Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
1 May 2024 | 12:06 SAST
1-minute read

Picture: Radio Islam International

Journalism professors from United States universities have penned a letter demanding accountability from the New York Times for the article alleging sexual violence by Hamas on October 7^th.

Calls for evidence to support the claims went unanswered, leading to the investigation of the article as part of a smear campaign against Hamas.  In February this year, it was revealed that the authors of the article harboured Islamophobic views and had advocated for the destruction of Gaza.

In this week’s Media Lens on Radio Islam, Hafidh Ibrahim Deen discussed the saga, saying that the situation escalated further with the emergence of a leaked document exposing the New York Times’ narrative-shaping tactics, casting doubt on the credibility of its coverage.

In response, more than 50 tenured professors have signed the letter calling for a full independent review of the reporting, editing, and publishing processes for the story.

“This letter was signed on by 50 tenured professors, all of journalism, in US universities, saying that the New York Times needs to provide the evidence for this claim, investigate this claim, and also provide the reason as to why it didn’t retract the story,” Deen said.

Despite the gravity of the situation, mainstream Western media has largely neglected to question the validity of the story, leaving counter-media outlets to address the issue.

This lack of scrutiny has allowed false narratives to persist, resulting in victim-blaming and misinformation.

While there are signs of changing sentiment, particularly among young voters in the US, the road to meaningful change remains uncertain.

Protests at US universities, such as the one at Columbia University, indicate a growing discontent with mainstream media narratives. However, with the ongoing conflict in Gaza claiming lives daily, the urgency for accountability and accurate reporting cannot be overstated.

“There’s currently an ongoing conflict. People are dying in their tens and hundreds every day in Gaza. How long will it take for these stories to actually break through mainstream media to force policymakers to make decisions?” Deen asks.

Listen to the Media Lens on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.