U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Recruitment Process of Terrorist Organizations: A Case Study of Devrimci Halkin Kurtulus Partisi Cephesi (DHKP/C) Revolutionary People's Liberation Party Front (From Understanding Terrorism: Analysis of Sociological and Psychological Aspects, P 161-166, 2007, Suleyman Ozeren, Ismail Dincer Gunes, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-225410)

NCJ Number
225424
Author(s)
Samih Teymur; Emile Sahliyeh; Ahmet S. Yayla; Ismail Yilmaz
Date Published
2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This case study analyzed the background and characteristics of individuals recruited into the Devrimci Halkin Kurtulus Partisi/ Cephese (DHKP/C)--The Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front--a domestic terrorist organization in Turkey with an anti-Western, Marxist ideology.
Abstract
The study found that family characteristics were a key factor in the background of members of the DHKP/C. Most of the terrorists came from poor, lower class families. Fifty-two percent of the families had more than four children. Seventy percent of the terrorist respondents stated that their family had some connection with a terrorist organization; 48 percent reported that one family member was arrested at least once because of terrorist activity. Forty-one percent of the terrorist respondents indicated they had a political affiliation with a leftist political party before they joined the DHKP/C movement. Forty percent of the respondents had a family member or friend killed during a terrorist incident. Regarding initial contact with the DHKP/C, 32 percent indicated friends had drawn them into the organization; 24 percent said a relative had introduced them to the organization; 15 percent reported they were attracted to the terrorist organization through its publications; 7 percent stated they were introduced to the DHKP/C while in prison; and 5 percent said an umbrella association established by the DHKP/C introduced them to the organization. Data for this study were obtained from captured DHKP/C documents that contained the results of a survey completed by potential senior members. Survey results on individuals were submitted to the leaders of the central committee of the DHKP/C in their screening of candidates being considered for senior membership that qualified them to conduct more serious terrorist activities. 1 table and appended list of survey questions