Disinformation Campaign

Disinformation Campaign

The arrival of the Internet has provided immense scope to the to the critics to sow confusion through the World Wide Web. There is no way to prevent a net surfer from imbibing half-truths and untruths about Islâm except through priming them with correct information on Islâm.

Islâm has all along been viewed through the blinkers of prejudice. The situation has deteriorated with the collapse of communism and the emergence of the New World Order in which Islâm was seen as a possible alternative to fill in the ideological void. This gave rise to a well-orchestrated disinformation campaign depicting Muslims as "fundamentalists", "terrorists", "obscurantists", "extremists", etc.

Prejudice

Apart from an innate prejudice against Islâm, a major factor responsible for such a biased view is the fact that the mass media, in the United States and other Western countries, is controlled by the Zionists keen on projecting Islâm in a negative light.

The enemies of Islâm have projected it as a stereotype image of a religion that spread by the sword. It is this image that needs to be fought on the Internet. However, the Holy Qur’ân tells us that we should fight those who create obstacles in the path of worship. "Fight in the cause of Allâh those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allâh loves not the transgressors. (al-Baqarah, ayah 190)

This verse makes it clear that war is only permissible under well-defined limits. When undertaken it should be pushed with vigour. The aim of jihad is to restore peace and freedom for the worship of Allâh. In any case, strict limits are to be observed; women, children and the infirm should not be harassed, nor trees or crops cut down. Similarly, peace should not be withheld when the enemy comes to terms.

That Islâm has suffered from the stereotyped image of a religion advocating force finds a parallel in an article written by Martyn Lewis of BBC for British Airways in-flight magazine. He drives home the point that the Western media has a scale of priorities that must conform to its preconceived notions about different countries. He writes: "A well known T.V. correspondent told me that he had repeatedly proposed going to Africa specifically to cover success stories such as World Bank, Save the Children projects, new irrigation facilities, improving the quality of life, etc. etc. The problem here was he ran up against the stereotyped newsroom view of Africa as a continent racked by war, famine, Aids, etc. No picture of malnourished children - no story!"

Moral Fortress

The Internet, as Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammed has pointed out, has created a situation in which there are no territorial borders. This unlimited access through the Internet could have a negative Impact on society unless the people become a 'moral fortress' to withstand the misleading information.

This, however, could only be applicable to a Muslim society. As for the rest, the only defence of Islâm against misinformation is to utilise all the available channels of information, be it in the print/ broadcast media or the Internet.

The Internet, therefore, opens up new horizons for not only responding to the anti-Islâmic propaganda but also creating opportunities for propagating Islâm through the World Wide Web.

By joining on-line on the Internet, it is now possible to monitor any information concerning Islâm and to 'participate' in a conference on Islâm. In the process, any misrepresentation concerning Islâm can be corrected on the spot thereby nipping a potential mischief in the bud.

Islâmic Future

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