Program on “Dialogue between Media and Muslims” held in Mumbai
By TCN News,
Mumbai: “Dialogue is the best way to understand each other’s perspective and keeping this in mind an evening was devoted to clear the logjam which appeared to have come on the fore after the recent events at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Discussion is the best way to resolve misunderstanding in a democracy.” said journalist Danish Reyaz who organized the event “Dialogue between Media and Muslims” in association with The Sunday Indian,Urdu at Marathi Patrakar Sangh Hall in Mumbai.
Introducing the theme during his introductory remarks Mr. Reyaz set the tone, “we want cordial relations among various sections of our society, and this program is a small effort in that direction”. When two groups dialogue in a cordial atmosphere it helps in better appreciation. Dialogue not only improves understanding but it also brings awareness.
Presenting Muslim community’s perspective Dr. Shariq Nisar, Director TASIS highlighted three key areas where Muslims have strong grievances against the media. Firstly he raised the issue of selective negative approach of the Indian media in line with the trend set by international media. Dr Shariq highlighted the “clear double standards” of media in the form of bald reporting and failure to condemn bigoted acts and deliberate insults to Islam and Muslim religious sentiments, such as Quran burning, insults to the Prophet. Secondly he highlighted the biased approach of elements in national and particularly local media on Muslim issues such as; failure to give a balanced view of Muslim social issues, failure to report discrimination against Muslims in employment, education, housing, delivery of economic benefits, baseless denigration of Muslim institutions and failure to condemn inflammatory and provocative rhetoric of right wing majority parties. Third point that Dr Shariq chose to highlight in his address was the lack of critical and investigative reporting on terrorist related incidents leading to automatically typecasting Muslims as perpetrators.
Ather Khan, President Islamic Educational Foundation, Bhopal said “The media focuses more on the reaction of Muslims rather than the actions of Muslims. He urged Muslims not to get carried in difficult times. We all love the prophet (pbuh). However when someone insults him we should restrain instead of reacting violently. He further said, “We think that by reacting in such a manner we are defending the honour of the prophet (pbuh), but in actual sense in the process instead of defending we are offending the prophet (pbuh).” He cited the prophet (pbuh) who is reported to have said “Wala yajhal – Do not behave ignorantly”. Ather Khan appreciated the media when he acknowledged that once he too was a victim of the notion “All Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.” He said that credit goes to the media who opened his eyes on the issue when he read the article in Times of India by Mr. Swaminathan Ankleswar Aiyar entitled, “Terrorism is not a Muslim Monopoly”.
Presenting Media side of the view Sujata Anandan, Political Editor, Hindustan Times spoke at length about the working of media and the challenges she had faced from right wing extremists. She also spoke about situation in neighboring country and urged community to stay away from extremism of any sort. She also suggested that Muslim community should send letter and representation to media in case they find anything objectionable. She also complained that the community is leaderless and it becomes difficult for journalists to approach the right person. Another important point she raised in her speech was the fact that Muslim related issues are mostly prepared in Urdu language which most of the journalists are not aware of.
Jyoti Punwani, senior journalist and author complained that the community itself needs to be blamed for many of its evils and they must introspect. She cited the example that Muslims are mostly the victims of police atrocities and they themselves run around them for favor. She also criticized the Urdu press for sensationalism on many issues which creates ill-will among members of various communities. She also urged the community to file defamation cases against the police for torture and incarceration of innocent youths acquitted by the courts in the country. She admitted that English press has been biased towards the community which according to her was mainly for the reason that journalists do not want to do their work properly and prefer to take the story fed by police from within their own premise. Another reason she mentioned for such a situation was the fact that if journalists ask too many questions then they will not remain in the good book of police and will be replaced by more pliant journalists.
Some other journalists who spoke on the occasion were; Jatin Desai, Gurbir Singh, president press club and Qutubuddin Shahid, Sub-editor Inquilab. From amongst the public those who shared their views were Mubarak Kapdi, Dr Syed Khurshid, Ashraf Mullani, Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi and others.
Media was represented by Sahara, ETV, Jansansar TV, Janadesh TV, Hindustan Times, DNA, Times of India, Urdu Times, Sahafat, Lok Satta, Inquilab, Free Press Journal, Hindu Voice etc.