KUALA LUMPUR: The media needs to be in reporting the news regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the reality of the situation in Gaza, says International Union of Muslim Scholars secretary-general Sheikh Prof Dr Ali Muhyiddin Al-Qaradaghi.
He said journalists played an important role in reporting real incidents to the public, and not manipulating facts.
“Manipulation of the news spread to the public by newspaper companies leaned to the West, they are seen to be full of lies, while the real toll of deaths (and tragedies) are more (than what is reported) in Palestine.
“…and this (manipulation) is to weaken the motivation of Muslims in this war,” he said in Arabic during a discourse on the Palestinian issue at Masjid Negara here, last night.
His speech during the session was translated by Yayasan Prihatin Nasional Trustees Board member Datuk Tuan Asmawi Tuan Umar.
Agreeing with the sentiment, Nadwah Ulamak Nahdah Jadidah (NUNJI) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the media played a huge role in helping Palestine counter the narrative of the West.
Citing the recent bombing of al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip by Israel’s Zionist regime, he said the manipulation done by western media agencies linking the health facility to Hamas was regrettable.
“In fact, with the existence of social media today, the public can follow every moment that happens in Gaza, making it difficult for related news agencies to manipulate the real facts,” he said.
Also present at the dialogue session was Duat Al-Falah Secretariat chief Abdul Hadi Bakri Abdullah. — BERNAMA
