Media coverage unfair

By Huma Munir

Austin American-Statesman

Just a few days after the brutal attacks in Brussels, terrorists killed dozens in Yemen and Iraq in two separate suicide bombings. All three attacks were claimed by ISIS.

But what makes the attacks in Yemen and Iraq different than Brussels? Nothing, except for the sparse media coverage.

As a journalism teacher, I can understand to an extent that the coverage for Brussels takes precedence in the western media because the attacks feel a bit closer to home. Some would say that Brussels is part of the “civilized” world where such attacks are rare and that fact alone makes it more newsworthy. In Iraq and Yemen, places that are plagued by violence, suicide bombings are more commonplace, which is why they may get ignored in the media.

But here is what the news organizations get wrong: By not covering the attacks in Yemen and Iraq, the media are failing to acknowledge that ISIS is targeting Muslims as well as westerners. The disparate coverage plays into the narrative that ISIS is solely targeting the Western world and ignores the fact that Muslims, under its brutal reign, are suffering in far greater numbers.

Just a few days before the attacks in Brussels, a bomb exploded in a Nigerian mosque killing 22 people. Boko Haram – another terrorist group claiming to be following Islam – is thought to be behind the attack. But the attacks in Nigeria, Yemen and Iraq are only recent examples of militant violence against Muslims. A little over a year ago, more than a 100 students were brutally murdered in Pakistan by the Taliban.

Torture and violence

Every day, ISIS and other militant groups subject Muslims and people of other faiths to unimaginable torture and violence. The victims are human beings, who deserve fair coverage by the media regardless of their faith and beliefs. By ignoring the plight of some, and giving extensive coverage to others, the media are directly responsible for propagating the message that ISIS only hates non-Muslims. The message is simply not true and carries dangerous implications for peace-loving Muslims everywhere.

As a Muslim, I am not asking for pity. Rather, I am asking the media to be fair in their coverage of human beings in all parts of the world – especially when it comes to ISIS and its indiscriminate hatred. I am asking the media to not ignore the struggles of millions of Muslims who are suffering alongside people of other faiths. By covering all ISIS and other militant attacks fairly, the media can save many peace-loving citizens from becoming “suspects” of terrorism.

The lives in Yemen, Iraq and Nigeria matter just as much as the lives in Brussels. The suffering of human beings everywhere is a tragedy and the media should do a better job in portraying these struggles.

Today more than ever, the media play a role in the conversation about how to tackle extremism abroad and how our citizens get treated at home. Purposeful blindness on the part of the media can have dire consequences for Muslims living in this country. Many citizens of the United States see ISIS as an enemy of them – not Muslims. This perception will lead to more divisiveness and disunity among the nation, if not corrected.

As a nation, we cannot afford to be divided at this time. The fight against ISIS and other militant groups requires a united front – one that’s built on love and compassion for one another.

Huma Munir, a teacher in the Austin school district, is a special contributor to the Austin American-Statesman. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.