The problem with this is that Islamic jihadists themselves call themselves jihadists. They may even consider what they do to be terrorism, in line with the Qur’an’s command to “strike terror in the enemies of Allah” (8:60). To call Islamic jihadists “Islamic jihadists” is not to demonize all Muslims, no matter how often this is repeated, any more than to refer to “California surfers” characterizes all Californians as surfers. What Peter Mwaura is actually advocating here is willful ignorance and self-imposed censorship regarding the jihad threat, which will allow the jihad to advance unopposed and unimpeded.
“Don’t use ‘jihadist’ in news stories; that is capable of promoting hate,” by Peter Mwaura, Nation Media Group, October 2, 2020 (thanks to Henry):
The first article I wrote upon becoming the public editor of NMG was titled “Media misrepresentation of Muslims and Islam: Who takes the blame?” (Daily Nation, February 19, 2015).
It was a plea to NMG journalists to avoid demonising Muslims and Islam in their news stories by using such terms as Islamic terrorists and jihadists. The indiscriminate use of the terms promotes Islamophobia. But I was up against a newsroom culture that was insensitive to the use of words or terms that were misleading and offensive to Muslims.
The perpetuation of Islamophobia and prejudice by demonising Muslims as immoral and dangerous people through media stories lingers on.
On September 21, the Daily Nation published on page 12 a news story with a headline that suggested jihadists are child rapists: “Jihad and rape: Beware the stranger stalking your child.” With justification, Abu Ayman Abusufian, of Jamia Mosque, Nairobi, and his fellow Muslims took umbrage against the headline.
“The article was centred on cybercrime and had nothing to do with Jihad. In the 924-word article, only one paragraph, of 17 words, had a reference about ‘jihadist’ and it begs the question why the term Jihad was used in the headline,” said Mr Abusufian.
The Daily Nation has no excuses, I must say. There is no nexus between Jihad and rape, as Mr Abusufian rightly points out. The Nation should stop using the loaded words, Jihad and jihadists, in news stories…
Check Burry says
Peter,take another look,it is no one else, it is islamic terrorist who do the terror. There are tons of ocurances, like something happened as one of them said about the islamic terrorism on 9/11
mortimer says
What about ACCURATELY DESCRIBING a self-declared jihadist as a JIHADIST.
The question of who is a TERRORIST depends on who is on the RECEIVING END of the terrorism.
To all Muslims, JIHAD is not the same as ‘terrorism’ … even though Koran 8.60 is very explicit that Muslims should in fact conduct terrorism.
K.8.60 ‘TURHIBUNNA’ (terrorize them).
maria says
Jihad, islam are terrorism. And there are no muslims who are against. If there are any they will be murdered by the 99,99% of the muslims in the world
mortimer says
Who takes the blame for jihad then?
To blame Allah or Mohammed would be considered blasphemy?
To blame Muslims for believing in a sociopathic ideology is somehow ‘unfair’ according to Peter Mwaura.
Why are Muslims NOT then to blame for believing in a sociopathic political ideology?
mortimer says
If a member of an Islamic terror group is NOT a ‘terrorist’ … then who is, Mr. Mwaura?
The Nazis believed in a sociopathic political ideology? Should they not be called ‘NAZIS’, even when they were believing Nazis and members of the Nazi party?
Are the Muslim Brotherhood not JIHADISTS?
Are members of dozens of jihad-terror groups NOT ‘jihadists’? Are they not card-carrying ‘terrorists’ by adhering to such groups?
Dave from San Antonio says
I guess the truth hurts. Islam is more of a cult, than a religion.
maria says
Islam is not only acult. It is a satanic ideology a twin to nazism
elee says
What term do they suggest for the violent al-Shebaab and ISIS cults that operate with impunity inside their borders? Pious sons of the prophet? What Kenya does, does not happen in a vacuum. This man proposes hospitality to murderous thugs who kill rape and terrorize worldwide. Kenya should not expect the world to sit on its hands if it harbors this evil……even if it isn’t interested in defending its own people.
mortimer says
Mujahideen (Arabic: مجاهدين mujāhidīn) is the plural form of mujahid (Arabic: مجاهد), the Arabic term for one engaged in jihad (literally, “struggle”). The English term jihadists grammatically corresponds to it.
Its widespread use in English began with reference to the guerrilla-type militant groups led by the Islamist Afghan fighters in the Soviet–Afghan War and now extends to other jihadist groups in various countries.
Example: Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen was an Islamist organisation operating in Bangladesh.
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mujahideen
Michael Copeland says
Come, come, now:
“Jihad is not inhumane, despite its necessary violence and bloodshed, its ultimate desire is peace which is protected and enhanced by the rule of law.”
Ibrahim Sulaiman, modern-day Islamic scholar
https://quizlet.com/66382092/islam-flash-cards/
The author of the ‘Majma’ al-Anhar fi Sharh Multaqal-Abhar’, in describing the rules of jihad according to the Hanafi School, said:
‘Jihad linguistically means to exert one’s utmost effort in word and action; in the Sharee’ah {Sharia — Islamic law} it is the fighting of the unbelievers, and involves all possible efforts that are necessary to dismantle the power of the enemies of Islam including beating them, plundering their wealth, destroying their places of worship and smashing their idols.
http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2007/10/hasan-al-banna-on-jihad.html
“Terror struck into the hearts of the enemies is not only a means, it is the end itself.”
– Pakistani Brig. S.K. Malik, “Quranic Concept of War”.
“Jihad in the way of Allah is not terrorism”.
Qazi Hussain Ahmed a former president of Jamaat-e-Islami
https://www.tr.news/china-bends-the-knee-to-radical-islamist/?mc_cid=dece45b7b2&mc_eid=9fdbda6cc8
Michael Copeland says
“There is no nexus between Jihad and rape” – Peter Mwaura.
Sheikh Saleh al Fawzan disagrees, Mr. Mwaura.
“Slavery is part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long there is Islam.”
Part of slavery is sex-slavery of women. A woman sex-slave, by definition, has to submit to intercourse without her consent, because she is a slave. Intercourse without consent is rape, Mr. Mwaura.
Nexus proven. Q.E.D.
mortimer says
Idiots. Clearly, Islam endorses the rape of captive women. (‘gonimoter maal’ – war booty)
Rape during the Bangladesh Liberation War by Pak Army 1971
During the war, a fatwa in Pakistan declared that the Bengali ‘freedom fighters’ were Hindus and that their women could be taken as the ‘booty of war’.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War, it is estimated that between 400,000 and 600,000 women and girls were sexually assaulted by the Pakistan armed forces and the Al-Badr (“the moon”) and the Al-Shams (“the sun”) militias that supported them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_during_the_Bangladesh_Liberation_War
http://globalnews.ca/news/2424698/islamic-state-outlines-rules-for-when-soldiers-can-rape-female-slaves-report/
Islamic State outlines ‘rules’ for when soldiers can rape female slaves: report
The Islamic State has rules for when “owners” of female slaves can and cannot rape their captives, according to a Reuters report.
According to the report, ISIS issued the fatwa to help prevent so-called “violations” of Sharia law in the treatment of female slaves.
The fatwa was among documents captured by U.S. Special Forces during a raid in May, where commandos targeted a top ISIS official in Syria.
According to the document, the “Fatwa Number 64” was issued on Jan. 29, 2015 and lists guidelines of when having intercourse with a female slave is permitted.
In Sweden, 77% of rapes are committed by the 2% Muslim male part of the population.
Michael Copeland says
“Terror struck into the hearts of the enemies is not only a means, it is the end itself,”
– Pakistani Brig. S.K. Malik, “Quranic Concept of War”.
There is nothing “misleading” about that.
mortimer says
It’s official Pak army doctrine = Islamic terrorism
mortimer says
WRONG: “There is no nexus between Jihad and rape, as Mr Abusufian rightly points out.”
To the contrary … rape is integral to jihad as a reward for the jihadists: Koran 4.23-24.
Rape of captives is DECREED BY ALLAH.
tim gallagher says
Yep, keep those lies and disinformation rolling along about how Islam is basically peaceful and that it has nothing to do with all those terrorist attacks and rapes committed by Muslims, and that there is no real problem with Islam. That’s what the man in this report is seeking to do. The amazing thing to me is that there are still so many gullible fools who actually believe this nonsense we are fed that there’s no fundamental problem with Islam and it is really a nice, pleasant ideology. And pigs might fly. To my mind, almost everyone (some people are simply incapable of learning anything at all) should have seen through this bullshit by now.
Tom Franczak says
Obama isn’t President anymore. It’s ok to say “Islamic terrorist.”
Tom says
“Fear not the path of truth for the lack of people walking on it.” JFK.
Why would those who know the truth of terror and jihad against the west stop calling it what it is. It is a fact that not all Muslims are supporters of terror and jihad against the west, but it must be acknowledged that many, either overtly or covertly, support the goals of the jihadists, a world controlled by Islam and laws that reflect Sharia.
It is not Islamophobic to identify threats to our existence, and to target those threats directly as a preventive strategy, but it is stupid to ignore them or appease those who call for us to ignore them simply because they originate from within a specific community.
In the UK they identified the terror that originated in the Catholic community in northern Ireland. It didn’t mean that they were anti Catholic for doing so. It meant they were being pragmatic.
gravenimage says
Kenya: ‘Avoid demonising Muslims and Islam in news stories by using such terms as Islamic terrorists and jihadists’
……………..
In other words, don’t dare tell the truth about Islam…