UK Muslim: Media 'Fuelling fury'

August 16, 2007 via WOJ

After an imam was attacked in a London mosque, the media have been blamed for spreading Islamophobia. When will we stand up to the press? ...

My question is who is responsible for the recent increased Islamophobic attacks on Britain's Muslim communities? Who is fuelling the anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim sentiments in this country? The finger is being pointed at the media - especially tabloid newspapers and rightwing media organisations.

According to the director of Regents Park mosque, the imam was the victim of an Islamophobic attack. He accused the media of creating "an atmosphere of Islamophobia" that led to this and other similar attacks on mosques. This is echoed by many Muslim organisations including the Muslim Council of Britain. I also blame a certain type of media for hatemongering and portraying Muslim communities as an enemy within.

I fully understand the role of the media as an objective and neutral storyteller but what I do not understand is how spreading hate and hyping up hysteria is beneficial to any communities or serving of its objective neutral role?