Islamic or Islamist ?

[nnamdi]

In Australia reporters on the national broadcaster have stopped using the term islamic and now use islamist. Are they both right ? and or is there a differene in how they should be used ?

[Quizmonster]

Strictly-speaking, 'Islamic' is an adjective describing the faith of Islam, whilst 'Islamist' is a noun used to name a student of that faith, its culture etc on the same lines as an Arabist is a student of things Arabic. A believer in the faith is a Muslim.

[geofbob]

A dictionary definition of "Islamist" is "an Islamic revivalist movement, often characterized by moral conservatism, literalism, and the attempt to implement Islamic values in all spheres of life". The word is often used in relation to political parties connected with the Islamic faith, such as Turkey's Justice and Development (Ak) Party which won the recent General Election, and which is a moderate Islamist party.