‘Islamic State are Muslims and their doctrine is Islamic’: BBC Head of Religion
from Lapido Media:
THE ISLAMIC State are Muslims and their doctrine is Islamic, the BBC’s Head of Religion, told a Lapido event last Wednesday (25 May).
Professor Aaqil Ahmed, first Muslim to hold the prestigious top religion post at the nation’s broadcaster, was responding to criticism of the BBC’s use of the term ‘so-called Islamic State’.
‘You wouldn’t say “so-called Huddersfield University”, barrister Neil Addison said during questions to the panel.
In reply, Ahmed said: ‘I hear so many people say ISIS has nothing to do with Islam – of course it has.
‘They are not preaching Judaism. It might be wrong but what they are saying is an ideology based on some form of Islamic doctrine. They are Muslims.
‘That is a fact and we have to get our head around some very uncomfortable things.
‘That is where the difficulty comes in for many journalists because the vast majority of Muslims won’t agree with them [ISIS].’
The discussion, in the presence of the suffragan Bishop of Huddersfield, Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, was part of an event organized by Lapido and hosted by Huddersfield University’s Media Department to launch the charity’s media handbook The Caliphate in the north of the country.
Ahmed described it as ‘a great entry-level read.’
Veteran journalist Paul Vallely, former Associate Editor of the Independent who chaired the panel agreed, saying ‘We need to open trainees’ eyes.’
He added: ‘Religion is not on the way out, it is on the way in – in a big way.’
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