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AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
www.amust.com.au
Multicultural News & Views
ISSUE # 167
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OCTOBER 2019; SAFAR 1441
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EDUCATION PAGE 26
Crisis for professional journalism Zia Ahmad Two of Australia’s most eminent journalists and academics have raised concerns and pointed out the challenge journalism faces today in our society. Professor Monica Attard, Head of Journalism, UTS and Professor Peter Fray, Director, Centre for Media Transition, UTS were the panellists at the Alan Knight Media Series event hosted by Affinity Intercultural Foundation held at their Sydney offices on Tuesday 10 September. Recent raids by the Australian Federal Police on the ABC and journalists’ homes and record numbers of journalists throughout the world being imprisoned, killed and taken hostage are of great concern. The blatant murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi almost a year ago, whose body is still missing, implicating Saudi government authorities at the highest level is a prime example of authoritarian control on freedom of journalists to perform their job without fear or favour. Authoritarian government control on the means of communication and monopoly by media baron does not leave much room for the professional journalists to function in the pursuit of truth. With the advent of social media, the internet has equipped anybody to be a journalist and get away from scrutiny from being responsible, fair and truthful. This results in the spread of fake news and hate speech. The consumers of news are not giving
Professor Peter Fray.
Professor Monica Attard.
A demonstrator holds a poster with a picture of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, Turkey October 25, 2018. value to the pursuit of truth and facts, but news has become of entertainment value, just to enjoy and feel good about it.
The facilitator of the panel discussion, Ms Roslyn Lawson, former ABC TV and radio news journalist started off by posing the
question, What is a journalist? continued on page 8
Senator Mehreen Faruqi calls for selfdetermination for Kashmiri people Mohamed Ainullah A Kashmir Symposium was held on Wednesday 18 September at the Australian Parliament in Canberra, attended by a number of parliamentarians, representatives of ‘Australian Forum for Kashmir’, community and interfaith leaders, raising concern for the current human rights situation in Kashmir under total lockdown by the Indian military, and calling for the self-determination of the indigenous people of Kashmir. The forum was addressed by Craig Kelly MP, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Senator Deborah Oneill, Senator Richard di Natale, Former Senator Lee Rhiannon and other community leaders and activists. Mr Rab Nawaz, Coordinator of the Australian Forum for Kashmir (AFK) passionately described the plight of the Kashmiri people in the valley of Kashmir under strict curfew since Monday 5 August with all communication lines blocked and total curtailment of freedom of expression and freedom of movement for the civilian population.
their right to The Parlia- Senator Mehreen Faruqi self-determinam e n t a r i a n s (right) with Former tion. The Govshowed their Senator Lee Rhiannon. ernment did not full support and allow them to assured those move it, but the present that they Greens stand by will raise the the text, given concerns regardbelow. ing the Kashmir Text of the issue during motion: the upcoming Notes with sessions of the deep concern parliament urge that: the Australian 1. In Augovernment to gust the Indian call on the IndiGovernment an government decided to reto respect the voke Kashmir’s human rights of special status Kashmiri peoand its relative ple. autonomy unEarlier in Sepder India’s constitution, further eroding tember, Senator Mehreen Faruqi and SenaKashmiris’ right to self-determination; tor Richard Di Natale tried to move a motion urging the Indian Government to withdraw 2. The Indian Government shut down phone and internet connections, arbitrarily demilitary forces, end the mass lockdown and tained political leaders, evacuated tourrespect the human rights of Kashmiris and
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ists, restricted freedom of movement and oversaw an influx of tens of thousands of additional troops to Kashmir; 3. These actions risk a dangerous escalation of violence in the world’s most militarised region. 4. Expresses solidarity with the many Australian Kashmiris who have been deeply worried about their loved ones in Kashmir. 5. Further notes that, in response to the three wars between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the UN has unequivocally called for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. 6. Urges the Australian Government to call on the Indian Government to respect the human rights of the people in Kashmir, withdraw military forces, end the mass lockdown and respect the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. Senator Faruqi took the first opportunity after Parliament returned from its Winter break earlier in September to speak in support of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. Watch her full speech at amust.com.au
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