Terrorists renamed as Daesh

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee. Photo / Greg Bowker

Islamic State is no longer in the sights of the New Zealand Defence Force.

An NZDF spokeswoman has confirmed Kiwi armed forces are following the lead of the British, French and Americans by referring to the barbaric terrorist group as "Daesh" - an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Internationally the move has been made to avoid offending Muslims and prevent legitimising an extremist minority, carefully positioning the jihadists as a religious group rather than a recognised political state.

The NZDF and Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee told the Herald on Sunday they had been using the term Daesh "over a period of time".

The decision has been "thoroughly welcomed" by Hazim Arafed, president of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand. "It would be preferred if Islamic State was not used in regard to Isis. They are outlaws and do not represent Islam," Arafed said.

Western nations have struggled to agree over Daesh, Isil, Isis (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and, simply, Is (Islamic State).

The French Government has been using Daesh for nine months and although the Americans followed last year, UK and New Zealand Prime Ministers, David Cameron and John Key, have been calling the group Isil.

Daesh is, however, a name disliked by the terrorists themselves.