Looks like we’ve found our new favorite word for ISIS! The term is Daesh and you’ve probably heard world leaders use the term in referring to the terror organization. The term is an abbreviation of the same words that make up I.S.I.S in english – Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’, or ‘al-dowla al-islaamiyya fii-il-i’raaq wa-ash-shaam” However ISIS hates the term for two reasons.

1. Depending on the Arabic conjugation, it could mean “to trample under foot” or “a bigot.”

2. It eliminates the legitimizing terminology of “Islamic State,” which is how they view themselves – a nation for muslims.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott may have said it best when asked why he says “Daesh”: “Daesh hates being referred to by this term, and what they don’t like has an instinctive appeal to me. ...read more