Ogun State Chapter of the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG), has pleaded with media practitioners and opinion leaders to desist from what it described as spreading of misinformation about the Shari'ah Arbitration Panel in the South West, which has been generating unnecessary controversy within the region
There have been reactions from Governments of Oyo, Ekiti and Ogun States who kicked against the establishment of Shari'ah Court in their respective states, saying it is illegal to do so
But the State Coordinator of the MMWG,
Alhaji Kamal'deen Akintunde in a statement made available to Edu-Biznews in Abeokuta, expressed concern over the inaccurate reporting of the Shari'ah Arbitration Panel in the media, which is being mistaken for a Shari'ah Court.
He noted that this misconception has led to the spread of hate speech and inflammatory statements against Muslims.
The MMWG emphasized that the Shari'ah Arbitration Panel is a voluntary initiative that resolves personal matters among Muslims, and has successfully settled several matrimonial cases and personal conflicts.
The group urged media practitioners to provide accurate and balanced information about Islamic issues.
The MMWG also advocated for education and training on religious reporting for journalism students and practioners , to enhance their understanding of diverse religions and prevent the spread of misinformation.
Furthermore, the group cautioned that it would document and report unethical practices by media organizations and their staff to regulatory bodies and consider legal action against erring media outlets.
The MMWG then urged media practitioners , particularly journalists and opinion leaders to promote cordial interfaith relations, mutual respect, and harmony, rather than perpetuating negative stereotypes and misinformation on Islamic issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment