News channels bias against Islam

A independent survey carried out by the consumer group PI revealed that most British Muslims think that TV news channels, BBC, ITV, and Sky’s current affairs reporting is biased against the Muslim religion.

The story first covered on Asian image online found that British Muslims thought particular issues, such as the Israeli raid on the flotilla and the dropping terror cases by the police as not adequately reported, while when the news channels did report on Muslims they used terms like “jihadist and moderate Muslims” in an incorrect context. Many Muslims feel that the news channels do not report on their affairs correctly, due to their ignorance of Muslim culture and religion. They think this will cause negative reactions by the viewers.

Shakir Ahmed, Director of Passion Islam Media said: “The reporting by the mainstream TV news channels of stories concerning Muslims is at times unbalanced, ill-informed and sensationalist. I would expect this type of coverage in the tabloid press, not from respected news organisations at the BBC, ITV or Sky. However, this is not entirely surprising since these three news channels employ very few reporters who follow the Islamic faith and who would truly understand the Muslim communities and their culture and practices. Worryingly, the perception by some British Muslims of an unjust Islamophobic mainstream media may well fuel radicalism.”

Misha Sylver