Stop labeling terrorists as Islamists: Cameron
Regional-UK, Culture, 5/15/2007

UK Conservative leader David Cameron Monday called on the British government and media to stop labeling terrorists as Islamic or Islamists after spending two days with a Muslim family.

"Muslims I've talked to about these issues are deeply offended by the use of the word 'Islamic' or 'Islamist' to describe the terrorist threat we face today," Cameron said.

"By using the word 'Islamist' to describe the threat, we actually help do the terrorist ideologues' work for them, confirming to many impressionable young Muslim men that to be a 'good Muslim', you have to support their evil campaign," he said.

In an article for the Guardian about what he learnt from staying with the Rehman family in Birmingham, central England, last week, the opposition leader suggested Britain's state-funded broadcaster should give direction and stop associating terrorism with Islam.

"I don't think this is something that can or should be addressed through a government edict, but the BBC, as our national broadcaster, has both the responsibility and the opportunity to give a lead," he said.

Cameron said that a greater understanding was needed about the true nature of the terrorist threat, saying there was too much complacency about it among non-Muslims and that efforts were "not helped by lazy use of language." From his experience, he suggested that the second priority for building cohesion in Britain was for more integration between people from different backgrounds.

Previous Stories:
  Muslims question powers of Scottish parliament   (4/16/2007)
  Muslim teenager stabbed during attack on UK mosque   (10/3/2006)
  Muslims blame media for Islamophobia   (7/18/2006)

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