World

David Cameron urges use of 'Daesh' for IS group

Cameron had previously used "ISIL" to refer to the extremist group, which is also known as "ISIS"

Afp December 02, 2015

A file photo of British Prime Minister David Cameron. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron adopted the term "Daesh" to refer to the Islamic State group on Wednesday and urged others to follow suit to avoid lending the extremists credibility.

Cameron had previously used "ISIL" to refer to the extremist group, which is also known as "ISIS", before switching to Daesh, which has negative connotations and is based on an Arabic acronym.

"Daesh is clearly an improvement and I think it's important that we all try to use this language," Cameron told parliament during a debate on whether Britain should join air strikes against the group in Syria.

Islamic State's online supporters include 300 Americans

"Frankly this evil death cult is neither a true representation of Islam nor is it a state," Cameron said, branding its members "women-raping, Muslim-murdering, mediaeval monsters".

A government Twitter account that had been called "UK Against ISIL" was changed to "UK Against Daesh" as Cameron made the announcement.

"#Daesh is Arabic acronym for #ISIL. Daesh hates the term + sounds similar to Arabic words Daes & Dahes: 'to trample' & 'one who sows discord'," read a tweet on the account.

https://twitter.com/UKagainstDaesh/status/672043612469780481

News organisations and international governments have been divided over what to call the group, with French President Francois Hollande referring to it as "Daesh" and the United States President Barack Obama calling it "ISIL".

ISIL stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, while ISIS is the abbreviation for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

COMMENTS (1)

John B | 8 years ago | Reply What is in a name; a rose by any other name is still a rose The Arabs may want to call ISIS as Daesh and Cameron may want to sanitize the ISIS under pressure from Muslim lobby in the UK. In the end, ISIS wants Islamic state in Iraq and Syria and establishment of Sharia and sunnah in their Calipat quest. Hence ISIS / ISIL is more appropriate than what the Arab call them. Damn the political correctness , I say.

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