International Journal on Criminology Volume 7, Number 1, Winter 2019/2020 | Page 116

Martyropathy in the Sunni and Shiite Worlds: A Comparative Study
still a central figure that can be revived according to needs and strategic interests,
but it is no longer an idea that calls out to all members of society. Second, the Iranian
model of martyrdom that views the nation as sacred does not have Islam as a
cornerstone, unlike takfirism which by its very nature does not permit martyrdom
to be extended to other religious viewpoints. Finally, the attraction that European
jihadists have for the new form of martyrdom is clearly a postmodern phenomenon
that finds a resonance in individualist and materialist influences. The cult of
the martyr as an expression of collective salvation is a modern concept that is able,
on occasion, to be revived in the context of an activism that aims to sanctuarize
and exert political influence.
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