Progressives like former President Obama are often criticized for being “too PC” for refusing to say the term “radical Islam.” Despite this, their reasoning for avoiding the term is as much a matter of respect and refusal to sweepingly associate an entire belief system with terrorism as it is a matter of caution.

That the radical terrorist group ISIS is essentially thanking President Donald Trump for the travel ban he has instated on seven Muslim-majority countries demonstrates exactly why marginalizing, misrepresenting, and demonizing Islam plays right into the hands of terrorists.

In fact, ISIS has reportedly dubbed Trump’s executive order “the Blessed Ban,” according to New York Times terrorism correspondent Rukmini Callimachi. Reporting from Iraq, Callimachi states that Trump’s executive order, which bars refugees and citizens from Muslim-majority countries, has been a topic of discussion among ISIS militants.

According to Callimachi, a resident of Mosul told her translator that “ISIS has been openly celebrating the ban.” Callimachi tweeted: “The resident said ISIS has been openly celebrating the ban. They’ve even coined a phrase for it: الحظر المبارك — or ‘The Blessed Ban.'”

8. The resident said ISIS has been openly celebrating the ban. They've even coined a phrase for it: الحظر المبارك Or "The Blessed Ban" — Rukmini Callimachi (@rcallimachi) February 8, 2017

Trump has been in office for less than a month, and already his presidency seems to be affecting matters of foreign policy and attitudes about America in the Middle East.

“I reported here in Nov/Dec of last year. Guess what’s different on this trip? Everywhere I go, Iraqis want to ask about the visa ban,” Callimachi tweeted on Wednesday from Mosul, ISIS’s stronghold in Iraq.

3. I reported here in Nov/Dec of last year. Guess what's different on this trip? Everywhere I go, Iraqis want to ask about the visa ban — Rukmini Callimachi (@rcallimachi) February 8, 2017

ISIS’s primary narrative which it uses to radicalize people and gain supporters is that the West, now led by none other than Trump, hates Islam and persecutes Muslims. When Trump’s rhetoric and policies serve to reinforce this narrative, ISIS and its constituents’ hatred of the United States only grows stronger.

Despite his boastfulness about being tough on terror, promoting Islamophobia only plays into ISIS’s hands and puts us further at risk.

Featured image via Twitter