Defining the terrorist

We ask who determines the terminology that defines the terrorists and why it matters.

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Conservative pundits say US recommendations for
discussing terror political correctness run amuck [Getty]

Which words do you use when talking about terrorism?

The US government recently put out a series of recommendations for talking about terror.

The stated goal: “[To] avoid helping the terrorists by inflating the religious bases and glamorous appeal of their ideology.” 

Specifically the recommendations warn against using words like “jihadist”, “mujahideen” or Islamic theological terms.

Muslim-American community activists welcomed the recommendations but some conservative pundits have argued that it is political correctness run amuck.

The once confidential recommendations have caused a raging debate in the blogosphere.

On Thursday’s Riz Khan we look at all sides of this controversy as we talk to the man behind the recommendations, Dan Sutherland of the US Department of Homeland Security, Salam Al-Marayati of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and Jed Babbin of the conservative online magazine Human Events.

We will ask who determines the terminology that defines the terrorists and why it matters.

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This episode of Riz Khan aired on Thursday, May 29, 2008

You can watch Riz live at 1900GMT, with repeats at 0030GMT, 0500GMT and 1000GMT



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Source: Al Jazeera