Don't confuse terrorism with Islam, says EU

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The European Union has drawn up guidelines advising government spokesmen to refrain from linking Islam and terrorism in their statements.

Brussels officials have confirmed the existence of a classified handbook which offers "non-offensive" phrases to use when announcing anti-terrorist operations or dealing with terrorist attacks.

Banned terms are said to include "jihad", "Islamic" or "fundamentalist".

The word "jihad" is to be avoided altogether, according to some sources, because for Muslims the word can mean a personal struggle to live a moral life.

One alternative, suggested publicly last year, is for the term "Islamic terrorism" to be replaced by "terrorists who abusively invoke Islam".

An EU official said that the secret guidebook, or, "common lexicon", is aimed at preventing the distortion of the Muslim faith and the alienation of Muslims in Europe.

"The common lexicon includes guidance on a number of frequently used terms where lack of care by EU and member states' spokespeople may give rise to misunderstandings," he said.

"Careful usage of certain terms is not about empty political correctness but stems from astute awareness of the EU's interests in the fight against terrorism.

"Terrorists exploit and augment suspicions."

Details on the contents of the lexicon remain secret, but British officials stressed that it is there as a helpful aid "providing context" for civil servants making speeches or giving press conferences.

"We are fully signed up to this, but it is not binding," said one.

However, Conservative MEP Syed Kamall hit out at the lexicon. "It is this kind of political correctness and secrecy that creates resentment among both the mainstream in Europe and in Islam," he said.

Meanwhile, UK Independence Party MEP Gerard Batten claimed that the EU was in denial over the true roots of terrorism.

"This type of newspeak shows that the EU refuses to face reality," he said. "The major world terrorist threat is one posed by ideology and that ideology is inspired by fundamentalist jihadi Islam."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...30/wislam30.xml

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The European Union has drawn up guidelines advising government spokesmen to refrain from linking Islam and terrorism in their statements.

Brussels officials have confirmed the existence of a classified handbook which offers "non-offensive" phrases to use when announcing anti-terrorist operations or dealing with terrorist attacks.

Banned terms are said to include "jihad", "Islamic" or "fundamentalist".

lol

[almaty 19]

the EU sounds like right thinking type of people on this issue.....

i never link the KKK or the Order with Chrisitanity ..

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

the EU sounds like right thinking type of people on this issue.....

i never link the KKK or the Order with Chrisitanity ..

Do you need a government mandate to come to your conclusion?

[GaryC 7]

the EU sounds like right thinking type of people on this issue.....

i never link the KKK or the Order with Chrisitanity ..

It's true that the terrorists represent Islam as the KKK represents Christianity. It doesn't. Unfortunately when some Christian nut job bombs an abortion clinic and cites his faith to justify it that links it in the mind of the people that did the crime. The same applies to the terrorists. They do their deeds in the name of "Islam" so it links it in the minds of the people that did it. It is linked in the minds of the perpetrators so it's part of the story. To ignore that link is ignoring part of the story.

[mawilson 2,133]

Muslim аss-kissing will be their undoing.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Considering that large numbers of muslims live in Europe, it seems a little silly to tar them all with the same brush (however unintentionally). All that really does IMO is exacerbate existing cultural divisions.

I see where they are coming from - after all the article says this is a voluntary code (as opposed to 1984). Noone is forcing anyone to use the terminology.

[Dr_LHA 3]

I have to say I'm not violently opposed to this. Its true that Al Quaida terrorists are muslim, yes, but we have to be careful not to tar the entire muslim faith as terrorists. If they were all terrorists there's enough of them that we'd all be dead by now!

Lets use another Christian example: IRA members were Catholic - but that doesn't mean that Catholics are all terrorists.

[doodlebug 3]

Muslim аss-kissing will be their undoing.

*doodlebug bends over*

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I have to say I'm not violently opposed to this. Its true that Al Quaida terrorists are muslim, yes, but we have to be careful not to tar the entire muslim faith as terrorists. If they were all terrorists there's enough of them that we'd all be dead by now!

Lets use another Christian example: IRA members were Catholic - but that doesn't mean that Catholics are all terrorists.

No one here has EVER said every Muslim is a terrorist. And people that say that in the real world are rare, crazy and racist. But for some reason many terrorists are Muslim. Why? That's the question everyone avoids.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The reasoning behind most of this sort of political correctness is that the government (and this is as true in britain as it is everywhere else) represents a large and diverse range of people of various beliefs and backgrounds. In that regard, it has a duty to not marginalise elements of that population by officially associating them with criminality and extremism.

[Dr_LHA 3]

No one here has EVER said every Muslim is a terrorist. And people that say that in the real world are rare, crazy and racist. But for some reason many terrorists are Muslim. Why? That's the question everyone avoids.

Nobody here says it, but there are plenty who believe it.

[GaryC 7]

No one here has EVER said every Muslim is a terrorist. And people that say that in the real world are rare, crazy and racist. But for some reason many terrorists are Muslim. Why? That's the question everyone avoids.

Nobody here says it, but there are plenty who believe it.

Really? What gives you that idea? Only a moron would think that EVERY Muslim is a terrorist. Please give me a source for your conclusion.

[Otto 83]

Muslim аss-kissing will be their undoing.

I don't see it as Muslim ###-kissing as much as taking some of the implied 'power' away from terrorists. When terrorists are referred to as Muslim Terrorists, there is an implied 'power' that their numbers are great, certainly much greater than in reality - a physiological 'power' which these monsters enjoy (and probably rely on).

Terrorists behavior is intended to, well terrorize/scare people:

Which is 'scarier?'

Group of "Muslim Terrorist" bomb a café in the name of Allah?

Group of criminals bomb a café?

Neither one is good obviously, but which on removes the terrorists physiological power?

IMO not using certain 'terms' when referring to terrorists is a smart thing and terrorists will certainly not like the idea at all. One who kills/maims/injures others is an animal plain and simple - refer to it/he/she as such.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Only a moron would think that EVERY Muslim is a terrorist.

Agreed. Sadly there are a lot of morons out there. My conclusions are based on meeting people who strongly believe that Islam is the religion of terrorism, and that every muslim has the potential to become a terrorist because of the teachings of Islam.