By Naureen Aqueel

It seems that every time an act of terrorism is performed in the name of Islam, reporting and discussions in the mainstream media and social media tend to follow a predictable pattern – almost as if there were a template that journalists and analysts pull out when discussing the incident. The media often gets its group-think going on “Islamic terrorism,” “Islamism,” and “jihadism.” A familiar discourse of linking Islam to violence unfolds and talk shows on television and radio channels and comment sections in newspapers and websites are inundated with debates discussing what drives Muslims to violence; questioning Quranic injunctions, especially those specific to war time; and examining the existence of blasphemy laws in various Muslim countries, among other topics.