Thursday 2nd April

Manchester Evening News (City Edition)

Article 1
Headline: Protest puts foie gras off the menu
Section: News
Written by: Ria Nortcliffe
Page: 18

Outline: This article is not related to Muslims but is featured because I felt it would be reported in a completely different way had Muslims been involved.

It refers to a restaurant in Cheshire that had its windows smashed by what the paper describes as "animal rights campaigners" who also daubed graffiti on the walls reading 'foie gras'. As a result of the attack the restaurant has now decided to stop serving foie gras.

The use of the word campaigners is particularly interesting because someone who campaigns for change doesn't necessarilly smash windows and engage in acts of vandalism, whilst I am completely sympathetic and support the aims of genuine campaigners who want to have foie gras banned these individuals should have been referred to as "animal rights extremists" because of their use of violence.

The term campaigners softened their actions in the minds of readers as campaigners would refer to people who pursue non-violent means to achieve an outcome i.e. advertising to get increased sales or petitioning to lobby for change, not smashing windows.

For argument's sake imagine for a second that the perpetrators were Muslim who had smashed the windows of a porn shop that had opened in a family residential area and the shop had closed as a result. The headlines would probably come out with terms like 'extremists', 'shariah mob' or 'shopkeeper forced to close for fear of terror'....etc The list could go on.

I am recording this article to present a point of contrast should a story like this ever emerge involving Muslims. I'd be interested to see how the M.E.N reports it. For this article a 'not applicable' rating is awarded.

Article Verdict: Not Applicable

Metro

Nil Return