Minority Report: Why can't the press think more about how it uses the word Muslim
The Evening Standard's front page headline this evening contains a typically crass and clumsy use of the word Muslim, and depressingly I bet we'll see more of the same tomorrow morning in other papers.
Referring to an ongoing trial which began today in which a man, Parviz Khan, admitted to planning an operation to kidnap and behead a British Muslim soldier, the Standard screamed: "Muslim Plot to Behead Soldier In UK"
Asides from being completely misleading I cannot understand why the media keep doing this - using the word Muslim (a whole religious community) to describe the actions of an extreme minority.
Imagine if a deranged or extremist Catholic was caught planning to murder an abortion practising doctor (something that has happened in the US). Do you think that the heading would read "Catholic Plot to Murder Abortion Doctor"?
It's unlikely. It would more likely say something closer to the truth, ie: "Fundamentalist Plot To Kill Abortion Doctor" or "Christian Fundamentalist Plot To Kill Abortion Doctor".
I'm not sure the media realise quite how damaging this sort of clumsy wording can be. It deeply offends the law-abiding Muslim majority and helps foster the usually erroneous view amongst non-Muslims that "Islam = Violence".
The use of the words "Muslim Plot" is particularly insidious because it sounds like the whole billion strong Muslim community is in on the act, rather than four or five accused people.
What Mr Parviz Khan admits he was planning to do cannot possibly be justified by Islam and the media shouldn't give him that satisfaction either.
Well said Jerome!
Posted by: Silent Rant | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 01:56 PM
About time someone said something about this. As a Muslim I'm getting rather fed up the way in which the media contributes towards anti-muslim feelings by using sensational headlines. Not all of us are ready to wield our swords or blow up innocents and, yes, WE DO despise cold blooded murderers, be they Muslim or non-muslim.
Posted by: Raheela | Thursday, 31 January 2008 at 04:52 PM
It's about time there was a debate on this issue. Why do the vast majority of the press/media, both newspapers and TV always conjoin the word Muslim with all things negative and thus malign a population of 1.5 billion people with the actions of a small handful. There was story of a cab driver who didn't allow a guide dog into his car - but of course because he was a Muslim, he had to be referred to as the Muslim Cabbie who refused entry in his cab to a blind woman.
Posted by: Joshua Cohen | Wednesday, 06 February 2008 at 11:25 AM
Why ? Might as well ask why the print media is full of names like Nick Cohen, David Aaronovitch, Melanie Phillips, Charles Krauthammer, David Frum, Barbara Amiel, Thomas Friedman, &c., &c., singing in praise of the rape of Iraq and/or willing the same upon Iran.
There is a war going on - a war against humanity - and the hate-filled enemies of the rest of us are crowing from atop their colonised media.
Posted by: R Bishop | Thursday, 07 February 2008 at 02:10 PM
Dear Jerome Taylor, if you are muslim or not, you must keep defending a your god, he cannot defend him/herself. I have never needed to defend mine, My God defeated and conquered death and you know He lives forever and loves you and your family. You are not save by work that you may not boast, by saved grace, so that you may glorify God Almighty.
Posted by: Andre | Friday, 08 February 2008 at 04:02 PM