‘How journalists can combat waves of radicalisation’

As purveyors of information, media operatives within the Muslim community worldwide have the onerous task of stemming the tide of radicalisation that is ravaging the Ummah globally. This was the kernel of engagement last weekend at Oakland Farm in Alton, Hampshire, London, venue of this year’s Jalsa Salana, the annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Anchoring the Role of media in Stopping Radicalisation, Missionary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Canada, Farhan Iqbal tasked journalists to make professionalism, responsible practice as well as reliance on the authentic sources as their watchwords.

“Most time, thousands, and even millions of people are listening or watching or reading the news, and that is why, the media have a big responsibility. If they just pick their information from inauthentic sources, this could go a long way to create misconception.

Issues such as terrorism organisations, or young people who have become radicalised, journalists should ensure that they get their information from the authentic sources. That is why the Ahmadiyya Muslims have taken it as a priority to engage this kind of issues objectively and passionately, so that clarity could be provided to dispel this misconception,” Iqbal noted.

As a missionary in Ontario, Canada, Iqbal’s job essentially, is the deployment of proactive measures engaging the youths why they need to embrace Islam wholeheartedly without unnecessarily being radical. “I talk to them always about the true teachings of Islam which has nothing to do with the violence and senseless killing going on in virtually all corners of the world.” He reiterated the fact that 99 per cent of what instigated violence and instability especially in the Muslim world has nothing to do with the religion.

“Most of these so called terrorists have little or no knowledge about Islam. Their motive most time is political and economic, erroneously hiding under religion to perpetrate evil.

Constantly, therefore, the true teaching of Islam should be propagated through the media. There is a need to ensure that extremism ideology ceases to spread. This is why Ahmadiyya community has been providing counter narrative through various channels of mass communication, and we are achieving results as reflected in the outcome of this year’s gathering which attracted over 35,000 delegates across all the countries of the world.”

On Friday, August 12, 2016 when the yearly convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, United Kingdom tagged Jalsa Salana kicked off, message of peace dominated the three-day outing.  The worldwide Head of the Jama’at, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V was the central figure leading the discussion whose central theme is ‘Love For All, Hatred For None’. Ba’it (initiation) ceremony of new members presided over by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad yesterday drew curtains on the event which also enjoyed global coverage by major international media organisations, print, electronic and online.