Monday 29th June

Metro

Article 1
Headline: Radical cleric attacked for converting boy of 11
Section: News
Written by: Miles Erwin
Page: 9

Outline: This article takes up most of page 11 and is about the conversion of a boy aged 11 to Islam by Anjem Choudary who is described as a "radical cleric". The article features a photo of the conversion ceremony taking place with the boy's face blurred out.

In the 2nd paragraph of the article the words "The bewildered looking boy....was filmed repeating Arabic chants and swearing allegiance to Allah...."

The words "Arabic chants" are a poor choice by Erwin who should know that the correct terminology to use would be Arabic Prayers.

The article features a photo of Omar Bakri and it mentioned in the article that Anjem Choudary has links to Bakri who is described as a "Muslim hate preacher". Erwin also mentions that Choudary's group wants Britain to "...become an Islamic state ruled by strict Sharia law."

The closing paragraph of the article mentions that Bakri "...is famous for praising the 9/11 hijackers as the magnificent 19".

The article also contains comments by Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra of the Muslim Council of Britain and the Christian Muslim Forum who criticises Choudary's actions, "I believe that a choice pf Islam is only to be done when you can fully understand the complex, mature and life-changing decision that you are making"

Whilst the inclusion of Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra's comments is a good step to show that conversion of young Children isn't endorsed by all Muslims the overall view of the article is that it's unnecessarilly scaremongering the readers.

The image presented is that "bewildered" young children will be coerced into converting by men who endorse terrorism and want to establish a strict Islamic State in Britain.

It is fairly safe to assume that this is an isolated incident carried out by a Group that has few backers amongst the vast majority of British Muslims. To give this much coverage to a story like this is merely going to feed the fear that some people hold towards Muslims and in that respect is an example of irresponsible journalism by Miles Erwin.

Article Verdict: Negative