NEW NETWORK SPEAKS FOR SYDNEY MUSLIMS

Sydney, 27 Jumadil Awwal 1436/18 March 2015 (MINA) – Taking a step forward towards defending their true faith, Sydney Muslims have launched a $1 million television studio to counter wrong depiction of Islam in mainstream media.

“This is a time where there is a lot of pressure on the Muslim community,” the head of the network, Malaz Majanni, told ABC news on Monday (16/3), On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Unfortunately, you do find that with the mainstream media, sometimes we are misrepresented, lost in translation and here we are able to make sure that a clear message is sent out,” he said.

Launched under the title One Path Network, the western Sydney studio films and edits videos for its YouTube channel, including interviews with local sheikhs about Islamic teachings and current affairs.

“Our approach was to make sure that it’s clear that this act is not an Islamic act,” Majanni said.

“This person (Man Haron Monis) was known to the authorities as a criminal and he had no connection whatsoever with [the Islamic State militant group]. He couldn’t even get the right flag.”

Diverging from the mainstream media’s approach, the network has emphasized on the former Northern Territory Labor Party official Matthew Gardiner, who is fighting with the Kurds against the so-called Islamic State (ISIL).

“The approach was to make sure that there’s no particular targeting against the Muslim community, that the law is applicable to all Australians,” Majanni said.

Studio guests have included the head of the Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism section and controversial political group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Majanni said the studio was funded by community donations and staffed by a team of more than 20 volunteers.

The project was endorsed by a wide range of prominent Muslim figures, including the grand mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, and Associate Professor Mohamad Abdalla from Griffith University who appeared in a promotional video.

Known as a dawah initiative, the studio aims to spread the word of Islam among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. (T/P006/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)