Note to British Press: Fanning Islamophobic Flames isn’t Journalism

Last updated on: November 9, 2010 at 12:00 am by Lara Alamad

Note to British Press: Fanning Islamophobic Flames isn’t Journalism 2010-11-09T00:00:18-04:00 Lara Alamad

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This week, Roshonara Choudhry was convicted of attempted murder for stabbing her local MP twice in the stomach during a constituency surgery. She has received a sentence of life imprisonment, to serve at least 15 years. The judge also informed her that, had her attack proved fatal, she would have received a Whole Life Tariff (the U.K. equivalent of life imprisonment without parole, something only 35 prisoners in the U.K. have been given).

Her attack was motivated by Timms’ vote in support of the Iraq War and she stated that her inspiration came from watching videos of Anwar Al Awlaki, a.k.a., this year’s Bin Laden. Previously, she had been a grade A student in the middle of her university studies, yet six months after listening to some bog standard wargasm rhetoric, she had dropped put of university and was planning her attack. From arrest to conviction she has remained certain that her action was the correct way of “fulfill(ing) my obligation, my Islamic duty.”

If this were a plot TV show, the sort where the detectives are very white and righteous and such, it’s fair to say that here at MMW, we would disparage it as far-fetched fear mongering. So, unsurprisingly, the case was front-page news, with stories falling into two categories

The first focused on the idea of internet indoctrination. The Telegraph describes Al Awlaki’s sermons as turning her into a fanatic, although a more telling comment is hidden as a neighbor describes her a normal girl, but “never seemed to have any friends around.” The verb “radicalized” is frequently used in regards to this case, with YouTube subsequently purging all videos featuring Al Awlaki.

The second category focuses on Choudhry’s courtroom supporters, men with little brains and loud voices declaring “Death to Britain” and also verbally abusing a hijab-wearing juror as “shameful.” To be fair, it is not unheard of for supporters of the defendant to shout obscenities following an unfavorable verdict and there were only two of the men in the courtroom and three more outside.

Not that this discouraged the Daily Express from having the front page headline: “Muslims Tell British: Go To Hell!” (H/T to Minority Thought) This is despite that the fact that there were only about 5 men involved in total (the U.K Muslim population is approximately 1.6 million) and that the article itself mentions that the U.K.’s largest Muslim organization, the Muslim Council of Britain, had issued an unreserved condemnation of the attack.

The article also fails to acknowledge that one of the people who helped to end the attack was a Muslim security guard, Faisal Butt. Also unmentioned are the Muslim constituents of the victim, Timms, who sent him get well wishes and letters following the attack. The Sun story, which takes a similar tack, doesn’t bother to mention any Muslim condemnations, although it does at least give Anila Baig, a Muslim Sun journalist a small side column to state that Islam does not support such actions.

By seeking to smear Muslims as a threat, even when so many have already spoken out against Choudhry’s act, the tabloid media are partaking in dog whistling opportunism at it’s most blatant.

Previously, I described Choudhry’s story as one that would seem unbelievable if it were to appear in a fictional work. Actually, it’s the sort of story I really wish wasn’t true, as it all too easily plays into the fetid nightmares peddled by Islamophobes: that all Muslims are only a hair’s breadth/internet video/other small distance away from becoming religiously motivated murderers.

That is why is it the sort of story that needs to be handled in a factual manner and that is why it is so disappointing when the media fails to do this.

Note: I do not wish to see any Whataboutery in the comments concerning Choudhry’s actions.

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