Use of the word "terrorist" has always been controversial. And now, with Daesh (ISIS) dominating media coverage, Egypt is trying to eliminate its association with Islam.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Saturday handed out a guideline to foreign journalists, trying to restrict reporters' way of referring to extremism. The guide distinguishes acceptable terms and "ill-informed" ones that "falsely attach" acts of terrorism with Islam.
A Daily Telegraph Cairo correspondent said on social media the sheet was handed out to foreign correspondents during a Foreign Ministry briefing. Several journalists based in Egypt uploaded photos of the style guide on Twitter after the meeting.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry told journalists not to use the following terms: Islamists, Islamic groups, jihadists, jihadis, sheikhs, emirs, ulamas, ISIS, ISIL, Islamic State, fundamentalists, puritans, and literalists.
It is, however, perfectly fine to use savages, slaughterers, destroyers and eradicators based on Egypt's standards.
Here's a photo uploaded on Twitter of the style guide handed out to foreign correspondents:
By Hayat Norimine
