Berliner Jusos Drop 'Islamismus' to Avoid Stigmatization, Prompting Criticism

The youth wing of Berlin's SPD has replaced the term with alternatives like 'religiös begründetem Extremismus,' sparking concerns over security implications and censorship.

The Berliner Jusos officially decided on April 7, 2025, to stop using the term 'Islamismus,' citing its stigmatizing association with Islam.
The decision was made during the SPD youth organization's Landesdelegiertenkonferenz and mandates the use of alternatives such as 'religiös begründetem Extremismus.'
Critics, including academic Susanne Schröter, argue the move trivializes extremist threats and contributes to cancel culture by avoiding uncomfortable terminology.
Juso leader Philipp Türmer has previously called for stronger measures to combat Islamist content while criticizing mass deportation proposals as ineffective.
Despite the vocabulary change, 'Islamismus' remains widely used in official security discourse, appearing frequently in reports by Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.