Muslim journalists urged to portray true image of Islam
Saturday 13 December 2008 (15 Dhul Hijjah 1429)
Muslim journalists urged to portray true image of Islam
Jihad Ziadah | Arab NewsJEDDAH: Media persons attending a reception organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information in Jeddah on Thursday night called on the Muslim journalists to portray the true image of Islam to the world.
“Muslim journalists, writers and thinkers living and working in non-Muslim countries should present the true image of Islam to the world through their work,” said Farah Al-Attasi, chief of the US-Arab Center for Translation, Research and Information, at the reception held at Jeddah Hilton for media persons who covered this year’s Haj.
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s initiative for holding interfaith dialogues has, undoubtedly, contributed to broadening a Muslim’s vision about other religions and has emphasized the need to promote dialogues rather than violence, fanaticism and hatred,” she said.
The event was presided over by Assistant Minister of Culture and Information Prince Turki bin Sultan.
Speaking on behalf of African media delegates, Abdullah Sik, information adviser to the Senegalese president, praised the arrangement made by the Saudi government to facilitate the pilgrims perform Haj with ease.
He said the efforts of the Saudi authorities made the Haj incident-free and successful in all respects although the number of pilgrims have been increasing every year.
Hassan Mansour, an expert on the Andalusian literature of Spain, said the media in Muslim countries needed to play their role in countering the negative propaganda against Muslims and turning the world public opinion in favor of Islam. He was speaking on behalf of the European delegates.
Aqil Al-Janahi of the Qatar TV channel, who was representing Asian media, said: “Through the Haj coverage, the media have been able to draw the world attention to Islam’s noble values of selflessness, service and love for the fellow human beings.”
He also expressed his admiration over the interest shown by King Abdullah and other high officials for the welfare and safety of pilgrims who came from the four corners of the world.
Speaking on behalf of Minister of Information and Culture Iyad Madani, Prince Turki thanked the media persons for the ample coverage they gave to Haj and called on them to carry the message of Haj to their countries.
Prince Turki said, “We are pleased to see that the guests of Allah have completed their Haj rituals in a satisfactory manner. The Kingdom has been doing its best under the leadership of King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan to provide all comforts to the pilgrims. Our leaders since the days of the late King Abdul Aziz have been doing their best to provide all facilities to the pilgrims.”
Muhammad Abdul Hameed Zakaria, director of the Australian Center for Arab Media, expressed his satisfaction over the massive expansion work carried out in Makkah and other holy sites to facilitate smooth Haj.
He added that King Abdullah’s initiative for closer cooperation between religions was inspired by the Islamic principles of justice, cooperation, love for peace and hatred for violence and terror.
“King Abdullah’s initiative has been received well by the world. It has already begun to yield tangible results. People have started to understand that Islam in its true sense is a message of compassion and love,” Zakaria said.
Those who attended the function included the ministry’s Undersecretary for External Information Saleh Al-Namlah, Adviser at the Ministry of Culture and Information Ibrahim Al-Muslam, Undersecretary for Cultural and International Relations Omar Baqadir and Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs Abdul Aziz Al-Sabeel. Acting Director General of Saudi Press Agency Abdullah Al-Hussein also was present at the event.
