JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS

Friday 23 November 2012

Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja has urged Islamic media organizations to confront the challenges facing the nation of Islam (the “Ummah”) in a more professional manner.

Addressing a meeting of the General Assembly of the Islamic Broadcasting Union, he said: “We have to make use of modern technology and develop our media organizations.”

He emphasized the role of the Muslim media in confronting the false and unjust allegations against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Islam in a proactive manner by making use of all available resources.

“All Muslims are now encircled by suspicions and accusations. Being the media leaders of the Muslim world how can we defend ourselves,” asked Khoja, who is chairman of IBU’s executive council.

“We have a great role to play in defeating the campaigns that smear Islam and Muslims. The IBU is looking at us with great hope,” the minister told executives of media organizations attending the meeting.

Khoja also referred to the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinians in Gaza, including women and children, as well as to the bloodbath in Syria and the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The meeting condemned Israel for targeting journalists. Four Muslim journalists have been killed in recent Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Addressing the meeting, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called on member states to exert all efforts to move forward in joint action and make available all necessary financial wherewithal to achieve that goal.

READ MORE ON ARABNEWS:

http://www.arabnews.com/muslim-media-told-be-more-professional