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MRN

The aspiration of the Media Review Network is to dispel the myths and stereotypes about Islam and Muslims and to foster bridges of understanding among the diverse people of our country. The Media Review Network believes that Muslim perspectives on issues impacting on South Africans are a prerequisite to a better appreciation of Islam.

Israeli castigation of global activism as lawfare

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By Iqbal Jassat – Chairman, Media Review Network

Reading details of a press conference hosted by Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon to mark International Human Rights Day makes one aware not only about how far removed the apartheid state is from human rights, but also how inimical the state is towards legitimate campaigners for this fundamental right.

In addition to the event being far removed from the theme, it was held primarily to release a new study or monograph, Lawfare – Exploitation of Courts in the Arab-Israeli Conflict.

The study by an Israeli-funded group called NGO Monitor was punted as “groundbreaking research” on the role of global NGOs involved in expanding the concept of universal jurisdiction to indict Israeli leaders, politicians and soldiers for war crimes. This international role by civil societies in various capitals of the world is viewed as a hostile development that strategically could undermine the Zionist regime’s legitimacy.   

An intemperate Ayalon outrageously noted that human rights groups have been “manipulated” by “terror organizations” to cover their own atrocities and to strip the right of self-defense from democracies! Such rhetoric is typical and again reflects how vain and desperate Israeli efforts are to conceal their tyranny against Palestinians.

If despotism requires decorum, then the Lawfare monograph qualifies as an excellent effort to slander legitimate civil society activism in order to deprive it of credibility. By no means is this mischief the only objective. The main goal is a despotic attempt to starve known international non-governmental organizations of their main lifeline: funding!

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Press statemental qaeda link in attack on cop

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The Media Review Network finds it deplorable that Graeme Hosken resorts to sensationalism in his article in the Pretoria News (21 December 2010) titled: “Al Qaeda link in attack on cop.”

Conjecture and speculation, especially revolving around unsubstantiated reports on the existence of armed Al Qaeda militants in South Africa is viewed by us as unwarranted linkage to crime.

Whilst we condemn the criminal activities of thugs involved in outrageous murders of innocent people, especially the tragic killing of police officials, we find it unacceptable for journalists to raise fear and alarm regarding unverified allegations by faceless sources in respect of Al Qaeda.

We call on the Minister of State Security, Mr Siyabonga Cwele to probe these allegations and to issue a public statement on the veracity of these charges.

In the light of the controversy raging around the Deewani murder, we are concerned that reports such as this one by Graeme Hosken will contribute to tarnishing South Africa’s image, especially if right-wing media in Britain and elsewhere use it a source of proof that Al Qaeda poses huge threats to safety and security in South Africa.

Iqbal Jassat                       

Chairman,

Media Review Network

Cell: 083 594 3749

E-mail: mrn_ij@telkomsa.net

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Mrn responds to pretoria news al qaeda link in attack on cop

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The letter below has been sent to the Letters Editor of the Pretoria News in response to the Article “Al Qaeda link in attack on cop” which appeared as the lead article in the Tuesday late edition.  (21st December 2010)

The letters Editor – Pretoria News

My response to the article is as follows:

It is a well known fact that in journalism, it is the undercurrents and pressures within this profession that determines not only the news but the quality of the news itself.  Journalists seem to be in love with the word Al Qaeda and terrorism linked to it. It is also about the terror of power and the power of terror.

The Media Review Network remains hugely sceptical about the report in the Pretoria News: Al – Qaeda Link in attack on cop”. (Tuesday 21st December 2010). To link the attempted robbery to Al Qaeda is not only disingenuous but sensationalism in the extreme.

The article raises many questions. How did the Provincial Police Management arrive at the conclusion that there was a possible Al Qaeda link without having questioned the suspect that was arrested?  If police knew that they received terrorist training, why were they not apprehended and questioned? Why wait for the “terrorists” to attack a luxury estate before taking action?  What happened to the bag at the back of the bakkie? How did Graeme Hosken conclude who the owner of the bag was when five of the six men escaped? Who did he speak to? 

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All roads lead to Kashmir

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By Basharat Peer & Sasha Polakow-Suransky

(source: Boston.com)

Richard Holbrooke spent the final two years of his life struggling to bring peace to Afghanistan and Pakistan, but officially he was never allowed to touch the issue of Kashmir. In the wake of last week’s WikiLeaks revelations of the Indian government’s use of torture against Kashmiri prisoners, the time has come to put Kashmir back on the map and include it in discussions of a broader regional peace — one that would extend to Afghanistan as well.

The longstanding dispute over Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region, has poisoned relations between Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan for decades; spawned and sustained anti-Indian terrorist groups; prevented Pakistan’s army from fighting extremists along its border with Afghanistan; and proved deadly for the Kashmiris caught in between.

In early July, the bodies of three young laborers killed by Indian troops were discovered in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, unleashing a wave of protests. Police fired tear gas at protesters in Srinagar and killed a 17-year-old student, who was simply passing by. Soon, young Kashmiris armed with stones were battling Indian troops, who responded with bullets. An intense military curfew followed. From July to September, the Kashmiri intifada raged on killing 110 and injuring at least 1,500.

India has long resisted any outside attempt to mediate in Kashmir. The Indian government panicked after Barack Obama’s historic election in November 2008, fearing that Obama might appoint Bill Clinton as a special envoy to Kashmir as he had suggested during the campaign. And even before Holbrooke’s post was announced in January 2009, Indian officials and their allies in Washington lobbied furiously to have the words India and Kashmir excluded from the veteran US diplomat’s portfolio. India did not want to be seen as paying the price for US failures in Afghanistan by being forced to negotiate on Kashmir

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