The International Forum on "The Role of Media in Inciting Hatred and Violence" will kick off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, November 26, 2023.
The forum is co-organized by the Assistant Secretary for Corporate Communication of the Muslim World League and the Union of News Agencies of OIC Member States (UNA), under the auspices and presence of His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha, and His Excellency the General Supervisor of Official Media in the State of Palestine, Minister Ahmed Assaf.
The event will also feature the participation of several ministers, Islamic and international media leaders, ambassadors, intellectual and human rights figures, and leaders of international organizations.
The forum will address various issues related to the role of institutions and religious leaders in combating hatred through media platforms. It will also focus on the ethical responsibility of international media in reporting on global issues objectively and impartially, with a special emphasis on the Palestinian issue and the media misinformation and bias it faces.
MWL's Under Secretary General of Corporate Communication, Mr Abdulwahab Al-Shehri, stated that the forum aims to provide an international platform to discuss ways to reduce the fueling of hatred and violence in the media.
"It also seeks to enhance the role of responsible media, particularly in covering sensitive cultural and religious issues," he added, noting that by bringing together religious and media leaders in one framework, the forum will work to promote dialogue between the two sides, contributing to the development of guidelines and general principles in media engagement with these sensitive issues, which often lead to disputes and conflicts.
According to Al-Shehri, this approach aligns with the MWL's efforts to build international alliances to push towards a peace-dominated world, connecting religions, peoples, and civilizations with bonds of solidarity and coexistence.
On his part, UNA Acting Director-General, MrMohammed Abd Rabbo Al-Yami, affirmed that the forum reflects the commitment of the union and its member agencies to work with international partners for dialogue and discussion on the best editorial policies to approach sensitive issues in a manner that meets the objectivity and credibility required by the journalism standards and, at the same time, respects peoples and their cultures and contributes to the preservation of peace and stability.
He indicated that the forum would yield significant outcomes in this regard, given the circumstances of its convening and the distinguished and high-level participation of UNA member states and representatives of media institutions and international organizations.
Al-Yami pointed out that the forum is part of the collaboration between the media arms of the OIC and the MWL, aiming to realize the shared vision of both international organizations in constructively harnessing media to serve common Islamic issues and promote a culture of tolerance and coexistence among peoples and religions.
The forum will witness the participation of the official news agencies of the OIC member countries, along with international media institutions, alongside key interested leaders: religious, intellectual, legal, and human rights, as well as leaders of international organizations.
The forum is considered the first gathering of its kind and size, and in its circumstances, it anticipates the issuance of a joint statement reaffirming the ethical framework of the journalistic profession.
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