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Face the Facts: Islamophobia

Islamophobia

27/01/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Face the Facts, Islamophobia

John Waite investigates negative stories about Muslims in the UK press.

To inform or inflame? Are distorted stories about Muslims in some British newspapers increasing tensions in communities across the UK? John Waite investigates.

lslamophobia: Are sections of the British press increasing tensions within communities by publishing negative stories about Muslims? John Waite investigates the link between inaccurate anti-Muslim stories and the increased membership of the English Defence League. The organisation, which claims to oppose Islamic extremism, has been inspired by one long-running story: the Winterval myth - the unfounded claim that councils are rebranding or renaming Christmas to appease Muslims. And it's threatened to visit any town or city that bans Christmas. So why are newspapers publishing distorted, islamophobic stories that provoke far-right extremists? Should the Press Complaints Commission impose tougher sanctions? Or do editors need to take more responsibility for the consequences of what they print?

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