|
|
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.
|
|
