Radical Islam

In cancer care, treatment options are generally divided into radical (aiming to cure) and palliative (aiming to manage symptoms and improve quality of life) based on the goal of the treatment. So when we use the word 'Radical' in cancer treatments, its a good news for patients. But in news we hear 'Radical islamist' or 'radical islam' and everyone gets scared or angry. There must be some discussion about killings and death. Some bomb blast somewhere, some 'terrorist' act by 'radical islamist' who is so dangerous who wants to kill everyone. The whole religion of Islam comes under attack.

So I went to the local post office and met a postman who was collecting the post. I asked him, "are you a modern liberal postman or a radical postman"? He started staring at me.

I ask you, whatever your profession is, are you 'radical' or liberal? Radical Doctor or radical nurse, or radical engineer, radical postman, radical shopkeeper, radical plasterer, radical bricklayer, radical solicitor, radical politician?

Like many, this terminology 'Radical Islam' or 'Radical Islamist' makes me upset too, but for a different reason. This rubbish 'radical Islamist' word is something which makes me angry every time some crime is associated with Islam. I find this 'Radical Islam" terminology to be the pinnacle of ignorance. "Criminal" is the word, not 'radical islam'. These guys commit a terrible crime and medias find a story to play with for a few days.

Take a recent example. Bondi beach shooting incident, took place on 14 December 2025, during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney. Terrible incident. We all know the religion of those 'Radical Islamists'.

A day before, 13 December 2025: The first attack occurred at Brown University in Rhode Island, just one day before the Bondi incident.

15 December 2025: The second attack occurred in Brookline, Massachusetts, where an MIT professor was killed one day after the Bondi incident.

Question: What was the religion of those criminals? I am sure you wont know without googling? Were they 'Radical Christians'? Or 'Radical Atheists'? Did we hear about their religion? The moment an "Abdul" or a "Muhammad" or a muslim sounding human commits a crime, the 'Radical Islam" tag goes with it. Why?

So let me come to point. There is nothing like 'Radical Islam". Just like "radical doctor' or 'Radical nurse' doesn't exist. These are all good or not so good doctors and nurses. Similarly, there is nothing like 'radical' Islam. Radical islam doesn't exist. Criminals do exist. Call them criminals. This "Radical Islamist" or "radical" Islam is the biggest non-sense which I hear in today's media.

Lastly, the importance of media and governments to a nation, is like a parent to a child. You can raise your child whichever way you want. Media and Governments (M&G) can raise their nations whichever way they want. M&Gs have successfully brain washed the West that there is something called 'Radical' Islam which promotes killing and terror. And lo and behold, we all believe it blindly.

While Islam is a way of life with its values woven around kindness, compassion and caring. It says whosoever saved one life, it's like saving the whole of humanity, whosoever killed one, is like killing the whole humanity. It gives special importance to dealing with people and public, hurting someone is like a crime. Yet the Sky news will tell you the 'radical islamist" killed so and so and the whole world will go berserk about the evilness of Islam.

So, call them "Criminals'. Next time anyone commits a crime, call them Criminals. They exist in every culture and every country. Don't label them 'Radical Islamist".

While I understand beliefs engraved onto minds over decades and generations may not change after a 2 minute blog, I hope this may act as some sort of a start to change this ignorant terminology.

Signing off

Ahsan Mughal