The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Demonisation’ of Muslims resented

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Thursday, Nov 13, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Demonisation’ of Muslims resented

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Civil society group representatives and intellectuals have cautioned sections of the media against what they called ‘demonisation’ of Muslims by tracing every communal riot and act of terrorism to the community.

Participating in a discussion on the media’s responsibilities in reporting terrorist activities organised by Peace Hyderabad, they expressed concern at the tendency of the media to link terrorism to religion and use terms like “Islamist and jihadi terror” and now even “Hindu terror.”

Such attempts are abominable as no religion allowed use of violence against innocent civilians, they said.

The equally condemnable description as “kingpins” and “master minds” of those allegedly behind terrorist violence only helped in internalising them in public perception, they said. Such descriptions begin immediately after police pick up Muslim youth at random and much before the beginning of a proper court trial.

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Andhra Pradesh