Ministers Told : Don't Call Islamic Extremists 'Extremists'
By GRAEME WILSON
Deputy Political Editor
The Sun
Published: 05 Dec 2009
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MINISTERS have been BANNED from using words like Islamist and fundamentalist – in case they offend Muslims.
An eight-page Whitehall guide lists words they should not use when talking about terrorism in public and gives politically correct alternatives.
They are told not to refer to Muslim extremism as it links Islam to violence. Instead, they are urged to talk about terrorism or violent extremism.
Fundamentalist and Jihadi are also banned because they make an “explicit link” between Muslims and terror.
Ministers should say criminals, murderers or thugs instead. Radicalisation must be called brainwashing and talking about moderate or radical Muslims is to be avoided as it “splits the community”.
Islamophobia is also out as it is received as “a slur that singles out Muslims”.
The guide, produced by the secretive Research, Information and Communications Unit in the Home Office, tell ministers to “avoid implying that specific communities are to blame” for terrorism. It says more than 2,000 people are engaged in terror plots.
The guidance was branded “daft” last night by a special adviser to ex-Communities Secretary Hazel Blears. Paul Richards said: “Unless you can describe what you're up against, you're never going to defeat it. Ministers need to be leading the debate on Islamic extremism and they can't do that if they have one hand tied behind their back.”
The Home Office said: “This is about using appropriate language to have counter-terrorism impact. It would be foolish to do anything else.”
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2759618/Ministers-told-Dont-call-Islamic-extremists-Islamic-extremists.html#ixzz0YxOk25yt
