A Muslim Mediawatch?
The preposterously named Islamic Human Rights Commission (do Islamic humans have different rights from other humans?) has been complaining about the way Muslims are portrayed in the media – particularly Hollywood.
They actually make some valid points about lazy stereotyping in films such as Aladdin and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Unfortunately – and rather predictably – this gets buried under an avalanche of conspiracy-theory paranoia and victimhood, with some claiming that the film industry is a “tool of foreign policy”. Arzru Merali, the head of research at the commission, told the Guardian that such portrayals were
analogous to saying similar things to the Jewish community in the early 1930s.
Worst of all, the IHRC’s solution to their problem:
The authors call for more power for cinema censors to be able to curtail or even decline certification of “objectionable material”, as well as more effective media watchdogs and increased responsibility in coverage of issues involving Muslims on the part of newspapers and television.
Just what we need.
UPDATE: (28 Jan) Rachel Cooke makes much the same point in more detail, and with more eloquence, in today’s Observer.
I have created the following petition which has been created on the Number 10 Downing
Street petitions site:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/nobadreligad/
This petition calls for religious groups to be subject to tighter restrictions upon their advertising and that any
advertising not be targeted at vulnerable individuals.
Please add your name if you agree, and maybe we can change things.
Thanks,
Chris
To be honest, with the general media, if its not white, male, middle class, hetrosexual and Chrisitan (cultural or otherwise), said individuals ‘difference’ becomes a plot device. Its true for Muslims as much as people who are not Christian (or even Protestant) as well as people who are not white, woman, working class, gays, etc. This difference is ‘stated’ in films and then forms part of the story line.
It is rather pathetic, and while it shows how the media is in many ways out of touch with the real world, it is also a reflection on how our society handles ‘otherness’….not very well.
As you said, the Islamic Human Rights Commission do have a point, but their point goes alot wider.
Evil – As a heterosexual, middle class white British Male, I object to the way that we are portrayed in the media, especially Hollywood. If anyone has a right to jump and and down at way we are always portrayed as villains, it would be us – Rickman, Irons, Hopkins, Rix, Fiennes, Stamp and others would probably agree with me if it wasn’t for the fact that they have done quite well out of it. I’m surprised that anyone else gets a look in.
I might start a pressure group. What do you think?
I don’t really care for David Cameroon, but his latest observation on that self-appointed groups like the MCB are just the opposite side of the coin to the BNP is right on the money.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6311639.stm
That’s not to say they are necessarily racist, but they are driving a wedge just as effectively, if not more so, because Blair agrees with them.
“I have created the following petition which has been created on the Number 10 Downing ”
Just more censorship, and more regulation.
What we need is LESS censorship, and MORE free speech. When that’s the culture of this country then Muslims or anyone else will be able to look to repressive quangos, to shut up their opponents, and we can have proper and open debate.
I don’t like some of the influences of religion either. But I don’t thinl that trying to shut them up, or censor them is the way forward.
[I wish we could edit these comments]
Corrected version:
“I have created the following petition which has been created on the Number 10 Downing â€
Just more censorship, and more regulation.
What we need is LESS censorship, and MORE free speech. When that’s the culture of this country then Muslims or anyone else will be NOT able to look to our repressive quangos, to shut up their opponents, and we can have proper open and honest debate.
I don’t like some of the influences of religion either. But I don’t think that trying to shut them up, or censor them is the way forward.