Racism is deadlier than the coronavirus

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At this critical juncture, when the COVID -19 pandemic is threatening the lives of citizens, some media with vested 

interests are demonising the Muslim community without rhyme or reason. Instead of fostering empathy, they are sowing the seeds of downright antipathy – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the new coronavirus outbreak which originated in Wuhan, China, a global pandemic and Sri Lanka is on proactive mode to prevent mass transmission of the pathogen. 

Ever since COVID-19 made its first appearance on 3 March in Sri Lanka when a foreign national tested positive for the virus, we have been crippled by a fear psychosis that has permeated our hearts and minds. For COVID-19 does not respect or recognise ethnicity, race, religious faith or social status.

While everyone is pre-occupied with the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic, some media institutions are blatantly targeting and demonising the Muslim community. They are not only sensationalising an issue but also disseminating distorted news totally against media ethics which state that, “whoever enjoys a special measure of freedom, like a professional journalist, has an obligation to society to use their freedom and powers responsibly”.

Fanning the flames of racism by some media, specifically by two mainstream TV stations, against the community is nothing new to Sri Lanka’s political landscape. Since the end of the civil war in 2009, the Muslim community was singled out, thereby at the receiving end.

The recent unedited political talk show which ‘accidentally’ aired during the break time bears ample testimony to the hidden agenda of the aforesaid TV station to stigmatise the entire Muslim community. How distressing was it to witness a Government Minister who actively propagates nothing but pure racism against Muslims.

Racism is manifested through discriminatory or exclusionary practices, prejudiced beliefs, opinions, attitudes and ideologies. In contemporary sociological theory, racism is defined as a process of boundary drawing, i.e. of social categorisation and attribution of identity markers to ethnic minority groups.

In Sri Lanka’s context, some media openly promotes racism instead of national integration and inclusiveness. For all intents and purposes, they covertly and overtly collaborate with a political party to whip up anti-Muslim sentiments and racial unrest before any forthcoming election. It has become a trend to portray the negative stereotype about Muslims and they simply cannot survive without the oxygen of ethnic conflict.

In the recent past, the nation witnessed how a well-coordinated campaign of anti-Muslim pogrom being unleashed and executed by media in two phases-first in the Ampara town in 2018, followed by the violence in Digana-Teldeniya, which was by far the worst one in terms of destruction.

The media usually exaggerates a minor issue into a major one by manipulation and gross distortion of facts. For instance, take the dispute at Teldeniya which was essentially an accident but the media escalated it into a full blown communal clash.

Consequently, over 400 Muslim-owned business establishments, a large number of houses and over 60 vehicles were attacked and torched over a period of three days and nights. Further, 25 mosques in the district were attacked and vandalised.

Media again spread an unfounded rumour that a Muslim restaurant at Ampara allegedly mixed ‘Wanda Pethi’ (sterilisation or infertility pills) in meals served to a group of Sinhalese. Due to this canard, a rampaging mob burnt down the eatery and completely destroyed the nearby Mosque and mayhem ensued.

The unkindest cut of all was orchestrated by another racially prejudiced media which was known for its nationalist stance, which published a front page article alleging that Dr. Shafi from the Kurunegala hospital had secretly sterilised 4,000 Sinhala Buddhist women after caesarean deliveries, as well as blocked the fallopian tubes of mothers preventing them from getting pregnant.

As the fourth pillar of democracy along with Judiciary, Executive and Legislature, media of today has an all-embracing role to act against injustice, oppression, misdeeds and partiality in our society. It is high time that the media adheres to the above journalistic ethics and impartiality, and does not advocate racism and racial unrest among communities. Coronavirus is wreaking havoc in our country and we don’t need media to unleash another type of virus to tear open our social fabric. The need of the hour is unity in diversity

Dr. Shafi was imprisoned on trumped-up charges and underwent untold misery and privation. His family was severely traumatised and his children were removed from the school and were hiding at unknown locations. 

The investigations carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had not proven that Dr. Mohammed Shafi had blocked the fallopian tubes of mothers, amassed wealth in illegal manner or had maintained links with a terrorist organisation and as a result Kurunegala Magistrate released Dr.Shafi from their custody.

Do the so-called media institutions which peddle racism and bigotry know the Muslim community’s contribution during our Independence struggle, which helped significantly to charter Sri Lanka’s way to Independence from British colonialist masters in 1948 and helped end almost four-and-a-half centuries of European colonial rule in our country?

When the British were under pressure to give more and more power to local leaders all over Asia, they advised us, quite hypocritically “you must all come together, otherwise we cannot leave this country to the tyranny of the majority community and go away”.

Dr. T. B. Jayah, a visionary Muslim leader who was a State Councillor, in November 1944 spoke for three hours on the Soulbury Report and the White Paper of the United Kingdom Government which paved the way for full independence. It was on this historic occasion that the then Leader of the House in the State Council, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, paid him a high tribute when he said: “Credit for the attainment of independence should undoubtedly go to Mr. T. B. Jayah for his historic speech in passing the Dominion Bill.”

Ironically, G.G. Ponnambalam demanded ‘fifty-fifty’ preposition. That is 50% of the seats for the Sinhalese and 50% for the minorities. It was at this point that Jayah rejected the ‘fifty-fifty’ formula. He said he preferred to work in trust, to work in faith and goodwill with the majority community. T.B. Jayah’s thinking was that Muslims were an integral part of the multi-racial Ceylonese (later Sri Lankan).

The media always lavishly praise the heroic feat of our armed forces for defeating the much dreaded Tamil Tigers. Haven’t they forgotten the Muslim officers who played a pivotal role in defeating terrorism?

Former Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has rightly said that they are alive today because of their brave fellow Muslim officers who were in the forefront of running the Intelligence Unit. 

He had said: “It is Muslims who led our long-range reconnaissance patrols at the risk of losing their lives. In the process, some of them were killed by the LTTE. We are alive today, because of our brave Muslim brothers. The LTTE attacked and chased the Muslims away from areas which were under its control in the north and east because they did not support their cause. Sinhalese who unfairly harm Muslims are traitors. We have a duty to protect the Muslims.” 

The adage ‘Whoever controls the media controls the mind’ is true to its word. Since the media is a very integral part of society, it has the power of influencing viewer thought and making them think of things or situations which might not even be true. This is the strategy the media adheres to whenever they disseminate news or talk show.

At this critical juncture, when the COVID -19 pandemic is threatening the lives of citizens, some media with vested interests are demonising the Muslim community without rhyme or reason. Instead of fostering empathy, they are sowing the seeds of downright antipathy.

As the fourth pillar of democracy along with Judiciary, Executive and Legislature, media of today has an all-embracing role to act against injustice, oppression, misdeeds and partiality in our society.

It is high time that the media adheres to the above journalistic ethics and impartiality, and does not advocate racism and racial unrest among communities. Coronavirus is wreaking havoc in our country and we don’t need media to unleash another type of virus to tear open our social fabric. The need of the hour is unity in diversity.    

“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

(The writer can be reached via email: [email protected])