Sydney : Members of Sydney’s Muslim community have set up a new television studio to counter the mainstream media’s treatment of Islam in Australia, a media report said on Tuesday.
From its base in western Sydney, the One Path Network films and edits videos for its YouTube channel, including interviews with local sheikhs, about Islamic teachings and current affairs, ABC reported.
“This is a time where there is a lot of pressure on the Muslim community,” network head Malaz Majanni said.
“Unfortunately, you do find that with the mainstream media, sometimes we are misrepresented, lost in translation and here we are able to make sure that a clear message is sent out,” he said.
The network has provided its own take on major events, including the Sydney siege.
“Our approach was to make sure that it’s clear that this act is not an Islamic act,” Majanni said.
“This person (Man Haron Monis) was known to the authorities as a criminal and he had no connection whatsoever with the Islamic State (IS) militant group. He couldn’t even get the right flag.”
Majanni said the studio was funded by community donations and staffed by a team of more than 20 volunteers.
A range of prominent Muslims including the grand mufti (a Muslim legal expert) of Australia, Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, and associate professor Mohamad Abdalla from Griffith University have endorsed the project, appearing in a promotional video.