Islamic Media Unit
The Islamic Media Unit was setup in October 2001 to address Islamic opinion throughout the world with a special emphasis on the Arab media. The key areas it covers is Foreign Policy in (Afghanistan, MEPP, India-Pakistan, Iraq)[1] but, on the domestic front it also covers inter-faith relations and the role of the British Muslim community. Its aim was to strengthen support among Muslims for the objectives of the campaign ("War on Terror"). The Unit claims to draw on in-house expertise in Islamic affairs, culture and media. Its main strategy according to the FCO's official June 2002 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". [2]
The Islamic Media Unit was set-up in conjunction with the Coalition Information Center (CIC). The CIC is the propaganda wing of Operation Enduring Freedom, It was "known among journalists who tried to cover the war in Afghanistan as a veritable disinformation center." [3]. The Islamic Media Unit was set up in August 22, 2002 in the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001 to alleviate any future similar crisis. The unit allegedly retains 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. [4]. The Former Head Gerard Russell participated in around 200 interviews and debates in Arabic with print and broadcast media across the Middle East on a range of foreign policy issues concerning the Middle East. [5]
Members
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
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
Notes
- ↑ FCO Departmental Report 2003, Chapter 8, Influence Worldwide
- ↑ FCO Departmental Report 2002, Part 5 - Chapter 4, 11 September Response, P.40
- ↑ Roger Ricardo Luis, "A Pretty Face for the United States," Granma Internacional [1]
- ↑ Changing Perceptions, Review of Public Diplomacy, March 2002 [2]
- ↑ CHANGING FACE OF BRITISH DIPLOMACY, FCO releases Departmental Report 2003 [3]
