May 30, 2008

The Muslim Public Affairs Council Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati appeared yesterday on Al-Jazeerah English's news program hosted by Riz Khan on the U.S. government's new approach to terminology of terror.

Al-Marayati debated Jed Babbin, editor of "Human Events" and former deputy undersecretary of defense under President George H.W. Bush, on a recent government report recommending that government officials refrain from using language that gives violent extremists false religious legitimacy.

SEE: Defining the Terrorist (Riz Khan, Al-Jazeerah English)

MPAC has long promoted a nuanced approach towards the lexicon of terrorism emanating from the United States government and media. It is essential that various elements of the government recognize the importance of decoupling Islam with terrorism. Furthermore, using Islamic language to describe terrorists falsely bolsters their religious credibility among the very people we most need -- the majority of mainstream Muslims around the world.