The UK government asserts that "jihad" means support for terrorism, but the cops disagree and refused to arrest people for chanting "jihad".

What does "jihad" mean? I do not speak Arabic, but I've heard it defined as "struggle" and just as broad as that English word. It could refer to any struggle, even that of studying hard for a good grade, even a struggle within oneself.

Historically, one struggle for which that word was used was the continuing attempt of Islam to conquer the world and convert or subjugate all non-Muslims. A person who chants "jihad" with this meaning in a country that respects religious freedom is threatening a religious war — much as Republicans in the US do in the name of Christianity.

The early Muslims openly proclaimed that violent goal. However, in more recent times, many groups of Muslims have reinterpreted that goal peacefully or rejected it outright. Meanwhile, I as a scientific Atheist leaning towards secular humanism defend the right not to endorse any religion.

The word has also been used to refer to the struggle to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Some interpret this as aiming for an independent Palestine alongside Israel, while others interpret it as aiming to eliminate Israel and take over its territory, a goal I do not support.

As I'm told, "jihad" in this general context could mean fighting, or it could mean nonviolent protests such as Palestinians in the West Bank took up in the 2000s. Which one it means would depend on subtleties of context which I, as a non-Arabic-speaker, do not try to grasp.

Should people be arrested at a protest for chanting, "Struggle, struggle, struggle"? I don't think so, not even if they say it in Arabic.