Inside Al Jazeera’s Style Guide, Which Forbids Reporters From Calling ISIS a ‘Terrorist’ Organization

Al Jazeera prohibits its staff from referring to al Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram as "terrorist," "Islamist," or "extremist" groups, instead requiring reporters to use "neutral terms" like "fighters" and "armed groups," according to a copy of the outlet’s style guide obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

The guide was labeled "2023-2024 Edition" but appears to have been updated to reference more recent events like President Donald Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America (the outlet tells reporters to use the former). The guide’s treatment of terrorist organizations is one example of how the Qatari state media outlet, which did not respond to a request for comment, presents radical Islam to the world.

"There is nothing stylish or factual about this unholy text, which has a higher spin rate than any Major League power pitcher," said one media insider who has seen the document. "It simply confirms what many right-thinking people have always known: Al Jazeera exists only to parrot narratives that have been carefully crafted by the Hamas propaganda machine."

Below is a compilation of exact quotes from the guide followed by examples of its rules being used in Al Jazeera articles.

TERRORISM/TERRORISTS

We do not use these terms unless attributed.

ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND THE LEVANT OR ISIL

Armed group operating in parts of Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.
Its leader was Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. We will continue to call it ISIL even if it has branches outside the Levant region.

"ISIL claims responsibility for Niger airport attack," Jan. 30, 2026: "The ISIL (ISIS) armed group has claimed responsibility for an attack on an air force base at Niger’s main airport."

"US says over 5,700 suspected ISIL detainees relocated from Syria to Iraq," Feb. 15, 2026: "Backed by US-led forces, Iraq proclaimed a victory over ISIL in the country in 2017, and the SDF ultimately defeated the armed group in Syria two years later."

ARMENIA

Do not say ‘genocide’ to describe the mass killings that happened at the end of the first World War. Armenians say the killings amount to genocide. While Modern day Turkiye vehemently disputes the killings committed in the last days of the Ottoman Empire constituted a genocide. We say mass killings. But it’s ok to write ‘genocide’ when quoting someone.

"Turkey, Armenia talk normalising ties after decades of animosity," Jan. 14, 2022: "The neighbours are at odds over various issues, primarily the 1915 mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire."

"Reactions to Biden’s recognition of Armenian ‘genocide,’" April 24, 2021: "Joe Biden has become the first United States president to recognise as an act of 'genocide' the mass killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I."

SREBRENICA

We will use the term genocide to describe the killing of more than 8,000 Muslim boys and men by Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995. In addition to the genocide, more than 20,000 civilians were expelled from the region in a process known as ethnic cleansing. In April 2004, The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at The Hague, ruled that the crimes committed in Srebrenica constituted a genocide. In 2007, the International Criminal Court upheld that ruling saying, there was ‘specific intent to destroy in part the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina.’

"Reliving History: How the Srebrenica genocide unfolded 30 years ago today," July 11, 2025: "Today, on the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, we’re taking you back to July 11, 1995, for a realtime account of how this tragic day unfolded."

JIHAD

Do not use the Arabic term. Strictly speaking, jihad means an inner spiritual struggle, not a holy war. It is not by tradition a negative term. It also means the struggle to defend Islam against things challenging it. Again, an Arabic term that we do not use.

ISLAMIST

Do not use. We will continue to describe groups and individuals, by talking about their previous actions and current aims to give viewers the context they require, rather than use a simplistic label.

Here are a few examples on how we can do that:

BOKO HARAM

An armed group fighting against western influence in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria. It wants to introduce Islamic law in the areas in which it has influence.

"US deploys 100 soldiers to Nigeria as attacks by armed groups surge," Feb. 16, 2026: "The United States has sent 100 military personnel to northern Nigeria to train and advise local forces, as deadly threats rise from armed groups such as Boko Haram and ISIL (ISIS)-linked factions."

MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD

Do not characterise as an Islamic/Islamist group. The Freedom and Justice Party is the organisation’s political arm.

"US labels Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan as ‘terrorists,’" Jan. 13, 2026: "Established in 1928 by Egyptian Muslim scholar Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood has offshoots and branches across the Middle East, including political parties and social organisations. The group and its affiliates say they are committed to peaceful political participation."

EXTREMIST

Do not use - It is a judgmental term because implicit in it is that whatever methods used or advocated are disproportionate or excessive. Could simply describe the group or person as ‘violent’

FUNDAMENTALIST

Do not use, the word has been hijacked, but this is acceptable for Christian sects which believe that every word of the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore true. Many tele-evangelists are fundamentalist Christians

"Questions linger about gun reform, anti-Semitism after Bondi Beach shooting," Dec. 15, 2025: "Sunday’s shooting at Bondi Beach follows several other mass shootings in recent years, including a 2022 attack in Wieambilla, Queensland, linked to Christian fundamentalist ideology that left six people dead."

ISRAEL

It is the state of Israel, not the Jewish state. However, we can refer to the Jewish state when the subject is the religious composition of Israel. Do not use Jewish state as a synonym for Israel. Do not use ‘Jerusalem’ as a synonym for the government of Israel, as one might use ‘Washington’ to imply the U.S. government. With regard to whether we use pro-Israel or pro-Israeli government…care needs to be taken to use the longer but more accurate phrase: ‘pro-Israeli government’. Israeli peace activists will tell you they are ‘pro-Israel’, but ‘anti-Israeli government’. When Israeli politicians address the public, make an effort to find out who they are addressing and report it as is.

EAST JERUSALEM

The term ‘occupied’ should be used wherever it’s necessary.

"Israel to advance plans for 9,000 units in occupied East Jerusalem," Dec. 17, 2025: "Israeli authorities are expected to advance plans to build 9,000 new housing units in an illegal settlement on the site of the abandoned Qalandiya airport in occupied East Jerusalem, in another attempt to cut off Palestinian lands from each other and block any possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state ever emerging."

WEST JERUSALEM

Do not say ‘occupied’. And never refer to it as the capital of Israel.

"Netanyahu finally announces October 7 inquiry: Why are Israelis furious?" Dec. 20, 2025: "The ministerial team tasked with determining the scope of the inquiry is to meet in West Jerusalem on Monday, coincidentally the same day that Netanyahu is scheduled to give testimony in his long-running corruption trial in Tel Aviv."

INCURSION

This is the word we use when Israeli settlers, politicians, religious figures or nationalist groups go into Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Don’t call it a ‘visit’.

"UN says Israel is stoking ‘ethnic cleansing’ fears in Gaza, West Bank," Feb. 19, 2026: "In Jerusalem, Ramadan has brought further restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The mosque’s imam, Sheikh Akrama Sabri, said Israeli authorities are ‘imposing a reality by force’ by limiting worshippers while allowing extremist Jewish incursions into the compound."

ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

Should be called illegal on first reference. Settlements are residential areas built by Israelis in the occupied territories. They are illegal under international law: this is the UN Security Council’s position - although Israel rejects this. All settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law. There are no ‘legal’ settlements.

"Israeli minister approves gun licences for 18 illegal West Bank settlements," Jan. 22, 2026: "Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has approved the issuance of gun licences to Israelis in 18 additional illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, as the right-wing government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes to expand illegal outposts that undermine prospects for a two-state solution."

ISRAELI ARMY

Do not call it Israeli Defence Forces or IDF. Also avoid ‘security forces’.

"Israeli army sniper in Chile accused of Gaza war crimes could face justice," Feb. 18, 2026: "A Chilean court is considering a criminal complaint against a former Israeli army sniper who served in Gaza during Israel’s more than two-year-long genocide on the coastal enclave and the Palestinian people."

ISRAEL MILITARY DEATHS

We take a robust approach to censorship of our reporting by the Israeli military. Each case should be considered individually, but our first instinct should be to report the facts. The deaths in combat of Israeli soldiers are of high news value. If we are confident of the facts we should report them, even if the Israeli Army has asked us to wait for its permission. The Israeli Army says it routinely asks us to delay reporting deaths so it can first inform victims’ relatives. This is not a good enough reason for us to withhold news from our audience – provided we do not name the victim. This policy may provoke a reaction from the Israeli side. If it does, we will reassess it.

GAZA STRIP

The Gaza Strip is occupied by Israel. It can be included when referring to the occupied territories. Israel completed its unilateral withdrawal of all its troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, in the so-called Gaza disengagement. However, it retains control of Gaza’s airspace, seafront and all vehicle access, including deliveries of food and other goods. But Israel, officially, does not control the Rafah crossing, the pedestrian-only link between Gaza and Egypt. After Israel left in 2005, the crossing was controlled by the Palestinian Authority and the Egyptians, with the presence of EU monitors. Egypt closed Rafah during the Hamas-Fatah fighting in June 2007. Under Mubarak, the Egyptians kept the crossing closed because opening it could be interpreted as recognition of Hamas’ sovereignty, at the expense of the Palestinian Authority. Since the Egyptian revolution, the country’s authorities declared the Rafah crossing open, though in practice there are still tight restrictions imposed by Cairo and Hamas. Under international law, Israel is still the occupying power in Gaza, despite it not having a permanent military presence there. To be accurate, talk about what happened in 2005 as ‘an end to Israel's permanent military presence in Gaza’, rather than the end of the occupation.

"Anger in Palestine over Trump plan, but protests see low turnout," Jan. 29, 2020: "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed popular mobilisations against the deal, as groups including the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Hamas, which has governed the occupied Gaza Strip since 2007, called for mass protests."

TAIWAN

Is not a country. Refer to it by name initially and as an ‘Island’ thereafter

"China launches drills around Taiwan in ‘stern warning’ to external forces," Dec. 29, 2025: "The drills came amid anger in Beijing over an $11.1bn weapons sale to Taiwan by the United States, as well as a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested that the Japanese military could get involved if China were to attack the self-governed island. Beijing considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has pledged to take control of the island by force if necessary."

PRESS TV

Is state funded by Iran’s government, but we shouldn’t refer to it as ‘state TV’. Many would argue (and some have) that Al Jazeera is state funded, but we’re not state TV

NAIL BOMB

Two words

PIPE BOMB

Two words

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