It is undeniable that terrorism and extremism are among the most pressing issues in today’s global discourse. These perilous socio-political and criminal phenomena—encompassing terrorist activities, extremist nationalist (separatist) movements, and religious extremism—pose a significant and growing threat to global security and the well-being of humanity. In the modern era, they have emerged as critical challenges requiring immediate attention. Over the past decades, tens of thousands of terrorist bombings have occurred across numerous countries, with a long and tragic list of casualties. A series of unprecedented terrorist attacks in the United States, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, India, Iraq, Indonesia, France, and other nations since the late 1990s has demonstrated that existing counterterrorism mechanisms are inadequate to address the scale and complexity of the modern terrorist threat. Today, combating terrorism is not the responsibility of any single nation but a global imperative. Terrorism poses a grave threat to both developed countries and those in transition, undermining national security. At the close of the 20th and the dawn of the 21st century, the world encountered a surge in extremism and terrorism, for which it was unprepared—both in practical measures and theoretical understanding.

Extremism, derived from the Latin word extremus meaning "extreme," refers to the adherence of individuals, groups, or organizations to radical views, positions, or actions in public life. Terrorism is a grave criminal offense where an organized group seeks to achieve its objectives through violent means. Frequently, innocent individuals, including children, fall victim to terrorism. Terror entails intimidation, suppression of opponents, and the use of physical violence, often culminating in the physical destruction of individuals through acts such as murder, arson, bombings, and hostage-taking. Thus, terrorism can be viewed as a form of extremism. The term "terror" originates from the Latin word for "fear" or "dread." Terrorists are individuals who resort to extreme violence to incite fear, often through tactics such as taking hostages, orchestrating bombings in crowded areas, and using weapons. At the dawn of the 21st century, approximately 500 terrorist organizations and extremist groups were active globally. Over the past decade, these entities have perpetrated more than 6,500 acts of international terrorism, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands and injuries to over 11,000 individuals.

The growing complexity of the international landscape and the rise of terrorist and extremist threats necessitate further measures to maintain societal stability and combat terrorism and extremism. In all its forms and manifestations, terrorism, with its scale, intensity, and brutality, has become one of the most critical and urgent global challenges.