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Shi’a
The Oxford English Dictionary gives no definition for Shia.
1. Properly used as a collective name one of the two main Muslim sects.
2. Commonly: an adherent of this sect.
Term Variants: Shi'i, Shia, Shiah, Shiite
How this term should be used
Journalists should use the term Shi’a (rather than Shi’ite), refer to Shi’ism as a mainstream branch of Islam, and treat Shi’as as Muslims, in a similar way to how Catholics are treated as Christians.
Journalists should avoid equating Shi’a with Iran, despite the faith being practiced by millions of people in different countries across the world. Furthermore, journalists should avoid using Shia as a descriptor for “terrorist” or “extremist” as it is not the Shia belief that is the driver for terrorism or extremism, and as such is not relevant.
The argument here mirrors the well accepted notion that using ethnicity to describe the perpetrator of a crime is not appropriate unless it is argued to be directly relevant. We therefore rarely see “white”, “black” or “Asian” as descriptors for paedophiles, rapists or thieves whether or not such an ethnic description is accurate.
As such, in the case where sectarianism is identified as a driver in political proxy wars or persecution, it should not be assumed to be the driver unless there is evidence to support that assertion, in which case the evidence should be shared.
Shi’a Islam, the second largest branch of Islam, is followed by around 10-15 percent of the world’s Muslims. It differs from Sunni Islam by holding that Muhammad named Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor. By contrast, adherents of Sunni Islam believe that Muhammad did not clearly designate a successor and that the election of Abu-Bakr as the first Caliph of Islam after the death of the Prophet, was a legitimate action.
The largest and most influential branch of Shia Islam is the Twelver branch. The term Twelver refers to the belief that there are twelve divinely instructed leaders (imams) from the direct progeny of the Prophet, and that the twelfth imam, Imam Mahdi, will reappear before the day of Judgement.
Example 1:
| Country/date | GB (18-09-16) |
| Title | Syria blames Israel for ‘attack on Damascus airport’ |
| Source | https://www.dw.com/en/syria-blames-israel-for-attack-on-damascus-airport/a-45504188 |
Excerpt:
Eager to maintain its ally, Tehran has provided Damascus with strategic assistance, military training and ground troops when the conflict emerged in 2011. The Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah also supports the Assad regime, fighting alongside Iranian forces and paramilitary groups in the country.
The use of “Shiite militant” here is problematic because it makes the assumption that being Shi’a is relevant. An alternative would be to drop “Shiite” and use the term “Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, unless there is evidence to suggest that the Shia-ness of “Hezbollah” was deemed relevant.