For all that I know, 'islamist' is a relatively new, artificial term to cover various groups from the fanatic, militant, political subset of Islam. And while it has the disadvantage of being imprecise, it has the advantage of being the badly needed term that allows to make a distinction between those groups and the moderate majority in Islam, so...yeah, in my understanding someone who uses the term takes pain to avoid slurs against all Muslims.

The only problem is, I know that is the use of the term in Germany and I know I can expect every halfway-educated German to understand what it does and doesn't mean, but I would be cautious as hell if I were to use it on the Internet. Because I have no idea if it is established the same way in other countries.

And when I look at the reactions in the linked thread? I really start thinking it isn't.