EU advises British press to regulate coverage of terrorists who are Muslim

The report said that Muslims are portrayed in a negative light by certain politicians

A European Union report has advised Britain to regulate press coverage of terrorist acts carried out by Muslims.

The recommendation came as part of a report drawn up by the Council of Europe's human rights watchdog, which blamed the recent increase in hate crimes and racism in the UK on the "worrying examples of intolerance and hate speech in the newspapers, online and even among politicians."



Citing a statement by UKIP’s leader Nigel Farage, who warned of “rising public concern about immigration partly because people believe there are some Muslims who want to form a fifth column and kill us;” the report said Muslims were portrayed in a negative light by certain politicians and as a result of some government policies.

The suggestions sent to Downing Street urged the UK Government to reform criminal law and freedom of the press. The report went so far as to recommend that ministers "give more rigorous training" to journalists.

However, UK ministers firmly negated the demands saying, "The government is committed to a free and open press and does not interfere with what the press does and does not publish, as long as the press abides by the law."



The report from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) body also highlighted the increase in hate speech and racist violence in Britain between March 2009 and March 2016.

ECRI Chair Christian Ahlund said, "It is no coincidence that racist violence is on the rise in the UK at the same time as we see worrying examples of intolerance and hate speech in the newspapers, online and even among politicians."