In your role as ranking member on the Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee, you are no doubt aware that in January 2008, the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and in March 2008, the National Counterterrorism Center produced publications that recommended using terminology that is more effective at isolating extremists and removing the false claim of religiosity they seek to justify their barbaric actions.

According to the Homeland Security recommendations, by using phrases like "Islamic terrorism," U.S. officials and representatives may be "unintentionally portraying terrorists, who lack moral and religious legitimacy, as brave fighters, legitimate soldiers or spokesman for ordinary Muslims." The report also urges "caution in using terms such as ‘jihadist,' ‘Islamist,' and ‘holy warrior' as grandiose descriptions," to avoid associating acts of violence or terrorism with religious concepts. 

Additionally, a May 2006 National Defense University paper written by Dr. Douglas E. Streusand and LTC Harry D. Tunnell concurs with this approach, saying, "Calling our enemies jihadist and their movement a global jihad thus indicates that we recognize their doctrines and actions as being in the path of God and, for Muslims, legitimate. In short, we explicitly designate ourselves as the enemies of Islam."

As a result of the continued use of terms like "Islamist terrorism" in your newsletters and other publications and speeches, our Muslim neighbors and friends may be unfairly demonized. Linking any faith to violence or terrorism is not only inaccurate but also casts a negative shadow on the peaceful followers of that faith.

As community leaders and activists who strive to promote unity, justice and understanding among all Americans, we respectfully call on you to use alternative terminology when discussing terrorism and other security threats. Words such as "radical extremists" or "violent extremists" might better suit your purpose.

We await your response on this matter.

Sincerely,

Elder Pamela Reed Allison
Progressive Christians Uniting, Orange County
Tustin Presbyterian Church

Eric Altman, Executive Director
Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD)

Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area

Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, Co-Founder
Jews on First

Rabbi Leonard Beerman,
Abrahamic Faiths Peacemaking Initiative

Richard Bunce, Chairperson,
ICUJP

Amin David, President
Los Amigos of Orange County

The Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord, Convener
Christian-Muslim Consultative Group

Rev. Sarah Halverson, Senior Pastor
Fairview Community Church, Costa Mesa

Zeke Hernandez, President
Santa Ana LULAC # 147
League of United Latin American Citizens

Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Founder
Progressive Faith Foundation

Richard Katsuda, Co-chair
Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress

Rev. Peter Laarman, Executive Director
Progressive Christians Uniting, Los Angeles

Dr. Ed Linberg, Associate Pastor
First Christian Church, Fullerton

Kathy Masaoka, Co-chair
Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress

Kay Ochi, Co-chair
Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress

Rev. R. Winston Presnall, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church, Orange

Rev. Dr. George Regas, Founder
ICUJP

The Rev. Alexia Salvatierra

Elizabeth Sholes, Director of Public Policy
California Council of Churches/California Church IMPACT 

Aquilina Soriano-Versoza, Executive Director
Pilipino Workers Center

Shakeel Syed, Executive Director
Islamic Shura Council of Southern California