CAIR Comm Director: Term ‘Islamists’ Used As ‘Pejorative’

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper argued that the term “Islamists” is offensive on Monday’s “NewsNation” on MSNBC.

Speaking on anti-terror raids in Turkey, he said that “if you find a plot where there’s some violence planned, of course stop that plot, but we’re also seeing a tremendous rise in Islamaphobia, not only in Europe but in the United States. We’re, ourselves, we’re receiving [a] tremendous increase in hate messages and threats. We’re seeing threats to mosques, we’re seeing hate rallies against ordinary Muslim conferences, like over the weekend in Texas. So we’re seeing [a] tremendous rise in the level of Islamaphobia, and I would also caution us all on terminology. In the package preceding this segment, the reference was repeatedly made to ‘Islamists,’ used as a pejorative. And when you start using terms like that as a pejorative, I think it sends a very negative message. It sends a message that anyone involved with Islam in any way is somehow engaging in something they shouldn’t be engaging in. So, we have to examine the terminology and we have to, you know, get out of this downward spiral of hostility and mutual mistrust that these horrific incidents can lead to.”

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