Media and Islam Essay

An country of popular research throughout the last two decennaries is the survey of mainstream media and it’s word picture of persons that follow the Islamic religion. It is apparent that Muslims brush countless stereotypes through the lens of Western media consumers. This essay will foreground events happening after the September 11. 2001 World Trade Centre onslaughts and finally expose the Islamophobia nowadays within political relations. It is through this research that I will sketch the stereotypes prevailing whilst supplying modern-day media illustrations. Overall. this essay will reason that Islamophobia is prevailing in modern-day Western media ; nevertheless. battling this Islamophobia is besides obviously seeable. Furthermore. due to certain media constructions such as corporate ownership laterality and cultural consensus. Islam is viewed as the adversary of Western civilization. Overall. this essay will concentrate on the two apparent spectrums of media coverage of Muslims and their faith as a subject of discourse. Through this essay I will take to reason that though utmost Islamophobia is prevailing in Western media. there is many media mercantile establishments that look to extinguish Islamophobia and Xenophobia wholly. The media coverage that will be analyzed will be foregrounding Quebec’s political party ; Parti Quebecois’ proposal for secular alterations to the Quebec Charter and the recent Boston Marathon Bombing media coverage. I will get down this essay by specifying the phrase “Islamophobia” and it’s significance within Western media coverage. Islamophobia is an political orientation that radiates negative significances to Muslims and Islam. thereby giving rise to negative attitudes and prejudiced patterns against Muslims and Islam ( cultural ) . It is the fright of followings of the Islamic faith and negative positions on the faith as a whole. Islamophobia leads to many negative word pictures of Muslims. Furthermore Islamophobia is described as the belief that Islam is inferior to the West ( GoGale ) . Besides. it is studied as. “ barbaric. irrational. crude and male chauvinist ; Islam is seen as violent. aggressive. endangering. supportive of terrorist act and engaged in a clang of civilizations” ( GoGale ) . If one were to hold the same positions against another faith or cultural group in the West. it would be considered racism. However. as stated by Gema Martin-Munoz. this is non the instance with Islam. She claims “Hostility towards Islam is used to warrant prejudiced patterns against Muslims and the exclusion of Muslims from mainstream society. Anti-Muslim ill will is seen as natural or normal” ( GoGale ) .

Islamophobia and the Hijab:
It is one of the grounds that the hijab is a controversial issue in modern-day Western societies and media. The deficiency of cognition of concluding behind the determination of Muslim adult females to cover their caputs leads persons to presume that these specified adult females are oppressed as a consequence of clear sexism in the Muslim faith. Besides. Islamophobia is besides prevailing with respects to the hijab as many Western media mercantile establishments describe it as a symbol of terrorist act ( illustrations will be described shortly ) . Overall. Islamophobia in the West is the fright and negative word picture of Muslims and Islamophobia with respects to the hijab is to see one choosing to have on it as a representation of subjugation and terrorist act. I will get down this subdivision by sum uping the events for the two aforementioned political events. First. the Boston Bombing occurred on April 15. 2013 at the Boston Marathon. Two brothers were considered the alleged felons for edifice and seting two force per unit area cooker bombs that exploded near the finish line of the endurance contest. This caused the decease of three people and wounded more than 260 ( Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Seeks Dismissal of Some Charges ) . Tamerlan Tsarnaev aged 26. and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev aged 20. were involved in a constabulary pursuit that obviously resulted in the decease of the older brother. Tamerlan. during a constabulary gunfight. while Dzhokhar was finally caught concealment in the Boston town of Watertown ( Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Seeks Dismissal of Some Charges ) .

Fox News stated. “Authorities say he and his older brother. Tamerlan. cultural Chechens from Russia who emigrated to the United States as kids. planned and carried out the onslaught to revenge against the U. S for its engagement in Muslim countries” ( Kelly ) . Authorities said Dzhokhar had scratched anti-American messages on the interior of the boat. including “ The U. S Government is killing our guiltless civilians” and “We Moslems are one organic structure. you hurt one you hurt us all” after the decease of his older brother ( Kelly ) . Extremist Muslim positions were deemed the motivation behind the attacked by the alleged felons. Further. the younger Tsarnaev brother was caught a few yearss after the bombardment and is now confronting over 30 federal counts. including the usage of arms of mass devastation ( Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Seeks Dismissal of Some Charges ) . Power is a critical facet of deriving an audience for the media. Persons and groups that possess power are deemed newsworthy. These organisations become the centre of attending and information during political events and are the dominant hub of information that consumers are exposed to. This straight correlates to Fox News as it holds a big sum of power in respects to telecasting. Specifically. in 2013 Fox News was the figure one ranked intelligence station for the twelfth back-to-back twelvemonth. As studied by TVNEWSER. “Fox News remained on top in 2013. cresting off its 12th back-to-back twelvemonth as the most-watched overseas telegram intelligence web among both entire viewing audiences and A25-54 viewing audiences ( Knox ) . This ranking is due to its intelligence content being exposed to about two million consumers daily ( Knox ) .

Ultimately. this creates a job. as Fox News is an obvious right flying conservative intelligence channel. It is to be noted that Fox News is normally witnessed utilizing the intelligence channel to show the partizan beliefs of its proprietors and intelligence squad. The power Fox News holds has played an built-in portion in the framing of Muslims attach toing the Boston Marathon Bombing onslaughts. Framing is defined as the manner in which we talk about an issue or event that puts it into a context. and it has of import deductions for public sentiment and the options available for turn toing the issue ( Ridout. 150 ) . Following the bombardments in Boston. framing was observed through Fox News and its’ media mercantile establishments. Specifically. on April 20th. 2013 ( five yearss after the bombardment ) Fox News letter writers indirectly claimed Islam as the apparent factor behind the motivation of both of the chief suspects. Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The header during this specified newscast was “ The Mind of A Terrorist. Factors that May Lead to a Extremist Path” . As the newscast drawn-out letter writers were showing extremist frames to the brothers. Specifically. they continued to border the secret plan and ground behind the alleged onslaught to straight correlate to the Islamic faith of the two brothers. As the panel discussed. one letter writer questioned the married woman of the older brother. Tamerlan. and her engagement in the alleged secret plan. He stated. “I merely inquire that if under oppugning she can candidly state that she had no thought that her hubby who spent a twelvemonth off and prayed five times a twenty-four hours. that she had no indicant that he was capable of this” ( The Mind of a Terrorist ) . Stating this. the letter writer undeniably created a relation to terrorist act and the Islamic act of praying five times a twenty-four hours. This letter writer framed the bombardment to set terrorist act in the same context as the faith of Islam. Additionally. with the big consumer Numberss of Fox News. this sentiment had reached a figure of people supplying them with a framed context on a political event. Fox News continued their coverage of the Boston Bombing whilst concentrating on and emphasizing the Muslim faith of both the Tsarnaev brothers. At the same clip. media mercantile establishments that disregarded their faith were ignored as importance of their Islamic roots grew quickly. Overall. the power of Fox News in modern-day media enables the mercantile establishment as newsworthy. regardless of the content media and partizan prejudices present within the beginnings of the organisation as a public mercantile establishment.

Though the Boston Marathon Bombings were encircled around the fact that there were two male Muslim victims. the media found a manner to intensify the Islamophobia already prevalent with onslaughts on the hijab. Specifically. the married woman of Tamerlan. Katherine Russell was a convert who wore the hijab. This straight made her a terrorist in the eyes of Fox News and its’ letter writers. One illustration of this was witnessed by Ann Coulter. a Fox News letter writer and avid Conservative. When talking about Katherine’s cognition of her hubbies alleged programs to bomb the Boston Marathon. she spoke about her highly negatively. When her equals stated that Katherine must hold had thoughts that Tamerlan was holding terrorist-like ideas. Coulter stated. “ I don’t attention if she knew about this. She ought to be in prison for have oning a hijab” ( Insider ) . This is a clear illustration of cultural consensus. As explained by Professor Katherine Bullock. the cultural elite in Western society deem the Western provinces as the hero. the Muslims as the scoundrel and the citizens of the province as clear victims ( Bullock ) . Besides. it is of import to observe that with respects to Fox News. there is a deficiency of diverseness in positions. The intelligence channel has letter writers that portion similar positions and as a consequence. the consumer receives and interprets nonreversible media coverage. This is a clear job with Western media mercantile establishments as the deficiency of diverseness supports bias sentiments. Overall. Fox News is a premier illustration of the stereotypes Muslim’s face in Western modern-day societies.

The Parti Quebecois’ Quebec Charter Proposal:

Distinguishing greatly from that of the Western media positions on the Boston Marathon Bombings. the media coverage of the proposed Charter alterations by the Parti Quebecois was immensely different. The media coverage around the party’s disapproval of overt and conspicuous spiritual symbols worn within the authorities was comparatively negative. This obviously shows a different position screening that that combating of Islamophobia is prevalent in some Western media mercantile establishments. The alteration to the Quebec Charter was issued by the Parti Quebecois ; a popular political party of Quebec. In early September of 2013. the Parti Quebecois held a imperativeness conference at the National Assembly in Quebec City ( planetary ) . At this imperativeness conference. the Bernard Drainville. the Minister responsible for Democratic Institutions and Active Citizenship discussed how his party planned to cast visible radiation on spiritual adjustments and Quebec values ( planetary ) . With the ultimate end of spiritual neutrality of the province. he stated. “these offer harmonious dealingss and societal coherence for a Quebec that is progressively multi-ethnic and multireligious” ( planetary ) . In other words. the Part Quebecois aimed to extinguish big spiritual symbols placing a specific individual’s spiritual beliefs and values. It is to be noted that the chief intent of this authorization was to transfuse equality between both sexes along with spiritual neutrality within the authorities establishments of the state of Quebec.

These five proposals are as listed: 1. Enshrine the inquiries of spiritual adjustment in the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms by sketching the separation of faith and province. the spiritual neutrality of the province and the secular nature of its establishments. taking into history our common historical heritage ; 2. Ensure that spiritual neutrality for authorities employees in the public presentation of their responsibilities is established in jurisprudence ; 3. Sketch what is considered conspicuous spiritual symbols for authorities employees during working hours ( the proposal is capable to a right of backdown for a period of up to five old ages. renewable for certain sectors ) ; 4. Ensure that the face is seeable when giving or having authorities services 5. Establish a policy to implement the spiritual neutrality of the province and the direction of spiritual adjustment for authorities bureaus. Drainville concluded the imperativeness conference by saying. “ Our proposals will be a beginning of greater apprehension. harmoniousness and coherence for all Quebec and all Quebecers. regardless of their faith or origin” ( planetary ) . This was an apparent political issue. as all public retainers were no longer allowed to publically tie in themselves with the faiths they antecedently followed. However. public retainers were allowed to have on invisible faith symbols such as necklaces. rings or earrings with spiritual symbols. e. g the Star of David ( planetary ) . The contention arose as persons realized that the Parti Quebecois would be forestalling persons from have oning things such as a headscarf. hijab. turban or kippa ( planetary ) . This obviously would deprive public retainers of the cardinal rights stated under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Specifically. the Fundamental Rights subdivision within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provinces. “2. Everyone has the undermentioned cardinal freedoms:

( a ) freedom of scruples and faith ;
( B ) freedom of idea. belief. sentiment and look. including freedom of the imperativeness and other media of communicating ;
( degree Celsius ) freedom of peaceable assembly ; and
( vitamin D ) freedom of association. ” ( Charter )
The proposed Quebec Charter alterations would belie those within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This caused a clear recoil as persons stated that the charter alterations were unconstitutional and racialist. The unfavorable judgment witnessed through media finally showed the combating of the Islamophobia of the Parti Quebecois. Canadian newspapers and Stationss discussed this issue to a great extent and once and for all noted this new proposal as racialist and xenophobic. CBC News reported differing sentiments than that of the Part Quebecois obviously labeling the Charter proposal as racialist. For illustration. CBC interviewed William Steinburg. the city manager of Montreal town Hamstead as he stated. “ We will non follow with a racialist and immoral law” and farther continued saying. “ In the event that the Quebec authorities passes this abominable measure. which will coerce people to take between their spiritual beliefs and their occupations. it will non be enforced in Hampstead” ( CBC ) .

Steinburg irrefutably is battling Islamophobia and Xenophobia wholly that was brought upon by the Parti Quebecois. Another CBC article reported on the hijab and its relation to the proposed layman Quebec Charter as they interviewed non-Muslim university professors wearing the hijab to protest against it. It interviewed Nora Jaffary of Concordia University and McGill University’s Catherine Lu. Both adult females chose to have on the hijab to protest the Charter alterations. Nora Jaffary stated that for many Muslim adult females that reside in Quebec. the hijab and gauze in general. is non something that is forced upon them by parents or hubbies and continued by saying that the proposed prohibition on the hijab would aim groups of minorities in the Canadian state of Quebec ( complete blood count ) . Specifically she believed it would aim and individual out Muslim adult females ( complete blood count ) . The article continued by saying that if more people joined the protest alongside Jaffary and Lu. there could be a major impact on the proposed statute law. Overall. CBC News showed its’ stance on the proposed layman Charter alterations in Quebec. The media mercantile establishment continuously spoke against the Charter alterations and advocated the cardinal freedoms of Muslim adult females and all other minorities that would be stripped of their right to pattern faith as dwellers within Canada. News coverage by a different Canadian media mercantile establishment showed similar consequences. Specifically. when analysing Global News media coverage of the Quebec Charter alterations. it was apparent that Global News besides looked to extinguish favoritism and as a consequence. Islamophobia. For illustration. a station doctorial person from Concordia University. Emmanuelle Richez. commented on this Charter alteration with negativeness as he stated. “ So they’re non stating it. but it’s traveling to be more confining for people that are non portion of the spiritual majority” . Overall. the Parti Quebecois stated that it was trying to travel towards spiritual equality. nevertheless. it was trying to censor cardinal freedoms of the Canadian people of spiritual freedom and coercing assimilation.