Tazeen Hasan commenting on the violation of standard journalistic principles by Khaleej Times, one of the most authentic and credible mainstream English news outlets in the Arab World.
Apparently, it is a fabricated story and a very bad one at that for any sane mind. It seems that the Khaleej Times, one of the most credible media outlets in the Gulf no longer has adequate content to publish for its English readers of the Arabian Peninsula. However, the story certainly seems plausible enough for the laymen who like to hear these outlandish fabrications.
According to a Khaleej Times news report, an Arab Kuwaiti man almost ended up going to jail because of flirting with his maid. Interestingly, the family parrot revealed this dalliance to his wife by repeating the amorous dialogues to her. More interestingly, the wife had gone to the police station and filed a complaint against her husband but the police officer had refused to register the case because of a lack of strong evidence. Although there is no mention of adultery in the report, the news story reminds the readers at the end, "Adultery is illegal in the Gulf state, carrying a potential prison sentence or even hard labor."
I just want to inquire of the editor of the story (as I do not have the nerves to ask the writer), why the story has been started with the lead, "An Arab man almost ended up going to Jail." Was there really any chance of conviction? And, how many wives in the world (let alone in the Arab world and in a conservative country like Kuwait) go to a police station when they come to know of the infidelity of their husbands? Has any man ever been convicted on the evidence provided by a parrot in the history?
When I got the story (for comments) from my editor late at night, I just asked myself one question; what could be the motive behind the publication of such an absurd story?
Unfortunately, the English media in the Gulf is dominated by a special lobby instead of the local Arabs themselves. The somewhat unaware locals do not have the slightest idea of what is being written about them, with what motives, and what impressions these ostensibly harmless news reports leave on the world about them and the Muslim world? The censor boards remain indifferent as long as a newspaper is not publishing something adverse about the government. But the lobby that is controlling the English press in the Arab world has its own agenda and unfortunately, it is being pushed relentlessly by religious extremists, racists and Islamophobes.
Islamophobes in the Arab world? Sounds like a conspiracy theory. When some critical mind attempts to expose the media mafia with evidence, he or she is called a conspiracy theorist. And the blatant negative activities and agenda continues. Yet, I insist on asserting with utmost responsibility and remain ready to illustrate my point with more evidence and factual stories: 'There is an anti-Muslim and anti-Arab lobby working with impunity right within the Arab world media itself.'
The news report mentions the name of the police station but the story does not name any officer. The story is probably taken from a local Kuwaiti tabloid, but it does not eliminate the responsibility of the Khaleej Times. As a mainstream Arab newspaper with a wide circulation, the KT is responsible for verification. I again ask the editor, are there any journalistic and ethical standards guiding the Khaleej Times? Is there anything called critical thinking? What about journalistic judgment and preferences?
News reports fall under the category of non-fiction and there is a clear principle governing non-fiction text. As far as fiction is concerned, according to the accepted international academic (or say Western and Eurocentric) principles, one is free to write anything even if he is fabricating stories about the prophets (like Salman Rushdie did). One remains free to demonize any special community or group one does not like. One can portray the war affected victims and refugees as terrorists or even rapists. However, non-fiction writers and journalists have a contract with the reader; they are bound to write the truth. Truth and nothing but the truth.
And by the way, journalists and newspapers are bound to provide the names of sources with some exceptions. Hiding the name of an alleged unfaithful man and his wife is understandable , but what about that of police officers. Why would they hide their names? Are they complicit in the crime or do they simply do not exist?
So the next time when a story taken from a tabloid, has to be published, I would advise some more use of common sense and adherence to the timeworn journalistic principals of integrity and transparency. And if some vested hidden agenda has to be imposed on the world, it would be far better to make a movie demonizing the Arab and the Muslim world instead of publishing an implausible news story. Contrary to the common belief, we Muslims are tolerant enough to screen these Bollywood and Hollywood movies in our homes to brainwash our children in line with the desired alien agenda.
Unfortunately, the English media in the Gulf is dominated by a special lobby instead of the local Arabs themselves. The somewhat unaware locals do not have the slightest idea of what is being written about them, with what motives, and what impressions these ostensibly harmless news reports leave on the world about them and the Muslim world? The censor boards remain indifferent as long as a newspaper is not publishing something adverse about the government. But the lobby that is controlling the English press in the Arab world has its own agenda and unfortunately, it is being pushed relentlessly by religious extremists, racists and Islamophobes.
Islamophobes in the Arab world? Sounds like a conspiracy theory. When some critical mind attempts to expose the media mafia with evidence, he or she is called a conspiracy theorist. And the blatant negative activities and agenda continues. Yet, I insist on asserting with utmost responsibility and remain ready to illustrate my point with more evidence and factual stories: 'There is an anti-Muslim and anti-Arab lobby working with impunity right within the Arab world media itself.'
The news report mentions the name of the police station but the story does not name any officer. The story is probably taken from a local Kuwaiti tabloid, but it does not eliminate the responsibility of the Khaleej Times. As a mainstream Arab newspaper with a wide circulation, the KT is responsible for verification. I again ask the editor, are there any journalistic and ethical standards guiding the Khaleej Times? Is there anything called critical thinking? What about journalistic judgment and preferences?
News reports fall under the category of non-fiction and there is a clear principle governing non-fiction text. As far as fiction is concerned, according to the accepted international academic (or say Western and Eurocentric) principles, one is free to write anything even if he is fabricating stories about the prophets (like Salman Rushdie did). One remains free to demonize any special community or group one does not like. One can portray the war affected victims and refugees as terrorists or even rapists. However, non-fiction writers and journalists have a contract with the reader; they are bound to write the truth. Truth and nothing but the truth.
And by the way, journalists and newspapers are bound to provide the names of sources with some exceptions. Hiding the name of an alleged unfaithful man and his wife is understandable , but what about that of police officers. Why would they hide their names? Are they complicit in the crime or do they simply do not exist?
So the next time when a story taken from a tabloid, has to be published, I would advise some more use of common sense and adherence to the timeworn journalistic principals of integrity and transparency. And if some vested hidden agenda has to be imposed on the world, it would be far better to make a movie demonizing the Arab and the Muslim world instead of publishing an implausible news story. Contrary to the common belief, we Muslims are tolerant enough to screen these Bollywood and Hollywood movies in our homes to brainwash our children in line with the desired alien agenda.
No comments:
Post a Comment