"SPLC loses the plot" indeed.

I went over to the Southern Poverty Law Center's "Journalist's Manual: Field Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremist's" entry for Maajid Nawaz. Tabling all else that Nawaz brings up in his article, the Law Center's reasons for labeling him an anti-Muslim extremist seem to set the bar very low for being labeled an anti-Muslim extremist. Sharing an image of Mohammed should count towards his own stated goals of reforming the religion and its adherents to align more with Western ideals of free expression. That may in some world count as anti-Muslim, but should not count as "anti-Muslim extremism." And Nawaz's point that Islamists and jihadists share the same goal--a worldwide caliphate ruling by sharia law, for example--but they disagree on tactics, seems a reasonable characterization. People disinclined to agree should look at what the stated goals of Islamists and jihadists are then.

Look. I appreciate that anyone the SPLC label as an extremist will steadfastly deny it and defend their position as principled and nuanced, not hateful. But I believe their brush is overbroad here. Under what circumstances can someone criticise Islam? I said at the top that SPLC is losing the plot because neutralizing reformers who would seek to mollify extremism in their own camp... furthers extremists.