Western Journalist Should Tell The Truth of Concern for Human Sufferings

Jakarta, 18 Sha’ban 1437/ 25 May 2016 (MINA) – Director of Middle East Monitor (MEMO) United Kingdom Daud Abdullah has said that Western journalists are not required to become campaigners for or against any particular cause and they should carry a moral duty to tell the truth and demonstrate an element of concern for human sufferings.

“In an area as volatile as the Middle East, reporters can ill-afford the luxury of “bystander journalism” or to become instruments in the hands of oppressors and people who profit from conflict and war,” he added.

For many past decades, Watern reporting on the Middle East has been dominated by media corporations, businesses that very often focused on eye-catching headlines and soundbites for profit. Context and detailed information about news stories has for the most part often been ovelooked as a result.

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“Moreover, in the name of “objectivity” and “balance”, they have allowed themselves to become detached from the realities on the ground and the people of the region. Ultimately, their failure to embrace the widespread human suffering has made many of their fellow human beings appear to be irrelevant,” he said.

Imammul Muslim Yakhsalah Mansur opened the two-day event with a welcoming address and a keynote speech by the Deputy of Indonesian Foreign Minister Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir at Wisma Antara (Auditorium Adhiyana) Central Jakarta. The organisers have also invited the editor in chief of news agencies and media organizations from 50 countries.

The conference will present some international speakers, among them are Imaam Shamsi Ali (Foconference under of Nusantara Foundation; USA), Dr. Daud Abdullah (Director of Middle East Monitor; UK), Sheikh Ahmad Shoyyan (Editor in Chief of Al-Bayan magazine; Saudi Arabia), and Ahmad Ashaaf (chief editor of the Palestinian News Agency WAFA; Palestine).

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Also present in the conference some officials, scholars, community leaders and activists. (T/P008/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)