According to the dictionary of the Institute of Turkish Language, jihad is an Arabic word meaning "a religious war".

According to the dictionary of the Institute of Turkish Language, jihad is an Arabic word meaning "a religious war".

Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz argued that the word was misinterpreted and what it actually meant was to serve the community, to increase welfare, to secure peace and understanding of one another.

Um, may I request if some of you who might know something about this could offer clearer info? I somehow find it challenging to think one word means both religious war and community service, peace, and understanding.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41003105
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41003105

Comments

  1. Christina L BrainardAugust 21, 2017 at 5:17 PM

    I'm not an expert, by far. But I have heard it defined as struggle, i.e. "the struggle for x." So it could be the struggle for religious superiority (never wanted by Jesus or Muhammad) or the struggle to create community.

    Too many cultural negative connotations now, I feel though.

    ReplyDelete
  2. John NovakAugust 21, 2017 at 5:42 PM

    I am not going to wade into the subtleties of a language I do not speak. But I will note that the language I speak has several words that are their own opposite without any use of irony or sarcasm at all.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Zeynep DilliAugust 21, 2017 at 7:49 PM

    That's professional level, decades old techniques of dissembling. I've never heard of the dude before this post, mind you, but the line is very very very familiar. It's a dog whistle, except they are putting it in the actual words by now.

    Clear enough?

    ReplyDelete
  4. F-L SilverAugust 21, 2017 at 8:41 PM

    I was hoping I was ignorant and making wrong assumptions due to lack of info and insight.

    ReplyDelete

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