Denmark tries to clean up terror talk

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The Danish Intelligence Agency has introduced new guidelines for discussing terrorism, advising authorities to avoid words like jihad and martyr.

Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen is head of protective security for the agency, which is known by its Danish acronym PET. She said that the goal is to avoid legitimizing terrorism or tying the majority of non-violent Muslims to terrorists, the Copenhagen Post reported.

"Terrorist groups often try to legitimize their actions by associating them with religion, using words such as jihad," she said. "However, a jihad also has peaceful and positive meanings, and it is unfortunate if the authorities repeat it and strengthen the extremists' use of the word."

"Language Use and the Fight Against Terror" also suggests avoiding Islamism, fundamentalism and mujahedin.

Karsten Lauritzen, head of the parliamentary integration committee, said that PET is being naive if it thinks that language changes will conquer terrorism. But he said that officials should be accurate -- that sharia, for example, has a far broader meaning than non-Muslims typically give it.