This guide was
…designed to give journalists and other media professionals the
tools they need to gain a better understanding of Islam and write more
informed, accurate and balanced stories about Muslims… It
offers “background information about Islam and Muslims, best practices
for reporting on the Islamic faith and a list of accurate and
appropriate terminology to employ when covering issues relating to
Muslims.”[1]
The Journalist’s Guide is available here.
Unfortunately, for journalists who have an interest in truly
understanding Islam, CAIR’s “guide” will only lead them astray. Here are
some examples from the Journalist’s Guide that act to misguide instead
of to guide.
Jihad does not mean holy war
On p. 6 of the Journalist’s Guide, we find this claim: “Jihad” does not mean “holy war.” Irony abounds with this claim, and here is why.
For many years, CAIR has been distributing a Koran translation, The Message of the Qur’an,
that CAIR claims enhances “the understanding of Islam in America.” As
of 2016 CAIR had distributed over 130,000 copies of this Koran.[2] Here are some interesting footnotes found in that Koran.
…the earliest (and therefore fundamental) Qur’anic reference to the question of jihad, or holy war… (The Message of the Qur’an, n. 167, p. 51.)
…he was taken prisoner in a jihad – that is, a holy war… (The Message of the Qur’an, n. 72, p. 284.)
…a woman taken captive in a “holy war” (jihad)… (The Message of the Qur’an, n. 58, p. 727.)
