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From Reuters, with thanks to Twostellas:
BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union, tiptoeing through a minefield of religious and cultural sensitivities, is discreetly reviewing the language it uses to describe terrorists who claim to act in the name of Islam.EU officials are working on what they call a "lexicon" for public communication on terrorism and Islam, designed to make clear that there is nothing in the religion to justify outrages like the September 11 attacks or the bombings of Madrid and London.
The lexicon would set down guidelines for EU officials and politicians.
"Certainly 'Islamic terrorism' is something we will not use ... we talk about 'terrorists who abusively invoke Islam'," an EU official told Reuters.
Why is it up to the EU, or even within the purview of the EU, to determine what is authentic Islam and what isn't?
Other terms being considered by the review include "Islamist", "fundamentalist" and "jihad". The latter, for example, is often used by al Qaeda and some other groups to mean warfare against infidels, but for most Muslims indicates a spiritual struggle.
Yet the meaning of the word in the Qur'an is clear, and it means warfare. If most Muslims see it as a spiritual struggle today, that doesn't mean that the mujahedin don't use the word, or are abusing the word. They can and do cite the Qur'an to support what they are doing. If the majority of Muslims do not believe that they are using the Qur'an properly, they should mount large-scale efforts to oppose the spread of the jihad ideology. That they have not done so is very telling.
"Jihad means something for you and me, it means something else for a Muslim. Jihad is a perfectly positive concept of trying to fight evil within yourself," said the official, speaking anonymously because the review is an internal one that is not expected to be made public.EU counter-terrorism chief Gijs de Vries told Reuters that terrorism was not inherent to any religion, and praised moderate Muslims for opposing attempts to hijack Islam.
"They have been increasingly active in isolating the radicals who abuse Islam for political purposes, and they deserve everyone's support. And that includes the choice of language that makes clear that we are talking about a murderous fringe that is abusing a religion and does not represent it."
I'm glad to hear that moderate Muslims have become increasingly active. I still don't see anything like large-scale protests against Osama et al, on the scale of the cartoon riots. Why not?
Posted by Robert at April 11, 2006 7:44 AM
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Is this the same "fringe" that would be elected by a landslide throughout much of the Islamic world were they given a chance?
And who exactly are these moderate Muslims? I see plenty of Apostates condemning the excesses of their excesses, all I hear from 'moderate' Muslims is apologetics, obfuscation, pleas for restriction of free speech and criticism of foreign policy.
Posted by: QueeQueeg![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 11, 2006 9:21 AM
"EU lexicon to shun term "Islamic terrorism" "
I stopped using that term a while back.
It's muslim terrorism.
Posted by: Sebastien
at April 11, 2006 9:57 AM
From the article:
The language used in the West when discussing Muslims and terrorism, and especially the charge by critics of Islam that it is an inherently violent religion, are highly sensitive and topical issues in Europe.Danish newspaper cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad, including one showing him with a bomb in his turban, provoked violent protests earlier this year in a number of Muslim countries where people saw them as blasphemous. At least 50 people were killed.
There's a flaw in there somewhere.
Posted by: Interested at April 11, 2006 10:02 AM
George Carlin has pointed out that PC euphemisms are almost always longer than the more straightforward, less sugar-coated terms that precede them.
So, a start for the transformation of "Islamic terrorism" would be "Muhammad-related unpleasantness."
at April 11, 2006 10:05 AM
Further supporting Carlin's case, "Islamic terrorism" itself is a slightly defanged version of another shorter, more accurate term: Jihad.
Clearly, "Muhammad-Related Unpleasantness Watch" just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Posted by: Shinoliite at April 11, 2006 10:10 AM
I bet George Carlin is too far to the left to address this Islamic issue. He would rather batter Bush.
Posted by: JanuaryMan at April 11, 2006 10:15 AM
Time for Hugh to come in here with some trenchant observation about "deux-rivistes."
Here in America I think I'll stick with delusional or plumb loco.
Posted by: Beagle at April 11, 2006 10:29 AM
And I bet he'd have no probs with the term 'Christian terrorism'. In fact there's just been a 'quality'BBC drama that featured fictional British evangelical fanatics who bombed a fertility clinic and also desecrated the grave of a child whose parents were getting fertility treatment. There's no way the BBC would have allowed Muslims to be depicted this way. The truth about Islam can't be told - but really nasty lies about Christians are positively fashionable.
Posted by: Jinnee at April 11, 2006 10:36 AM
It's muslim terrorism.
Wrong. It's Moslem activism.
The trouble with wishing something away is that the pink elephant crouching over there in the corner of the room is a real hump-a-holic. Think he ain't looking to breed?
EU counter-terrorism chief Gijs de Vries told Reuters that terrorism was not inherent to any religion...
Maybe ole Gijs smoked too much dope in those Amsterdam coffee shop:
Allah’s Apostle said, "I have been made victorious with terror."
--- A hadith of Mohammed from Bukhari V4B52N220
With terrorism chiefs like Gijs, who needs enemies?
I shall terrorize the infidels.
--- God's very sincere promise from Koran 8:12
at April 11, 2006 10:39 AM
Actually, now that I think about it, the Dutchman is right.
Yes, terrorism is inherent in Islam. We all know that. Deep down, at least. But Islam ain't a religion. It's a fake religion, and a damn good one.
So, terrorism is not inherent in any religion. Thanx, Gijs. You can chieftan my terrorism anytime. Anytime at all.
Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at April 11, 2006 10:41 AM
It is just as well that the term Islamic terrorism be abandoned as well as all other redundant phrases for the new lexicon.
Posted by: Hulegu Khan at April 11, 2006 12:47 PM
Other terms being considered by the review include "Islamist", "fundamentalist" and "jihad".
All of those are favorable to muslims.
islamist = one who follows allah.
fundamentalist = one who follows the faith.
jihadist = one who follows the jahid commanded in the koran.
Why do you think they dislike the term islamic terrorism? It explains what we all know, all muslims are but one verse from spinning into madness. There are two types of muslims, a practicing one and a non practicing one. A non-violent muslim is simply not obeying his commandments, but he can always choose to start obeying. In the end, why do we care if they dislike what we call them? They don’t exactly treat us with kid gloves nor care if we get our widdle feelings hurt. If I was king for a day we would call them “enemies of civilization” or “agents of evil.” I don’t care what you call, them just do not turn your back on them.
Posted by: Ronin at April 11, 2006 1:23 PM
Oh, yeah.
Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism.
Anything else I'm not allowed to say?
Have I got to say the moon is made of green cheese?
Get lost, EU.
Posted by: Yojimbo at April 11, 2006 1:24 PM
Good for you, Shinolite. "unpleasantness" to be sure.
One of the troubling things about this report is the urge to control what every one says on the part of the EU. That's besides the gross ignorance about historical Islam, and Muslim dogma [or knowing deceit or conscious refusal to acknowledge the truth?] that the EU officials are displaying.
This is truly an EU assault on knowledge and thinking.
By the way, Efraim Karsh has a pretty good essay on Islam's Imperial or warlike proclivities in the current issue of Commentary.
www.commentarymagazine.com
at April 11, 2006 1:29 PM
Why doesn't the EU just hold a referendum and ask all of their citizens to vote on the best terminology.
Here are some possiblities:
Koranic Krazies.
Muslo-maniacs.
Jihadi-Jackasses.
Mohammo-maniacs.
Sharia-sickos.
Pusbags-of-the-Pedophile-"Prophet".
(Translating these into French, or whatever the lingua franca of the EU is, should be interesting.)
Posted by: profitsbeard at April 11, 2006 6:50 PM
Ah, Islam, the sensitive religion:
8:35 “And their worship at the (holy) House is naught but whistling and hand-clapping. Therefore (it is said unto them): Taste of the doom because ye disbelieve.”
17:16. "And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation."
21:14. "They cried: "Woe to us! Certainly! We have been Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, etc.)."
21:15. And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is reaped, extinct (dead)."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 53, Number 386: Narrated Jubair bin Haiya: 'Umar sent the Muslims to the great countries to fight the pagans. When Al-Hurmuzan embraced Islam, 'Umar said to him. "I would like to consult you regarding these countries which I intend to invade." [...] When we reached the land of the enemy, the representative of Khosrau came out with forty-thousand warriors, and an interpreter got up saying, "Let one of you talk to me!" Al-Mughira replied, "Ask whatever you wish." The other asked, "Who are you?" Al-Mughira replied, "We are some people from the Arabs; we led a hard, miserable, disastrous life: we used to suck the hides and the date stones from hunger; we used to wear clothes made up of fur of camels and hair of goats, and to worship trees and stones. While we were in this state, the Lord of the Heavens and the Earths, Elevated in His Remembrance and Majestic in His Highness, sent to us from among ourselves a Prophet whose father and mother are known to us. Our Prophet, the Messenger of our Lord, has ordered us to fight you till you worship Allah Alone or give Jizya (i.e. tribute); and our Prophet has informed us that our Lord says:-- "Whoever amongst us is killed (i.e. martyred), shall go to Paradise to lead such a luxurious life as he has never seen, and whoever amongst us remain alive, shall become your master." [...]."
Ishaq:530 "Get out of his way, you infidel unbelievers. Every good thing goes with the Apostle. I believe in his word. We will fight you about its interpretations as we have fought you about its revelation with strokes that will remove heads and make enemies of friends."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 7, Number 331:
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
The Prophet said, "I have been given five things which were not given to any one else before me.
1. Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey.
2. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due.
3. The booty has been made Halal (lawful) for me yet it was not lawful for anyone else before me.
4. I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection).
5. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 53, Number 392:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
While we were in the Mosque, the Prophet came out and said, "Let us go to the Jews" We went out till we reached Bait-ul-Midras. He said to them, "If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land. So, if anyone amongst you owns some property, he is permitted to sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle."
21:98. “Surely you and what you worship besides Allah are the firewood of hell; to it you shall come.”
9:14. "Fight against them so that Allâh will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people,"
Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 14, Number 2678:
Narrated Sa'id ibn Yarbu' al-Makhzumi:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: on the day of the conquest of Mecca: There are four persons whom I shall not give protection in the sacred and non-sacred territory. He then named them. There were two singing girls of al-Maqis; one of them was killed and the other escaped and embraced Islam.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 46, Number 731:
Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid:
The Prophet said, "If a slave-girl (Ama) commits illegal sexual intercourse, scourge her; if she does it again, scourge her again; if she repeats it, scourge her again." The narrator added that on the third or the fourth offence, the Prophet said, "Sell her even for a hair rope."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 33:
Narrated Usama bin Zaid:
The Prophet said, "After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 88, Number 219:
Narrated Abu Bakra:
During the battle of Al-Jamal, Allah benefited me with a Word (I heard from the Prophet). When the Prophet heard the news that the people of the Persia had made the daughter of Khosrau their Queen (ruler), he said, "Never will succeed such a nation as makes a woman their ruler."
at April 12, 2006 1:17 AM
"Why is it up to the EU, or even within the purview of the EU, to determine what is authentic Islam and what isn't?"--Robert
Indeed, why are these stuffed suits at the EU wasting time and taxpayers' dollars doing the work of Muslim public-relations organizations, all the while real problems go unsolved? Europeans need to take back control of their countries from these crooks.
Posted by: Archimedes at April 12, 2006 1:33 AM
Why is it up to the EU, or even within the purview of the EU, to determine what is authentic Islam and what isn't?
Well, considering that they are already in the business of dictating to Christians what they are supposed to believe or not (which excludes the whole Christian teaching about sexuality and marriage), I guess that is just the next step. After which they will be lecturing the Dalai Lama about his insufficient understanding of Buddhism - since he, too, has been caught being extremely un-PC of late.
Posted by: Paolo at April 12, 2006 5:46 AM
Paolo read my post above and you will see it was a scam, the "new words" are all compliments. No muslim would mind being referred to by any of the new improved terms, all of them show terrorists as religious figures and are not considered an insult. They don’t seem to like “islamic terrorist” so I think we should continue to use it.
Posted by: Ronin at April 12, 2006 7:20 AM
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