Hate speech

Former UK cabinet minister Sayeeda Warsi, who is of Pakistani origin, has accused British newspapers of Islamophobia

Former UK Conservative cabinet minister Sayeeda Warsi, who is of Pakistani origin, has accused British newspapers of Islamophobia and hate speech as she called for a thorough parliamentary investigation into the issue. Warsi is the first Muslim woman to hold a UK cabinet position. She has said that hate speech in the press has become a plague with Muslims being a focal target. A statement from such a senior member of Britain’s political set-up and one of the only such persons from the Muslim community suggests that all is not well in the British media and that the Muslim community is feeling uncomfortable with the way they are being portrayed in the mainstream media. Warsi has accused some papers of poisoning the public discourse which makes it impossible to have sensible discussions about real challenges that the UK faces.

Britain has generally been a tolerant society and over the years has opened up even further in almost all areas. Ms Warsi herself is an example of this attitude of inclusion where a woman of Muslim and Pakistani background could become an important member of one the country’s leading political parties. And yet it now seems that the winds of change are blowing in the kingdom with some mainstream media houses leading the charge with the result that public opinion is gradually shifting against minority communities like the Muslims. It is indeed a dangerous trend and one that has to be taken seriously. Given the multi-ethnic composition of British society today, the country cannot risk such an irresponsible attitude from the media, which is itself doing this for extra readership or audience, oblivious to the consequences of such actions. But instead of waiting for the government to act, possibly it is time for the Muslim community to take errant news organizations to court and other forums and expose them.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2017.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.