U.S. State Department Uses 'Daesh' to Label ISIS Now After Perceived Unfair Association With Islam

ISIS
ISIS

In an attempt to avoid linking the terrorist group ISIS to Islam, U.S. state officials have started using the word "Daesh" instead.

"Our partners, at least the ones that I work with, ask us to use that because they feel that if you use ISIL that you legitimize a self-declared caliphate, and actually they feel pretty strongly that we should not be doing that," said Army Lt. Gen. James L. Terry, commander of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve. ISIL is another acronym used for ISIS, which stands for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (or Syria).

"Daesh is why we are here," the commander continued. "Daesh uses terror and fear to dominate people and reward themselves. It has demonstrated time and time again a disregard for life and humanity. It has also openly stated intentions to apply its trademark barbaric methods not only regionally, but globally as well."

The clarification was made during a Pentagon briefing on Thursday after a complaint from officials in France back in September. "This is a terrorist group and not a state. I do not recommend using the term Islamic State because it blurs the lines between Islam, Muslims, and Islamists," France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a statement. "The Arabs call it 'Daesh' and I will be calling them the 'Daesh cutthroats.'"

According to reports at The Week, "The name Daesh is a 'loose acronym' for 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (al-Dawla al-Islamiya al-Iraq al-Sham). The name is commonly used by enemies of ISIS, and it also has many negative undertones, as Daesh sounds similar to the Arabic words Daes (one who crushes something underfoot) and Dahes (one who sows discord)." The Associated Press reports that the name Daesh is so hated by Iraqi militant fighters that they've threatened to cut out the tongues of anyone who uses the word.

Lt. Gen. Terry went on to explain during the Pentagon briefing that partner nations in the Middle East have also expressed concern over the use of ISIS and ISIL.

Back in September, President Obama made the claim that ISIS has nothing to do with Islam. "Now let's make two things clear: ISIL is not Islamic," Obama said, speaking from the state floor of the White House residence during his prime-time speech commemorating the 13th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. "No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL's victims have been Muslim."

This sentiment, of course, raised a few concerns among the American people. The Huffington Post's Alastair Crooke addressed the statement in his own opinion piece on the site. "Let us be plain: President Obama's [...] basic premise that America and its allies are fighting a deviant, un-Islamic ideology, which must, and can be delegitimized by gathering together the Sunni Arab world to pronounce it 'un-Islamic,' simply underlines how little they 'know' about ISIS -- with which they are about to go to war.

"There is no 'true Islam' in Islam," Crooke continues. "There has never been any central 'authority' in Islam that could define such a thing. For better or worse (mostly for the better), Islam wears many faces. But paradoxically, there is one contemporary orientation that does make the big claim of being 'true Islam': Wahhabism."

Despite the politically correct intentions of avoiding any connection with Islam as a whole, Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said on December 12 that this isn't an official policy change. "Here in the Pentagon, we continue to refer to them as ISIL, but you may see... some Defense Department individuals using [Daesh] as well, particularly when they're speaking to audiences in the Middle East," Kirby said. "But there's been no change from our policy here that we refer to them as ISIL."

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.