Commentators invoked root-cause logic only for ideologically sympathetic terrorists

Evidence

Rothstein refutes this notion that terrorism is a result of a series of injustices, perceived or otherwise, experienced by those who carry out terrorist attacks; rather, he argues that the injustice theory is a double standard that is not applied equally across the board. … No one suggested that his act had its ‘root causes’ in an injustice that needed to be rectified to prevent further terrorism. The injustice theory is apparently invoked only when one sympathizes with its conclusions. — Evelyn Alsultany, Arabs and Muslims in the Media, 875

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader literature on moral asymmetries in how media frame domestic vs. foreign violence (e.g., coverage differences between lone wolves and jihadists).
• DEFINE: Defines the ‘injustice theory’ of terrorism and how the label itself was used to delegitimize grievance-based explanations.