IN THE NEWS: There’s no question that the Muslim community suffers from a, let’s just say lopsided representation when it comes to media coverage. Unfortunately, it isn’t just a small-town publication in the boonies that perpetuates stereotypes about Muslims. Legitimate news media outlets have jumped on the bandwagon too. For example, an article in the New York Times discusses a French woman who was fined in France for wearing the niqab while driving. Rather than elaborate on the issue of freedom of dress in a (supposedly) secular country, the Times decided to take this discussion to the woman’s husband; who, by the way, has four wives.
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The husband is clearly in violation of France’s laws regarding polygamy, and the article suggests he should forfeit his citizenship in the country because of it. In defense of his choices the husband explains that the other women are in fact mistresses, adding, “as far as I know, mistresses are not forbidden by Islam.” The article goes on to discuss the issues of anti-Islam sentiments in France.
In light of the recent “burqa ban” that was passed in Belgium, the issue of niqab and government control over it can be debated both ways. Likewise, the issue of polygamy in the West might have proponents on both sides. But one problem remains throughout: why do we let the least knowledgable members of our community educate the rest of the world about our religion? Why is it that Tariq Ramadan, a reputable Muslim scholar, is quoted in the above article with a one line generic statement about French values while the husband with three mistresses gets almost an entire page of coverage that includes a complete misrepresentation of Islam?
Ignorance about Islam and its teachings absolutely exists in the western world, but maybe the issue isn’t really with the big bad media that wants to give the religion a bad rap after all. Until we as a community decide to stand up and dictate who we allow to represent us, someone else will.
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I completely agree. By complaining about the few stories that do get published and advertised through mainstream media, why not take affirmative action in working towards the portrayal of your everyday Muslim? Like ‘local mosque volunteers for some non-religious related cause.’ I feel that with this mentality can we only help change the idea of what a “Muslim” means in the Western world