In a story on the Boko Haram (“Education Is Sin”) Sharia supremacist group that has started riots in Nigeria, the Associated Press actually refers to the perpetrators as “Islamic militants.” The story is “Nigeria imposes curfews, sends troops to the north,” by Bashir Adigun, July 28, and you can find it here (thanks to M. P.). The story even notes that Boko Haram is also known as “Al-Sunna wal Jamma” — that is, “Followers of Mohammed’s Teachings.”
In referring to this group as comprised of “Islamic militants,” AP has broken with the longstanding and near-universal mainstream media practice of ignoring, downplaying, or denying outright the explicit Islamic identity claimed by Islamic jihadist groups the world over.
Once again we see an Islamic supremacist group claim to represent the truth and authenticity of Islam. The Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations and other putatively moderate Muslim groups in the U.S. loudly complain when non-Muslim analysts note this fact. They do not, however, ever seem to have anything to say about the violent and supremacist Muslims who are actually making the claim to represent true Islam.
Do Honest Ibe Hooper or Brave Ahmed Rehab have anything to say about Boko Haram? Don’t they have a press release ready condemning its teachings as not representing the truth of Muhammad and Islam? If not, why not?