by Ahmed E. Souaiaia *
Abstract: Social labels and categories are exercise in
control. They describe opponents, create boundaries, exclude social
groups, justify discrimination, and promote persecution. They are imbued
with sociopolitical power. Muslims used labels, internally for the
first time, during the formative period of the community to privilege
the elite and marginalize dissenters. They called those who challenged
the established order, Khawarij [Outsiders]. Today, Muslims living in
Western societies are often labeled radical Islamic extremists. But
aside from this politically charged phrase, even common adjectives, such
as Islamic and Muslim, are misused. So in what contexts should these
adjectives be appropriately used and why is it important to use social
labels judicially?
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