In the wake of journalistic double standards on reporting on Gaza, rising Islamophobic attacks in the West, and the fast approaching US elections where Muslims are at risk of further demonization, a comprehensive guide for journalists on Islamophobia titled ‘Do Muslims Scare You?’ was launched at National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan.
The book launch ceremony was held on the sidelines of Al Jazeera Week, organised by Al Jazeera Media Institute in collaboration with NUML, in Islamabad.
The 10,000-word book, authored by senior correspondent at Al Jazeera English Osama bin Javaid, was launched by Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar in the presence of Maj Gen (Retd) Shahid Mahmood Kayani, NUML Rector; Dr M Zubair Iqbal, Pro-Rector Research & Strategic Initiatives Division, NUML; Montaser Marai, Al-Jazeera’s Media Initiative Manager; and Al-Hameed Ullah Khan, Jazeera’s Senior Producer.
Speaking on the occasion, the Federal Minister shared his perspective on Islamophobia and its adverse impact on global peace and harmony. He appreciated the efforts of the Al-Jazeera Media Initiative in promoting responsible media practices.
“I must commend Al Jazeera Media Institute and Al Jazeera group as a whole as well, because had Al Jazeera not been there, we would not have been acquainted with the atrocities going on in Gaza, Rafah, Khan Younis and all over Palestine,” remarked Tarar.
Al Jazeera Week was held as part of the activities of Media for Development Initiative of Al Jazeera Media Institute with the aim of empowering journalists, and sharing expertise of the Al Jazeera team with leaders of the profession in order to develop journalism practices and ethics.
The events included three training courses and seminars for students of journalism throughout the week. More than 75 students participated in the training courses.
The course on TV Reporting was led by trainer Osama bin Javaid, senior correspondent at Al Jazeera English, Storytelling course for digital platforms by trainer Firas Ghani, Digital Editor at Al Jazeera English, and Art of Feature Writing course by trainer Anam Hussain, a freelance journalist at Al Jazeera Institute.
A panel discussion on journalism and professional ethics was also held which saw participation by Al Jazeera Institute and a group of journalists and academics. The participants discussed the bias of Western media institutions in drawing different perceptions of the truth about the countries of the Global South in its coverage of the war on Gaza, and how Western institutions trespassed professional standards and ethics.
The activities also included visits to universities, Geo News Channel, and Press Club.
The minister noted with regret that “what is happing in Gaza is a perfect example of Islamophobia where genocide is taking place, war crimes are being committed and perpetrators and culprits are not held responsible”.
NUML Rector Major General (Retd) Shahid Mahmood Kayani also spoke on the occasion stressing the role of media in curbing Islamophobia “as it is creating hatred against Muslims and destroying the social fabric of international community”.
Emmy-nominated broadcast journalist Osama Bin Javaid gave a presentation on the guide and its importance in light of the escalating wave of Islamophobia in the world, especially after the war on Gaza.
The forward in the book reads: “This guidebook aims to highlight the widespread phenomenon of Islamophobia in the media, which presents Muslims in negative frames that dehumanise them. It seeks to showcase examples of such stereotyping in news reportage, cinema and political discourse, while also highlighting how professional journalism can address and correct these practices by adhering to journalistic standards. The author has collaborated with a team of academics and experts who have years of experience studying Islamophobia in depth and understanding its roots. Even though this guidebook is being published after October 7, 2023 amid the Israeli aggression against civilians in Gaza, a significant part of it was completed prior to that. While we cannot assert that the anti-Muslim rhetoric has changed since, it has certainly become more explicit, even among institutions that have long purported to uphold liberal principles and high journalistic values.”
Javaid has been making complex conflict zones understandable for global audiences for two decades. For the last 10 years, he has been working in the Middle East with Doha-based Al Jazeera English. He has reported on stories from the rise and fall of ISIL (ISIS) in Syria-Iraq and beyond, the Taliban and al-Qaeda, the Arab Spring, refugee crises, humanitarian suffering, and the Gulf crisis.
Javaid specialises in reportage and investigative pieces for TV and digital platforms, and has worked in Qatar, Italy, Syria, the United Kingdom, the United States, Kazakhstan, Germany, Iraq, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Oman, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Jordan, Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Algeria, Indonesia and Austria. He has also frequently travelled to the Asian subcontinent and has extensive knowledge of groups and issues in India-Pakistan affairs and the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran border.
In addition to City, University of London, he is an alumnus of the United Nations University International Leadership Institute.
The book has been produced by Al Jazeera Media Institute in collaboration with The Islam and Muslims Initiative. Muhammad Khamaiseh is the editor while Ahmad Fattah is the designer.
