» SubscribeMain section
-
Top story
Improving Cultural Communication
151/Ibrahim Nawar
DATELINE: 14/5/06
The anger in the Muslim world may be seen as nonsense by some people or groups in the West. They are mistaken. This Muslim anger has its own ground and will not be stopped by more confrontation. On the other hand, angry Muslims should know exactly what they are heading for.
Is it for a holy war? Is it for revenge? Or is it for justice that may be achieved by sincere apology and a genuine understanding of Islam in the West? Islam is a religion of tolerance not revenge and Muslims are a people of peace not of suicide bombs. Muslim councils, intellectuals, media organisations in Europe should play a role in presenting the true Islam to the people in the West. Western media, schools and universities also have an important role in educating people about Islam. There is a lot to be done in opening the gate of dialogue between the Muslim and the Western civilizations on the basis of respect of their differences and the promotion of the supreme human values of freedom fraternity and Justice.
In the Arab world the crisis of the Danish cartoons has taken its toll. At least three newspapers have been punished for publishing the cartoons. Two newspaper editors in Jordan have been sacked and a head of TV news in Algeria has been suspended. Journalists should not be punished if their intentions were to inform citizens about these cartoons. If there was any wrongdoing, then it should be dealt with through courts not by administrative orders.
The most practical question now is "what should be done next?" Muslims have the right to be angry about the Danish cartoons. Their anger turned to deep frustration when many Western newspapers republished the images. As this anger may deepen and become more profound all actions that provoke Muslims should be stopped. Jyllands Posten should use one of its pages for a dialogue with the Muslim community in Denmark and Muslims all over the world. If the Muslim Council of Denmark wishes to take the paper to court, it should do so. Angry Muslims should make their demands clear and pursue the right way to achieve their aims. They may demand more than an apology. This anger, though legitimate, should not continue forever.
The crisis of the Danish cartoons has proved the need for a real understanding and dialogue between different cultures living side by side in European countries. Since 9/11 there has been a lot of talk about achieving better understanding between people from different cultures. Little has been done in that respect. There are extremists on both sides, don't give them a chance to dictate our future.
Last modified: Sunday, May 14, 2006
Previous free speech & censorship stories
The Need for Context
The Danish Cartoon Controversy
IFEX conference highlights freedom of expression
Statement of Media Professionals Meeting to Discuss the Danish Cartoons Controversy
Freedom of Expression or Hate Speech
Religion and Freedom of the Press
CPBF response to the cartoons
Cover-ups, lies and censorship
CPBF response to the cartoons
The Danish Cartoon Controversy
IFJ call for debate as cartoons cost editor his job
All the news that doesn't fit
Gagging the truth
Borris Johnson vows 'I'll go to jail to print the truth'
UK paper gagged over Aljazeera memo
Freedom of Information Blockage
FoI training from the Campaign for Freedom of information
Journalists worldwide protest Canada's news lockout
Australia gets tough on journalists
Government to consult over Freedom of Information and the PCC
A law unto itself
Community Newspaper uses FoI Act
Open the Books!
Freedom of speech - the global challenge
IFEX handbook on free expression campaigns
A message from the McLibel two
Using FoI
Freedom At Last?
Congratulations
Lobbying, FoI and News International
-
Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
-
Previous stories
Free Speech & Censorship
The Need for Context
The Danish Cartoon Controversy
IFEX conference highlights freedom of expression
Statement of Media Professionals Meeting to Discuss the Danish Cartoons Controversy
Freedom of Expression or Hate Speech
Religion and Freedom of the Press
CPBF response to the cartoons
Cover-ups, lies and censorship
CPBF response to the cartoons
The Danish Cartoon Controversy
IFJ call for debate as cartoons cost editor his job
All the news that doesn't fit
Gagging the truth
Borris Johnson vows 'I'll go to jail to print the truth'
UK paper gagged over Aljazeera memo
Freedom of Information Blockage
FoI training from the Campaign for Freedom of information
Journalists worldwide protest Canada's news lockout
Australia gets tough on journalists
Government to consult over Freedom of Information and the PCC
A law unto itself
Community Newspaper uses FoI Act
Open the Books!
Freedom of speech - the global challenge
IFEX handbook on free expression campaigns
A message from the McLibel two
Using FoI
Freedom At Last?
Congratulations
Lobbying, FoI and News International
