against governments. Of the techniques used by political terrorists and political dissenters, perhaps the most insidious is skyjacking. The randomness of political skyjackings, as well as the violence, makes them particularly abhorrent.

Incidence:

Political kidnappings have been widely used in recent years in many different countries, notably in Spain, Italy, South Africa, Central America and the Middle East.

Aggravates:
Boredom of detention
Subject(s):
Government Nation state
Government Political
Societal Problems Crime
Societal Problems Detention
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Problem Type:
D: Detailed problems
Date of last update
12.06.2019 – 17:23 CEST