Latest news with #IslamChannel
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
George Orwell's magazine taken over by Muslim TV channel founder
George Orwell's former magazine has been taken over by the founder of a Muslim TV channel. Tribune has traditionally been a key publication for the Labour movement, and Orwell served as literary editor for the magazine, which published leading writers including HG Wells and George Bernard Shaw. The magazine, founded in 1937, has now been acquired by Mohamed Ali Harrath, chairman of the E Media Group, which owns the Islam Channel. The channel, which was fined £40,000 by Ofcom in 2023 for broadcasting content the regulator found to be 'anti-Semitic' and 'highly offensive', is now run by Mr Harrath's son Mohamed Harrath, who acts as chief executive. Mohamed Ali Harrath will serve as chairman for the newly acquired Tribune magazine, for which Labour MP Jon Trickett acts as an editorial adviser. He said: 'A new future for Tribune should excite anyone who wants real change, and a better and brighter future for all. 'The editorial independence and the tradition of Tribune are assured, and I'm confident that it can become an even more powerful voice for the entire progressive Left, whether inside or outside the Labour Party, as well as for the huge numbers who feel they have no voice in politics and public life.' Mr Harrath was granted refugee status by the UK in 2000 after fleeing Tunisia, where he had established the Tunisian Islamic Front, intended to provide non-violent opposition to Ben Ali's dictatorship. He founded the Islam Channel in 2004. The Islam Channel announced the news of the new magazine acquisition, stating that the new deal for ownership of Tribune would continue a 'proud tradition of anti-fascism, anti-imperialism, and advocacy for peace and equality'. Tribune plans to produce more issues than its current quarterly output, while also 'pursuing an ambitious expansion of its editorial mission', according to an editorial message on the magazine's website. Mr Trickett, chairman of the Tribune advisory board, has welcomed the takeover. He said: 'The UK is crying out for an alternative to the establishment media. The scourge of growing poverty alongside extreme wealth should be at the top of the news agenda. 'The voices of socialists, trade unionists, anti-racists, peace campaigners and anti-imperialists need to be heard far more loudly and clearly.' The takeover comes after the Islam Channel was sanctioned by Ofcom for broadcasting the documentary The Andinia Plan, the name of a conspiracy theory that claims Jews made plans to establish a state in South America. Ofcom found that the 'the theme of a world Jewish conspiracy is one which incites, promotes and justifies hatred based on anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli feeling across the globe, including in the UK'. The channel has also been the subject of a complaint to Ofcom by Dr Taj Hargey, the director of the Oxford Institute for British Islam. Dr Hargey, regarded as a liberal thinker within British Islam, has claimed that the channel consistently portrays Islam as under siege from an oppressive West, and presents Hamas, Iran and Islamist Jihadi groups as legitimate 'resistance' movements against Western democracies. Ofcom said that it is 'assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate'. The Islam Channel denied the accusations in an April rebuttal, adding that 'for many years, Islam Channel has been under sustained attack from elements of the UK media'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
George Orwell's magazine taken over by Muslim TV channel founder
George Orwell 's former magazine has been taken over by the founder of a Muslim TV channel. Tribune has traditionally been a key publication for the Labour movement, and Orwell served as literary editor for the magazine, which published leading writers including HG Wells and George Bernard Shaw. The magazine, founded in 1937, has now been acquired by Mohamed Ali Harrath, chairman of the E Media Group, which owns the Islam Channel. The channel, which was fined £40,000 by Ofcom in 2023 for broadcasting content the regulator found to be 'anti-Semitic' and 'highly offensive', is now run by Mr Harrath's son Mohamed Harrath, who acts as chief executive. Mohamed Ali Harrath will serve as chairman for the newly acquired Tribune magazine, for which Labour MP Jon Trickett acts as an editorial adviser. He said: 'A new future for Tribune should excite anyone who wants real change, and a better and brighter future for all. 'The editorial independence and the tradition of Tribune are assured, and I'm confident that it can become an even more powerful voice for the entire progressive Left, whether inside or outside the Labour Party, as well as for the huge numbers who feel they have no voice in politics and public life.' Mr Harrath was granted refugee status by the UK in 2000 after fleeing Tunisia, where he had established the Tunisian Islamic Front, intended to provide non-violent opposition to Ben Ali's dictatorship. He founded the Islam Channel in 2004. The Islam Channel announced the news of the new magazine acquisition, stating that the new deal for ownership of Tribune would continue a 'proud tradition of anti-fascism, anti-imperialism, and advocacy for peace and equality'. Tribune plans to produce more issues than its current quarterly output, while also 'pursuing an ambitious expansion of its editorial mission', according to an editorial message on the magazine's website. Mr Trickett, chairman of the Tribune advisory board, has welcomed the takeover. He said: 'The UK is crying out for an alternative to the establishment media. The scourge of growing poverty alongside extreme wealth should be at the top of the news agenda. 'The voices of socialists, trade unionists, anti-racists, peace campaigners and anti-imperialists need to be heard far more loudly and clearly.' The takeover comes after the Islam Channel was sanctioned by Ofcom for broadcasting the documentary The Andinia Plan, the name of a conspiracy theory that claims Jews made plans to establish a state in South America. Ofcom found that the 'the theme of a world Jewish conspiracy is one which incites, promotes and justifies hatred based on anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli feeling across the globe, including in the UK'. The channel has also been the subject of a complaint to Ofcom by Dr Taj Hargey, the director of the Oxford Institute for British Islam. Dr Hargey, regarded as a liberal thinker within British Islam, has claimed that the channel consistently portrays Islam as under siege from an oppressive West, and presents Hamas, Iran and Islamist Jihadi groups as legitimate 'resistance' movements against Western democracies. Ofcom said that it is 'assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate'. The Islam Channel denied the accusations in an April rebuttal, adding that 'for many years, Islam Channel has been under sustained attack from elements of the UK media'.
Reuters
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Fact Check: No evidence Sadiq Khan pledged to build 40,000 new homes solely for Muslims
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan pledged to build 40,000 new council homes after saying housing was a major issue for Muslims in London, not that he would build 40,000 new council homes solely for Muslims, contrary to online claims. 'I'm fu*king fuming - I've just found out London Mayor Sadiq Kahn, under the Muslim housing plan, is building 40,000 new homes for Muslims only to be near mosques and halal food shops,' said one widely shared video post on Facebook, opens new tab. 'Imagine if the British government announced free homes for white British Christians only?' continued the March 19 post. One post on X, opens new tab, which shared the same video, suggested the source of the claim was an interview Khan gave to Islam Channel,, opens new tab a British-based, Islamic-focused TV broadcaster, ahead of the May 2024 mayoral elections in Britain's capital. Khan said in the April 26, 2024, interview, opens new tab: 'The other big issue facing Londoners, particularly Londoners of Islamic faith, is the issue of housing. We need to build far more homes in our city because often people from minority communities want to live near a mosque, near halal food, near where there are other people like them for a number of obvious reasons. And they are priced out, because there is not enough housing. So, we're going to build at least 40,000 council homes, at least 6,000 rent-controlled homes.' However, while Khan spoke about building new 40,000 new council properties after saying housing was a particular issue for Londoners of Islamic faith, he did not say the homes would be exclusively for Muslims. He also said at the start of the interview: 'My manifesto is to help to improve the lives of all Londoners. Over the last eight years, I've sought to be a mayor for all Londoners, whether you're Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, member of an organised faith or not.' Khan's manifesto, opens new tab for the mayoral elections - which saw him re-elected for a third term - mentions the 40,000 pledge three times, but does not say the homes would be exclusively for Muslims. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said the claim was false and that the 40,000 homes were being built for Londoners in need of housing, regardless of faith. A spokesperson for Islam Channel said in an email to Reuters: 'Any attempt to use our interview to claim that Sir Sadiq Khan is going to build 40,000 new homes 'just for Muslims' is a complete misrepresentation of the truth.' Credible media, opens new tab articles, opens new tab in 2024, opens new tab reported on Khan's plans to build 40,000 council homes. None mentioned they were only for Muslims. VERDICT Misleading. There is no evidence Sadiq Khan is building 40,000 new homes only for Muslims. His spokesperson said the homes were being built for people of all faiths. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Muslim TV channel watched by millions facing Ofcom investigation
Britain's most successful Muslim TV channel has been accused of glorifying violent Islamist movements, inciting hostility against the West and portraying jihadist causes in a sympathetic light. The Islam Channel is now facing an investigation by the broadcasting regulator over claims it breaches rules on impartiality and incites extremism. A complaint submitted to Ofcom accuses the channel of repeatedly broadcasting material praising the Oct 7 attacks and comparing Israel to the Nazis. It is also accused of giving airtime to extremists, failing to maintain impartiality in its political coverage and misleading viewers over key facts. The channel – which claims it has two million viewers daily and is estimated by official figures to be watched by 60 per cent of British Muslims – could be penalised over its content if an Ofcom investigation finds against it. A report highlighting multiple alleged breaches of the Broadcasting Code by the Islam Channel between November 2024 and January 2025, has been submitted to the regulator by Dr Taj Hargey, the director of the Oxford Institute for British Islam. Dr Hargey, regarded as a liberal thinker within British Islam, claims the channel consistently portrays Islam as under siege from an oppressive West; presents Hamas, Iran and Islamist Jihadi groups as legitimate 'resistance' movements against Western secular liberal democracies; and fails to include the Israeli government or pro-Israel speakers in its coverage of Gaza. He also accuses it of promoting a narrow Wahhabi-Salafi version of Islam while excluding Muslims belonging to Shiah, Sufi and Ahmadi denominations, as well as secular liberal Muslims. Dr Hargey alleges that the Islam Channel repeatedly presents a one-sided view of events. He claims that its news programme, Islam Channel News, used the sentencing of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana to attack the UK government's counter-terrorism programme Prevent while omitting the fact that he was in possession of an Al-Qaeda training manual. Dr Hargey also points to the channel's alleged attempt to champion convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui as an innocent Muslim victim of the 'War on Islam', in a documentary broadcast in January, without mentioning her links to Al-Qaeda and her attempts to kill US officers. The Islam Channel is also accused of breaching Ofcom's requirement that a broadcaster's content must not cause harm or undue offence or incite crime, disorder or violence. Dr Hargey points to what he claims is the channel's consistently anti-Israel commentary, including a speech by Ismail Patel, the founder of the Friends of Al-Aqsa and joint organiser of recent pro-Palestine marches, in which he accused Israel of being 'a violent racist colonialist enterprise'. The Channel's presenters and guests are accused of promoting an unquestioning view of radical Islam, with no mention of the violation of women's rights under the current Taliban regime in Afghanistan or Iran's theocracy. Dr Hargey also accuses the channel of failing to mention the Oct 7 Hamas attacks during a programme on the Gaza conflict in December and of repeating claims that Israeli forces target journalists without allowing the Israeli government or Israeli Defence Forces to respond. In the letter of complaint to Ofcom, Dr Hargey alleges: 'The station's persistent lack of impartiality, spread of harmful rhetoric, and engagement in political advocacy appear to directly contravene the principles set out in the Broadcasting Code.' The Islam Channel was founded in 2004 by businessman Mohamed Harrath, who was granted refugee status by the UK in 2000 after fleeing Tunisia, where he had set up the Tunisian Islamic Front to provide what he said was non-violent opposition to Ben Ali's dictatorship. Mr Harrath was arrested in South Africa on terrorism charges in 2010, after the Tunisian authorities added him to Interpol's Red Notice list. He was later released without charge and accused the Tunisians of using Interpol to harass him. In a Christmas Day broadcast last year, Mr Harrath compared the situation of Muslims in Britain to that of the Jews in 1930s Germany under the rise of the Nazis, stating: 'There is a targeting of the Muslim community. . . There is another way to learn from history. From the Jewish community. They were well off in Germany and they thought nothing would happen. . . We have to fight. We have to fight back.' The Islam Channel, which is available in the UK on Sky, Virgin and Freeview and livestream around the world, is funded by advertising and viewer donations, including fundraising for itself live on air by claiming to be the only channel telling the truth about the war in Gaza. It was also reported to have received a £2 million investment in 2007 from the overseas arm of Al-Shiddi Group, which has links to the Saudi royal family. The channel was awarded the Responsible Media of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards in 2014 and 2015. But it has also been found to have been sanctioned by Ofcom in the past for 'serious and repeated' breaches of the Broadcasting Code. In 2007, the regulator fined it £30,000 for breaking the broadcasting code by having Yvonne Ridley present news programmes while she was a candidate in local elections. In November 2010, the channel was censured by Ofcom for allowing presenters to advocate marital rape and domestic abuse. In September 2023, Ofcom found that its one-hour documentary The Andinia Plan amounted to hate speech against Jewish people. Dr Hargey told The Telegraph: 'Islam Channel epitomises hideous Islamic fundamentalism in the UK. It purports to represent British Muslims, but its sectarian ideology is nothing but an insidious initiative to mainstream Muslim extremism and fanaticism in this country. 'It revels in their 'them and us' narrative, inhibiting any effective social cohesion. Ofcom needs to take decisive action to mitigate the channel's incendiary language and partisan guests who do not subscribe to traditional British values.' An Ofcom spokesperson: 'We are assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.' The Islam Channel was repeatedly approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Muslim TV channel watched by millions facing Ofcom investigation
Britain's most successful Muslim TV channel has been accused of glorifying violent Islamist movements, inciting hostility against the West and portraying jihadist causes in a sympathetic light. The Islam Channel is now facing an investigation by the broadcasting regulator over claims it breaches rules on impartiality and incites extremism. A complaint submitted to Ofcom accuses the channel of repeatedly broadcasting material praising the Oct 7 attacks and comparing Israel to the Nazis. It is also accused of giving airtime to extremists, failing to maintain impartiality in its political coverage and misleading viewers over key facts. The channel – which claims it has two million viewers daily and is estimated by official figures to be watched by 60 per cent of British Muslims – could be penalised over its content if an Ofcom investigation finds against it. A report highlighting multiple alleged breaches of the Broadcasting Code by the Islam Channel between November 2024 and January 2025, has been submitted to the regulator by Dr Taj Hargey, the director of the Oxford Institute for British Islam. Dr Hargey, regarded as a liberal thinker within British Islam, claims the channel consistently portrays Islam as under siege from an oppressive West; presents Hamas, Iran and Islamist Jihadi groups as legitimate 'resistance' movements against Western secular liberal democracies; and fails to include the Israeli government or pro-Israel speakers in its coverage of Gaza. He also accuses it of promoting a narrow Wahhabi-Salafi version of Islam while excluding Muslims belonging to Shiah, Sufi and Ahmadi denominations, as well as secular liberal Muslims. Dr Hargey alleges that the Islam Channel repeatedly presents a one-sided view of events. He claims that its news programme, Islam Channel News, used the sentencing of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana to attack the UK government's counter-terrorism programme Prevent while omitting the fact that he was in possession of an Al-Qaeda training manual. Dr Hargey also points to the channel's alleged attempt to champion convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui as an innocent Muslim victim of the 'War on Islam', in a documentary broadcast in January, without mentioning her links to Al-Qaeda and her attempts to kill US officers. The Islam Channel is also accused of breaching Ofcom's requirement that a broadcaster's content must not cause harm or undue offence or incite crime, disorder or violence. Dr Hargey points to what he claims is the channel's consistently anti-Israel commentary, including a speech by Ismail Patel, the founder of the Friends of Al-Aqsa and joint organiser of recent pro-Palestine marches, in which he accused Israel of being 'a violent racist colonialist enterprise'. The Channel's presenters and guests are accused of promoting an unquestioning view of radical Islam, with no mention of the violation of women's rights under the current Taliban regime in Afghanistan or Iran's theocracy. Dr Hargey also accuses the channel of failing to mention the Oct 7 Hamas attacks during a programme on the Gaza conflict in December and of repeating claims that Israeli forces target journalists without allowing the Israeli government or Israeli Defence Forces to respond. In the letter of complaint to Ofcom, Dr Hargey alleges: 'The station's persistent lack of impartiality, spread of harmful rhetoric, and engagement in political advocacy appear to directly contravene the principles set out in the Broadcasting Code.' The Islam Channel was founded in 2004 by businessman Mohamed Harrath, who was granted refugee status by the UK in 2000 after fleeing Tunisia, where he had set up the Tunisian Islamic Front to provide what he said was non-violent opposition to Ben Ali's dictatorship. Mr Harrath was arrested in South Africa on terrorism charges in 2010, after the Tunisian authorities added him to Interpol's Red Notice list. He was later released without charge and accused the Tunisians of using Interpol to harass him. In a Christmas Day broadcast last year, Mr Harrath compared the situation of Muslims in Britain to that of the Jews in 1930s Germany under the rise of the Nazis, stating: 'There is a targeting of the Muslim community. . . There is another way to learn from history. From the Jewish community. They were well off in Germany and they thought nothing would happen. . . We have to fight. We have to fight back.' The Islam Channel, which is available in the UK on Sky, Virgin and Freeview and livestream around the world, is funded by advertising and viewer donations, including fundraising for itself live on air by claiming to be the only channel telling the truth about the war in Gaza. It was also reported to have received a £2 million investment in 2007 from the overseas arm of Al-Shiddi Group, which has links to the Saudi royal family. The channel was awarded the Responsible Media of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards in 2014 and 2015. But it has also been found to have been sanctioned by Ofcom in the past for 'serious and repeated' breaches of the Broadcasting Code. 'Sectarian ideology' In 2007, the regulator fined it £30,000 for breaking the broadcasting code by having Yvonne Ridley present news programmes while she was a candidate in local elections. In November 2010, the channel was censured by Ofcom for allowing presenters to advocate marital rape and domestic abuse. In September 2023, Ofcom found that its one-hour documentary The Andinia Plan amounted to hate speech against Jewish people. Dr Hargey told The Telegraph: 'Islam Channel epitomises hideous Islamic fundamentalism in the UK. It purports to represent British Muslims, but its sectarian ideology is nothing but an insidious initiative to mainstream Muslim extremism and fanaticism in this country. 'It revels in their 'them and us' narrative, inhibiting any effective social cohesion. Ofcom needs to take decisive action to mitigate the channel's incendiary language and partisan guests who do not subscribe to traditional British values.' An Ofcom spokesperson: 'We are assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.' The Islam Channel was repeatedly approached for comment.
