Muslims
And Islam Misrepresented In The Global
Media
Posted By Babandi
Gumel
Since September 11 Muslims have
felt increasingly victimised and
alienated through a constant flow of
Islamohobic misconceptions which are
filtered through the media influencing
further divisions to the point where
today we have situation of multi-culturalism
versus Muslims. Racist attacks against
Muslims have soared in the West .
The Chief Executive of the Islam
Channel in Britain Mr Mohammed Ali
made the observation in a goodwill
message he sent to the launching of
the first edition of Muslim Green
Pages earlier this Month distributed
free across U.K and Ireland accessing
over half million Muslims.
In the message Mr Ali said the
continual misrepresentation of Muslims
in the Media has to a great extent
helped to perpetuate these stereotypes
leading to the growing demand of media
that do not have anti-Islamic rhetoric
and propaganda.
In his opinion Muslims want a media
that reflect their needs and articles
that are founded upon Islamic values
that would help achieve some form of
mutual understanding between the
Muslims and Non Muslims that would
create community cohesion.
He opined that mutual understanding
and respect of different cultures and
religions would help to achieve a more
successful and harmonious existence
which is one of the aims of Islamic
Channel launched about three years
ago. Mr Ali said around three million
Muslims living in UK and over twelve
million across Europe and more than
seven million in the USA and Canada.
He said the Channel attempts to
project the real issues in a fair and
objective manner reflecting their
needs thus giving news from a
Muslim’s perspective. The Channel TV
according to Mr Ali came at a critical
time when Muslims desperately needed a
Medium that reflect their needs to
give voices to those who are concerned
about the way Islam is projected at
the same time focus on issues that the
western media has sidelined.
To this end the Television Channel
recently organised the second Global
Peace Unity in November last year in
East London attracting more than
50,000 mainly Muslims and non Muslims
who came to celebrate Islam. Similarly
in the same vain following the
derogatory images of our beloved
Prophet Muhammad satirised by a Danish
Newspaper last year the Islam Channel
organised a Conference in Denmark in
May Last year titled “Islam phobia
,a dilemma in the West” which
according to the Chairman could only
be dealt through Daawa or Islamic
Preaching..
During the conference he said they
invited key organisations in Denmark
to participate in the conference
through constructive dialogue which in
his opinion would help educate the
people about the true meaning of Islam
and the love and respect we have for
our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).
The Channel is working on more
conferences aimed at counteracting the
propaganda of the Islam-phobia in the
West rectifying the imbalance thereby
projecting the correct positive image
of Islam. According to the CEO the
Channel has now become the voice of
Muslims working hand in hand with the
Muslim community catering for their
needs at the same time keeping abreast
with all political and social
developments as the new Television
programmes reflect.
The 24 hour Islam Channel has been
successful in tapping into the Muslim
lifestyle with programmes like “
Behind the Veil” which shows the
many challenges of the stereotypes
affecting Muslim women as well as
Islamiqa where Islamic scholars answer
questions by the viewers. The Chief
Executive concluded the message with
role played by Muslims in Britain
which he described as very positive
not only in Britain but other western
countries describing them as law
abiding and productive citizens who
want to live in peace and prosperity
through respect for their religion and
communities.
In a similar message the Secretary
General of the Muslim Council of
Britain Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari
reminded the Muslims of noble conduct
of the Prophet which won over even the
Prophet’s detractors.
He said it is the duty of the Muslims
to build bridges between themselves
and others whilst remaining clear in
their own understanding of religion
which has never been more pertinent
than the present climate.
The insults, the misunderstandings the
deliberate malice all these challenges
observed Dr Abdul Bari are not being
faced by the believers for the first
time in history. Neither will the
present problems be the only time
Muslims are subjected to a hostile
environment, the cause of truth
according to the Secretary General has
never been an easy ascent reminding
the believers of the Merits they would
earn.
The current climate he noted presents
the Muslims with an opportunity to
reassert the fundamental principles of
Islam and to answer insults with
wisdom and misunderstandings with
truth as demonstrated by the Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W). The others who sent
good will messages to the launching of
the Muslim Green Pages included the
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone who
described the launching as invaluable
resource for London Muslims and Non
Muslim communities.
Also the respect MP George Galloway
the first MP to be elected to the left
of Labour for 60 years sent similar
message describing the launch of
directory as indispensable to Muslims
and Non-Muslims alike. Others who sent
such messages of goodwill included Mr
Sadiq Khan the Member of Parliament
for Tooting who described the Green
Pages as invaluable tool that would
allow all businesses of all types to
specifically target the British Muslim
Diaspora needs from all over the
world. Similar messages of support
were sent by prominent British Muslims
including Sheikh (Dr ) Suhaib Hassan
the Head of Islamic Sharia Council and
the Popular Nasheed Artist Junaid
Jamshed of Pakistan who recently came
to England with some prominent Cricket
Team members on preaching mission.
Also the Nigerian born eloquent Taji
Mustafa the Media Representative of
the Hizb-ut Tahrir of Britain sent
similar message to the launching of
the new Muslim Green Pages.
In the message Malam Taji was of the
opinion that it was the responsibility
of the Muslims to explain the
legitimate grievances regarding the
global issues facing the Muslim World
including the illegal occupation and
political instability of Muslims lands
to fellow non-Muslim citizens.
The vocal young Nigerian Taji who
frequently appears in the British
Media said in order to advance
community cohesion people living in
the same society must understand one
another by raising question how best
to create harmony through dialogue and
civilised debate.
There are many interests and concerns
that the Muslims and Non-Muslims share
such as NHS education, the growing
crime rates and the youth becoming
increasingly out of control and the
need for justice which he noted down
as common platform. It is within this
area of common interests noted Taji
that much could be achieved together
by presenting a unified and more
effective voice against the injustices
faced by the community. By discussing
the problems he pointed out Muslims
could share the Islamic perspective
with their fellow citizens as to the
best possible solutions.
The aim of the nearly 570-page new
Muslim Greenpages is to help among
others promote and magnify the
competitiveness of Muslim businesses
in the U.K inevitably becoming the
sole point of reference for both
Muslims and Non-Muslims alike. It
could be the first time the majority
of the estimated 30,000+ Muslim
businesses and Organisations in UK
would be able to interact with one
another through networking creating
variety of trading possibilities
making it easier to find the right
goods or services for their
organisational or individual needs.
Supported by major media partners in
U.K such as the Islam Channel, Islam
Radio, the Islamic Time, the Muslim
Weekly Itihad TV and many others the
newly launched Muslim Greenpages
project finally advised the people to
“Think green, Buy green GO GREEN
with the Muslim Green Pages” which
has made it the most comprehensive
online Muslim business directory in
U.K. that can be browsed on
www.mgp647.com.
Wa Akhiri Dawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi
Rabbil Alameen.
