---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Have you ever been called an Islamist?…"
description: "\"Have you ever been called an Islamist? How about a jihadist or a terrorist? Extremist, maybe? Welcome to my world. It's pretty depressing.\" — Mehdi Hasan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/mehdi-hasan-8947_how_have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-ho_2841239.jpg"
---

#  Have you ever been called an Islamist? How about a…

![“Have you ever been called an Islamist? How about a jihadist or a terrorist? Extremist, maybe? Welcome to my world. It's pretty depressing.” quote by Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/mehdi-hasan-8947_how_have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-ho_2841239.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/mehdi-hasan-8947_how_have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-ho_2841239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/mehdi-hasan-8947_how_have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-ho_2841239.jpg)

> “Have you ever been called an Islamist? How about a jihadist or a terrorist? Extremist, maybe? Welcome to my world. It's pretty depressing.”

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Being labeled an Islamist, jihadist, or terrorist is depressing; it reflects a harsh, stereotyped worldview.

**In simple terms:** Labels like “Islamist” cause depression.

Key Takeaway

Challenge stereotypes and seek understanding.

Themes

identity stereotype depression

Mood

somber critical

Type

political reflective

When to use this quote

- media analysis
- social justice
- personal identity

Key Concepts

politics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do labels shape self‑perception?
- What can reduce stigma?

A Different Perspective

Labels can also mobilize activism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Welcome to my world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcome-to-my-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Islamist-jihadist terrorism-a plague that has spread to almost every corner of the world-creates painful dilemmas for the peoples and decision makers who confront it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boaz-ganor/islamist-jihadist-terrorism-a-plague-that-has-spread-to-almost-every/)

Boaz Ganor

> [I've lost count of the number of websites that try to 'out' every Muslim in public life as an extremist or Islamist of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/i-ve-lost-count-of-the-number-of-websites-that-try-to-out-every/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [This is a global effort we're going to have to lead to overcome this jihadist effort. It's more than Osama bin Laden. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/this-is-a-global-effort-we-re-going-to-have-to-lead-to-overcome-this/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [“Our enemy today is again a totalitarian. I call it the global jihadist movement. The members of this movement, be they Al Qaeda, ISIS,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-gorka/our-enemy-today-is-again-a-totalitarian-i-call-it-the-global-jihadist/)

[Sebastian Gorka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-gorka/)

> [“. .yes, I understand, brother,” the jihadist said, hearing Farid’s voice in his earpiece as he toggled the radio’s microphone, turning away from the Suburban.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/yes-i-understand-brother-the-jihadist-said-hearing-farid-s-voice-in/)

[Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/)

> [Jihadist organizations attempt to exploit discontent among marginalized groups in unstable societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedros-adhanom/jihadist-organizations-attempt-to-exploit-discontent-among/)

[Tedros Adhanom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedros-adhanom/)

> [It's a very unpleasant topic. But we are in an outright war against jihadist Islamic fascism. And this war is, is, I think, metastasizing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/it-s-a-very-unpleasant-topic-but-we-are-in-an-outright-war-against/)

[Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/)

> [ISIS is a radical jihadist group that is increasingly sophisticated in its ability, for example, to radicalize American citizens, in its inability to exploit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/isis-is-a-radical-jihadist-group-that-is-increasingly-sophisticated/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [Of course, technology is very important now. It's there, its available. It's there to be use however you see fit. You can use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abderrahmane-sissako/of-course-technology-is-very-important-now-it-s-there-its-available/)

[Abderrahmane Sissako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abderrahmane-sissako/)

> [“with men he had personally handpicked from the jihadist rabble, men he had turned into the ruthless killing machines they were today. An elite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hooke/with-men-he-had-personally-handpicked-from-the-jihadist-rabble-men-he/)

[Isaac Hooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hooke/)

> [ “Far from being tortured, the prisoners \[at Guantanamo\] are being handled literally with kid gloves (or simulated kid-effect gloves). The U.S. military hands each… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/far-from-being-tortured-the-prisoners-at-guantanamo-are-being-handled/)

[Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/)

> [ISIS is the new jihad - violent jihadist vanguard in the Middle East and globally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/isis-is-the-new-jihad-violent-jihadist-vanguard-in-the-middle-east/)

[Michele Flournoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-flournoy/)

> [“Zarqawi possessed a “jihadist mystique—a potent mix of violence and real charisma, perfumed by thick propaganda efforts,” McChrystal would later write. And now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joby-warrick/zarqawi-possessed-a-jihadist-mystique-a-potent-mix-of-violence-and/)

[Joby Warrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joby-warrick/)

> [“Later we will look in more detail at how the Long Telegram and NSC-68 should shape the plan to destroy our jihadist enemies today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-gorka/later-we-will-look-in-more-detail-at-how-the-long-telegram-and-nsc-68/)

[Sebastian Gorka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-gorka/)

> [“It was the video no one wanted to see, that few people could bear to watch. A young American, James Foley, was on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/it-was-the-video-no-one-wanted-to-see-that-few-people-could-bear-to/)

[Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/)

## More by Mehdi Hasan

> [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [Shortly after he became the first Muslim to attend cabinet, I urged Sadiq Khan to be prepared. The Islamophobes, the new McCarthyites, would at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/shortly-after-he-became-the-first-muslim-to-attend-cabinet-i-urged/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [You underestimate John Bolton at your peril.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/you-underestimate-john-bolton-at-your-peril/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [In theory, the filibuster helps whichever party is in the minority in the Senate. In practice, it is the Republicans who have disproportionately used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/in-theory-the-filibuster-helps-whichever-party-is-in-the-minority-in/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [We have to find a way to try and reconcile our beliefs - and Islam, like Judaism and Christianity, has traditionally seen homosexuality as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/we-have-to-find-a-way-to-try-and-reconcile-our-beliefs-and-islam-like/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [Even as evidence mounts that immigration is bolstering the British economy, the political consensus seems to be that bashing immigration boosts electoral fortunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/even-as-evidence-mounts-that-immigration-is-bolstering-the-british/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [I think that the anti-Semitic problem in the British Muslim community is worse than among the community at large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/i-think-that-the-anti-semitic-problem-in-the-british-muslim-community/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [My fundamental concern about the role of faith groups in providing social provision is democratic: how do we hold them to account? To whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/my-fundamental-concern-about-the-role-of-faith-groups-in-providing/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [None of us believes in an untrammelled right to free speech. We all agree there are always going to be lines that, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/none-of-us-believes-in-an-untrammelled-right-to-free-speech-we-all/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [Anti-Semitism isn't just tolerated in some sections of the British Muslim community; it's routine and commonplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/anti-semitism-isn-t-just-tolerated-in-some-sections-of-the-british/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [There's a general ignorance about how Muslims live and what Muslims believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/there-s-a-general-ignorance-about-how-muslims-live-and-what-muslims/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [The truth is that the dream of 'two states for two peoples,' born in the '90s, died in the noughties. The two-state solution, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/the-truth-is-that-the-dream-of-two-states-for-two-peoples-born-in-the/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [I will call out someone if he's Islamophobic, and I will also call out anti-Semitism. It's immoral to call out one and not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/i-will-call-out-someone-if-he-s-islamophobic-and-i-will-also-call-out/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [The state exists to serve and protect every citizen, regardless of colour, creed, race or religion - and the welfare state should exist to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/the-state-exists-to-serve-and-protect-every-citizen-regardless-of/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

> [To speak of the Muslim world is not to endorse a totalitarian project, nor to bolster an Islamist narrative, nor to suggest that variety,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/to-speak-of-the-muslim-world-is-not-to-endorse-a-totalitarian-project/)

[Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

[Explore all 76 Mehdi Hasan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/)

## More How quotes

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/)

[Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/)

> [I was very lucky to get well known much later in life. You need to have flopped quite a few times to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-was-very-lucky-to-get-well-known-much-later-in-life-you-need-to/)

[George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/)

> [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/)

[Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/)

> [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [This is how McGregor is, waging mental warfare before the fights. There's no way that guy is going to get in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/this-is-how-mcgregor-is-waging-mental-warfare-before-the-fights-there/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [I think everyone will agree that it doesn't matter how we get to an international tournament. We are going to do whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/i-think-everyone-will-agree-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-we-get-to-an/)

[John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/)

> [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/)

[Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/)

> [How wonderful it would be to scatter words as they rise to consciousness, to let them lie where they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-scatter-words-as-they-rise-to/)

[Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/)

> [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/)

[will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/)

> [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/)

[Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/)

> [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/)

[L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/)

> [I've never had a couch that needed to be cleaned or learned how to couch-clean in general. That feels too grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/i-ve-never-had-a-couch-that-needed-to-be-cleaned-or-learned-how-to/)

[Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/)

> [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/)

[Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/)

Browse all 14,172 How quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Have you ever been called an Islamist? How about a jihadist or a terrorist? Extremist, maybe? Welcome to my world. It's pretty depressing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mehdi Hasan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-how-about-a-jihadist-or-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "How"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-how-about-a-jihadist-or-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/mehdi-hasan-8947_how_have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-ho_2841239.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/mehdi-hasan-8947_how_have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-ho_2841239.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/mehdi-hasan-8947_how_have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-ho_2841239.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Have you ever been called an Islamist? How about a jihadist or a terrorist? Extremist, maybe? Welcome to my…” — Mehdi Hasan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mehdi Hasan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Have you ever been called an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-how-about-a-jihadist-or-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/have-you-ever-been-called-an-islamist-how-about-a-jihadist-or-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
