Names of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

The name of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has been subject of debate and controversy since 2013.

In Arabic language, the jihadist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has called itself ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah (الدولة الإسلامية‎) since June 2014. Before it was known under the name ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah fī 'l-ʿIrāq wa-sh-Shām (الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام‎), which it adopted in April 2013.

The literal translation of their previous name resulted in confusion, resulting in both ISIS and ISIL, two acronyms based on different literal translations of the name into English. Apart from these, an Arabic-derived acronym, Daesh or Da'ish gained traction well beyond Arabic-speaking parts of the world. Finally, the group's current name caused controversy due to its English translation as Islamic State (IS) and as a result, both the previous acronyms are still widely used, or a qualifier is often added to the IS name, such as "self-styled Islamic State".

In order to acknowledge the controversy surrounding the group's name while avoiding implication that the group is a nation state, reports in mainstream media often prefix descriptions of the group with disclaimers such as "so-called" or "self-claimed"; for example: "self-claimed Islamic State". Members of the group are often described as "so-called Islamic State militants", with the acronym SCISM (So-Called Islamic State Militants) also in widespread use.

Background

Originating in Iraq, the group underwent various previous name changes, and since 2006 had been known as Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), and name which had failed to gain any traction, as the group had failed to gain or hold any significant territory as ISI, and thus widespread confusion over what to call them was largely absent. Confusion began when the group gained further territory and changed its name to ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah fī 'l-ʿIrāq wa-sh-Shām in April 2013 as it expanded into Syria. It then changed to ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah in June 2014 as part of a desire to re-establish a caliphate. The rendering of the Arabic name in English varies, due to imprecise translation.

Translation of the name's components

Literal translation of ash-Shām

The parallel use of both ISIS and ISIL as acronym originated from uncertainty in how to translate the Arabic word "ash-Shām" (or "al-Sham") in the group's April 2013 name, which can be translated variously as "the Levant", "Greater Syria", "Syria" or even "Damascus". This led to the widely used translations of "Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant", "Islamic State in Iraq and Syria" or "Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham". "The Levant" generally refers to at least part or all of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine/Israel and Lebanon, though its definition varies.

According to the BBC, since neither "Levant", nor "Syria", reflect the group's likely meaning of the word al-Sham in Arabic, "various experts have therefore said that the word al-Sham should not be translated" (when rendering the long form name). According to Syrian analyst Hassan Hassan, if the term Levant had been the intended meaning, the Arabic word would have been "Bilad al-Sham", whereas the more likely meaning of Greater Syria still leads to the acronym ISIS.

Literal translation of ad-Dawlah

In contrast to the difficulties in translation of the group's former name, according to The Guardian the group's 2014 name "near enough" literally translates to "Islamic State", however there is still a remaining difficulty since this fails to capture the true Arabic connotations, which are closer to a religious concept of a united Islamic community (ummah) under Sharia law, as opposed to western concept of a bureaucratic state apparatus.

Other names

Reflecting the desire to build a caliphate, the group also refers to itself as "al-Dawla", meaning simply "the State". Syrians living under the group's control refer to them as "al-tanzeem," Arabic for "the organization." Reflecting the group's origins as a renegade splinter group, supporters of Al-Qaeda referred to the group simply as "al-Baghdadi's group".

Daesh and variants

The name "Da'ish" is often used by ISIL's Arabic-speaking detractors. It is based on the Arabic letters Ḏāl, 'alif, ʻayn, and shīn, which together form the acronym داعش‎ of ISIL's 2013 name al-Dawlah al-Islamīyah fī al-ʻIrāq wa-al-Shām. It is pronounced with the emphasis on a long "e", which lends itself to being said in a snarling or aggressive tone in Arabic speech.

While "Da'ish" has no other meaning in Arabic, it is very similar to the Arabic word دعس‎ (Daes), meaning "one who crushes (or tramples down) something underfoot". It also resembles the Arabic word داحس‎ (Dāhis), the beginning of داحس والغبراء‎ (Dāhis wa'l-Ghabrā', or "Felon and dust"), which refers to the Islamic concept of the Jahiliyyah and can be loosely translated as "one who sows discord". Both words obviously have a negative connotation in Arabic culture, undermining the group's claim to have revived the Caliphate, leading to the group objecting to it as a pejorative name. The rarity of acronyms in Arabic also adds to the perception of illegitimacy, since it draws attention to the fact it is a made-up term.

The acronym was reportedly first used by supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Daesh is used by many Muslims, who believe it better separates the group from their faith. According to the British ambassador to Iraq speaking in January 2015, Daesh had become an Arabic word in its own right, with a plural – daw'aish – meaning "bigots who impose their views on others". By the end of the year, the plural term was in widespread use in the middle East.

According to Associate Press reporting the words of residents of Mosul in Iraq who were speaking on condition of anonymity, the group itself wishes to be referred by its full name only, Islamic State, considering the acronym Daesh to be disrespectful, going so far as to threaten to cut the tongue out of anyone who used it in public. According to The Week, experts argue that it is a key aim of the group to secure sole use of names which imply statehood and an Islamic faith, for purposes of propaganda. According to the American commander of the US mission in Iraq and Syria, Lt Gen James Terry, the Arab coalition partners believed strongly that the US should avoid referring to the enemy as ISIL and instead use Daesh, to avoid giving legitimacy to the group's aims.

Although these names were being widely used in the Arabic world, the western media were initially slow to adopt them, in favour of ISIS/ISIL. This has subsequently changed after the group's name change to IS, with media and politicians now using it widely, with the BBC speculating this was either "despite or perhaps as a direct consequence of the irritation it causes the group". Karin Ryding, emerita professor of Arab linguistics at Georgetown University, suggested Daesh is sub-optimal, since English speakers are unable to pronounce it the same way Arabic speakers do, due to the voiced pharyngeal fricative, represented by the apostrophe in Dai'ish.

Common usage

Usage of ISIS, ISIL vs. Islamic State

Most English language outlets initially first used ISIS, while usage of ISIL later increased. Use of ISIS was particularly more prevalent than ISIL in British media. It has been argued that ISIS has been retained simply because it rolls off the tongue of English speakers, who are familiar with it through its other meaning as the name of an Egyptian goddess.

The group's adoption of the name Islamic State led to controversy due to the inference that it represented the Islamic faith or was a sovereign state, leading to outlets choosing to retain the acronyms ISIS or ISIL, or using qualifiers on the new name. Despite the objections, use of the group's preferred name of Islamic State without qualification also spread.

Government and organisations

The United Nations generally refers to the group as ISIL. General secretary Ban Ki-Moon has also used "Un-Islamic Non-State".

Governments of the Arab states adopted Daesh initially, and have continued to use it rather than IS.

The Israeli government approach has been the same as Arab states.

The British government originally used Isil, but adopted Daesh on 2 December 2015.

The French government adopted 'Daech' (French transliteration of Daesh) over its previous French name, EIIL (L'Etat islamique en Irak et au Levant), stating other names "blur the lines between Islam, Muslims and Islamists".

The Australian government under Prime Minister Tony Abbott adopted Daesh in January 2015.

The United States government designated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as the group's primary name, believing "Levant" to be the more accurate translation. It also listed the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), ad-Dawla al-Islamiyya fi al-'Iraq wa-sh-Sham, Daesh, Dawla al Islamiya, and Al-Furqan Establishment for Media Production, as aliases. This was to disassociate the group from the al-Nusrah Front (ANF), as a result of the rift between the two groups. Usage has not been consistent however, with ISIS, ISIL, Islamic State and Daesh all being used variously, both domestically and overseas, with the precise term chosen based on the audience, recognising the need for consistency and that the American public was more familiar with ISIL, while also catering to partners who are more attached to Daesh. President Barack Obama uses ISIL.

A spokesman for the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs told Power & Politics in December 2014, "Whether it is called Daesh, ISIL or ISIS, Canada and the coalition agree this heinous terrorist group presents a threat to the region, and the entire world. That is why Canada has announced a number of measures designed to combat ISIL’s brutality and help victims of this barbaric terrorist group."

Media style guides

The Associated Press originally opted to use ISIL, believing Levant to be the most accurate translation. After the name change to IS, it has switched to referring to the "Islamic State group". The AP's guide is used by many media organisations.

BBC News chose to refer to it as "Islamic State group", "so-called islamic State", or "self-styled Islamic State" in the first instance, shortening it to IS on subsequent mentions. In face of criticism from politicians, it stood by the decision, arguing Daesh was pejorative and that its approach was necessary to maintain impartiality.

NPR use "Islamic State" with the optional use of qualifiers in the first instance, then ISIS thereafter.

USA Today "identifies the group as the Islamic State, the Islamic State militant group, or the Islamic State extremist group."

The New York Times uses "Islamic State", choosing to explain it in context.

The Guardian, and its sister paper The Observer, uses "Islamic State" at first mention and "Isis" thereafter. (It does not uppercase acronyms.). It chose "Isis" over "Isil" as being more usual in British media. In September 2014 it was considering switching to "IS", but by April 2016 had not done so.

used ISIS. Following the name change, it moved to "Islamic State (ISIS)" at first mention, and thereafter IS.

The Financial Times chose to stick with ISIS even after the group's name change.

Reaction

Some media commentators have suggested that the debate over what to call the group was of little importance when compared to the need to actually stop them.

Rod Little has argued that avoiding the group's proper name goes against journalistic tradition, and indeed avoiding their use of the term "Islamic" is counter-productive considering many believe the right strategy to defeat them is to call on the help of Muslim communities. William McCants argues attempts to avoid Islamic State denies the basic reality that they have managed to establish a state.

Writing for The Washington Post, Amanda Bennett cast the debate as less about the meaning of words, but what they convey, contrasting politician's wish to have the group seen in a negative light, with the tradition in journalistic and academic circles to use organisations own preferred names, with explanation if there is a confusion or conflict with other meanings.

Writing in The Independent, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Miqdaad Versi, argued that daesh is preferable to allowing the group to be able to use its preferred name, pointing out there were various inconsistencies in the BBC's and other outlets choice not to translate the names of other groups, and pointing out that Boko Haram is also an unofficial pejorative name.

On the issue of journalistic tradition of using recognisable names, Stephen Pritchard of The Guardian relayed the failure of their paper to get it right when they initially used "The Brotherhood", the rough English translation to refer to the little known Al-Qaeda group in the wake of the September 11 attacks, before quickly dropping it as the Arabic name gained traction, despite it being their chosen brand.

See also

• Name changes due to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant