Difference between revisions of "Islamic Media Unit"

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Its principle aim is to help build a better understanding of United Kingdom policies amongst people in the Muslim world <ref> [http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/One%20Year%20On,0.pdf One Year On report] </ref>; the key areas it covers is Foreign Policy in (Afghanistan, MEPP, India-Pakistan, Iraq) <ref> FCO Departmental Report 2003, Chapter 8, [http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/08_InfluenceWorldwide.pdf Influence Worldwide] </ref> but, on the domestic front it also covers inter-faith relations and the role of the British Muslim community. The unit wishes to strengthen support among Muslims for the objectives of the "War on Terror". The FCO's 2002 Report <ref> FCO Departmental Report 2002, Part 5 - Chapter 4,  [http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/chapter4september11.pdf 11 September Response, P.40] </ref> claims to draw on in-house expertise in Islamic affairs, culture and media. Its main strategy, according to the report, was to convey the British Government's message more effectively to an Islamic audience through
 
Its principle aim is to help build a better understanding of United Kingdom policies amongst people in the Muslim world <ref> [http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/One%20Year%20On,0.pdf One Year On report] </ref>; the key areas it covers is Foreign Policy in (Afghanistan, MEPP, India-Pakistan, Iraq) <ref> FCO Departmental Report 2003, Chapter 8, [http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/08_InfluenceWorldwide.pdf Influence Worldwide] </ref> but, on the domestic front it also covers inter-faith relations and the role of the British Muslim community. The unit wishes to strengthen support among Muslims for the objectives of the "War on Terror". The FCO's 2002 Report <ref> FCO Departmental Report 2002, Part 5 - Chapter 4,  [http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/chapter4september11.pdf 11 September Response, P.40] </ref> claims to draw on in-house expertise in Islamic affairs, culture and media. Its main strategy, according to the report, was to convey the British Government's message more effectively to an Islamic audience through
  
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"developing links with key Islamic media services operating in the UK and overseas, providing them with FCO spokesmen able to conduct
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:"developing links with key Islamic media services operating in the UK and overseas, providing them with FCO spokesmen able to conduct
 
  interviews in the relevant languages, and briefing third parties at one remove from government for additional media appearances. The
 
  interviews in the relevant languages, and briefing third parties at one remove from government for additional media appearances. The
 
  Unit also liaised with the print media over publication of interviews with and articles by Ministers and prominent Muslim figures in
 
  Unit also liaised with the print media over publication of interviews with and articles by Ministers and prominent Muslim figures in

Revision as of 07:05, 21 February 2008

Origins

The Islamic Media Unit was setup within the Foreign & Commonwealth Office(FCO) in October 2001 in the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001 to alleviate any future similar crisis and to address Islamic opinion throughout the world with a special emphasis on the Arab media.

Aims & Strategies

Its principle aim is to help build a better understanding of United Kingdom policies amongst people in the Muslim world [1]; the key areas it covers is Foreign Policy in (Afghanistan, MEPP, India-Pakistan, Iraq) [2] but, on the domestic front it also covers inter-faith relations and the role of the British Muslim community. The unit wishes to strengthen support among Muslims for the objectives of the "War on Terror". The FCO's 2002 Report [3] claims to draw on in-house expertise in Islamic affairs, culture and media. Its main strategy, according to the report, was to convey the British Government's message more effectively to an Islamic audience through

"developing links with key Islamic media services operating in the UK and overseas, providing them with FCO spokesmen able to conduct
interviews in the relevant languages, and briefing third parties at one remove from government for additional media appearances. The
Unit also liaised with the print media over publication of interviews with and articles by Ministers and prominent Muslim figures in
the UK in support of the coalition’s aims. It published and distributed leaflets in English, Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu and
Turkish to explain the campaign objectives to a Muslim audience both overseas and within the UK. The Unit worked closely both with
British missions overseas to add value to their public diplomacy efforts, and with the Home Office on outreach to the Muslim
community in the UK. We shared our experience with other coalition governments, to strengthen support for the campaign against
terrorism more widely". [4]

The Islamic Media Unit was set-up in conjunction with the Coalition Information Center (CIC) which co-ordinated the coalition’s public communications about the military, diplomatic and humanitarian aspects of the campaign against terrorism. The CIC - to which the FCO claims to have made major contibutions and has offices in London, Washington and Islambad - is otherwise known as the "propaganda wing of Operation Enduring Freedom" [5], and was "known among journalists who tried to cover the war in Afghanistan as a veritable disinformation center." [6]. The London CIC was housed within and partially staffed by the Foreign Office.[7].

The Islamic Media Unit allegedly retained access to "experts" at handling the media. and a database of regional experts which can be brought in at short notice in the event of a similar crisis. In the recent "crisis" the 'Islamic Media Unit' has provided news press releases in fluent Arabic; the aim according to the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) is to improve public perception of Britain and its allies across the Arab and Muslim world and also within Muslim communities at home. [8].

Staff

Islamic Media Unit (July 2004)

Head of Unit: Gerry McCrudden

UK Government Spokesman for Arab Affairs: Dean McLoughlin (Formerly (2003) Gerard Russell)

Deputy Head of Department and South and East Asia Desk Officer: Christopher Hilton

Arab Media Advisor: Dr Ashraf Eissa

Urdu/Asia Media Adviser: Dr Simon Qadri

Islamic Media Bids and Support: Tanweer Hussain [9]


Head of Unit: Gerry McCrudden

Islamic Media Unit (August 2005)

Head of Unit and UK Government Spokesman for Arab Affairs: Randa William

Deputy Head of Department and South and South East Asia Desk Officer: Christopher Hilton

Arab Media Adviser: Randa William

Urdu/Asia Media Adviser: Dr Simon Qadri

Islamic Media Media Bids ands Support: Chris V Williams [10]


Notes

  1. ↑ One Year On report
  2. ↑ FCO Departmental Report 2003, Chapter 8, Influence Worldwide
  3. ↑ FCO Departmental Report 2002, Part 5 - Chapter 4, 11 September Response, P.40
  4. ↑ FCO Departmental Report 2002, Part 5 - Chapter 4, 11 September Response, P.40
  5. ↑ http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Coalition_Information_Center Coalition Information Center
  6. ↑ Roger Ricardo Luis, "A Pretty Face for the United States," Granma Internacional
  7. ↑ FCO Departmental Report 2002, Part 5 - Chapter 4, 11 September Response, P.40
  8. ↑ Changing Perceptions, Review of Public Diplomacy, March 2002
  9. ↑ The IPO Directory July 2004 COI Comunications
  10. ↑ The IPO Directory August 2005 COI Comunications
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