Environmental Destruction and Armed Conflict: Protecting the Vulnerable Through Islamic Law

Shebanee Devadasan

 

Abstract: Environmental destruction, unfortunately, constitutes a common by-product of armed conflicts. Such destruction ravages the natural environment, and negatively impacts the livelihoods of vulnerable individuals that are disproportionately affected by such destruction. This article first examines how the Islamic law of armed conflict can be utilised to protect these vulnerable individuals. The article argues that a faith-based approach, which includes the role of religious leaders and faith-based organisations, provides an effective framework to help restore the natural environment and the livelihoods of those affected in an armed conflict. This is due to the emphasis placed by Islam and the Islamic law of armed conflict on protecting the environment, specifically by limiting the types of land that can be targeted and the types of weapons that can be used in armed conflicts. Examples from the conservation efforts in post-war Iraq are used to demonstrate the usefulness of a faith-based approach presented in this article. This article concludes that the Islamic law of armed conflict provides an essential source of protection for the vulnerable and the environment, and should be widely utilised in practice.