tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post1355421129170585881..comments2023-10-07T12:15:50.446+01:00Comments on The Centre Left: Why Mehdi Hasan is wrong about Islamophobia in the mediaRob Marchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-51326749768322458792012-03-10T14:56:29.252+00:002012-03-10T14:56:29.252+00:00Thanks, and apologies, your comment seems to have ...Thanks, and apologies, your comment seems to have got stuck in moderation. Don't know that much about Choudary, but I can't find much compelling evidence of Islamophobia with th DTel or BBC (in fact with the BBC it's often quite the opposite). In the DTel, unlike the Express, the most controversial things about Muslims are usually said by Andrew Gilligan, and in his case - though it pains me to admit it - they're usually true.Rob Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-40007715222309932252012-02-05T16:33:29.479+00:002012-02-05T16:33:29.479+00:00Good piece, and congratulations for using "ad...Good piece, and congratulations for using "ad hominem" correctly. It's so misused as "personal attack" or even "disagreement" that it's become almost totally useless.<br /><br />I would say, in defence of Inayat Bungawala and his mates, that I thought that the bigging up of Anjem Choudary by the Daily Telegraph and even the BBC, who sometimes used him as a Muslim representative, could be grounds for complaints. Choudary is not the head of a large movement and if he calls for a demo, about 20 will show up. He's a one man wind-up merchant and should be ignored - but he has managed to use the media rather well, causing much ill-will towards Muslims.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-5238537362511995372012-01-31T16:00:38.598+00:002012-01-31T16:00:38.598+00:00Christmas shouldn't "offend Muslims"...Christmas shouldn't "<i>offend Muslims</i>" any more than Ramadan should "<i>offend Christians</i>" or others, for that matter!<br /><br />The Christian celebration of their <i>alleged</i> day that "<i>Jesus was born</i>" is THEIR celebration. While we all have our own opinions of the birth of Jesus/Isa, why would <b>WE</b> be upset at <b><i>THEIR</i></b> celebration?<br /><br />There are so many other things that deserve our focus, mainly, our worship of <b>ALLAH & practice of Islam<i>!!</i></b>Stop Islamaphobiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17781968337925736527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-86445071978289437132012-01-29T12:00:44.236+00:002012-01-29T12:00:44.236+00:00Ciaran, I think we agree about a rise in Islamopho...Ciaran, I think we agree about a rise in Islamophobia on the streets of Britain - recent studies have shown a rise in both Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. Where I disagree, and the point of the piece is that it doesn't seem to be reflected as a general issue in the press, apart from Express Newspapers. I'd be interested to see recent examples from the Sun, if you've got them.Rob Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-69776327336639823842012-01-28T16:53:56.626+00:002012-01-28T16:53:56.626+00:00Thanks for that, Charlie, I heartily concur.
I t...Thanks for that, Charlie, I heartily concur. <br /><br />I think that the view is rather reflected in the lack of mainstream support for the letter to the Guardian. The media needs looking at in various aspects (hence Leveson, quite rightly). But an institutional problem in the media it is not.<br /><br />I shall take a look at your programme!Rob Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-21285945126492159962012-01-28T16:46:29.916+00:002012-01-28T16:46:29.916+00:00Here's a link to that 2006 programme just in c...Here's a link to that 2006 programme just in case anyone's interested!<br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/analysis/6199779.stmCharlie Becketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10509411548717912635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-21449077957438569862012-01-28T16:37:32.224+00:002012-01-28T16:37:32.224+00:00Back in 2006 I made a Radio 4 Analysis programme a...Back in 2006 I made a Radio 4 Analysis programme about this issue when there really was a problem with Islamophobia in the media (in the wake of the London bombings) but even then it was clear that the journalists were cleaning up their act.<br />Apart from the Express and Star I really don't think there is a systematic problem. It's a bit like reporting gender. Yes there is a lot of mild sexism and some hostility to feminism in the media but that is not the same as systematic misogyny. <br />That's free speech for you. The media will always reflect public opinion to a degree as well as shape it. We have a responsibility not to offend but it is also important not to avoid tackling difficult issues and to represent offensive opinions.<br />My research back in 2006 showed that one of the big problems was the failure of many Muslim organisations to be properly engaged and accountable to their own community and wider society.<br />I think that has changed a lot since then, as has media representation of Muslims in Britain. But like life, it ain't perfect.Charlie Becketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10509411548717912635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-71709249836189888112012-01-28T15:14:24.717+00:002012-01-28T15:14:24.717+00:00IMHO there IS Islamophobia in the British press (m...IMHO there IS Islamophobia in the British press (more tabloid than broadsheet) and in society. Fourth Estate first, look at the crap written, by the red tops. It is not just "The Sun" et al but now firmly entrenched in the Torygraph/Voice of the BNP. As to the UK as a whole, yes, it is now acceptable to witter on about "ragheads". Thanks Prince Harry (Afrika Korps) look back at the 30s and it was the "refujews".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com