Media sold out to Islam

Islam buys the media

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the President of OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) found a suitable way to counter the alleged anti-Islam campaign in the Western media. At a recent meeting of the OIC in Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, he proposed: “

The Moslem investors should invest money in the big international media organizations, which often generate sizable profits, in order to be able to influence their policy through the boards of directors.”

At the time of globalization and freedom of capital movement, it is not difficult to invest in the media. The Arab capital, particularly of the Saudis, has for a long time been present in the West, and France is one of these countries, where the Gulf States invest readily. The network of the interests between the Moslem countries and France is very vast. It includes many fields of commerce and industry.

The question is thus: up to what point the Arab and Moslem investments in the media can influence and endanger the traditional French moderation, tolerance and the respect for the free expression of opinions? In Paris there are rumors circulating according to which 45 per cent of the shares of the biggest French news service, the AFP, could already be in the hands of Saudi investors.

In spite of its serious reputation, which AFP enjoys in the international media world, its information policy sometimes evokes suspicion [5]. For example, until recently, AFP avoided calling terrorists…by their true name: “terrorists”, inventing such euphemisms as “combatants”, “partisans” or “resistance movement”. One journalists told us the following anecdote: Some time ago, on a display boards in the corridors of the Agency, appeared a note authorizing the use of the word “terrorist”. But for how long?

The press, particularly on the Left, shows much “comprehension” and sympathy toward the Islamists, while severely attacking the United States, Israel, liberalism and capitalism.

At the head of the list of such papers is the much respected daily Le Monde… It could eventually become Liberation, for which sales have dropped and which looks for ways to save itself. Caroline Fourest, a journalist of a popular satirical weekly Charlie-Hebdo (the newspaper which published the Danish caricatures and is facing legal action by Islamist organizations), expressed a concern that the financial contributions of Arab investors might influence the political direction of the French media. She remarked ironically [6]: “One thinks of a new Libe, a mix of Al-Manar and Islamo-gauchism”. As for the difficult financial standing of some papers – she added – it could be better to let them to collapse, than to yield to the diktats of the Gulf Countries.

Is the situation of the French media really so bad, that they would be ready to sell their freedom of expression for the Arab dinars? It is difficult to answer this question definitively, because the information about the Moslem financing of some French media generally remains secret [7]. On the other hand, there are no problems with the financial flow on the industrial markets, including the aeronautic and military ones.

Recently, Mrs. Michele Alliot-Marie, the French Minister of Defense, signed a preliminary contract with Saudi Arabia for a nice amount of Euro 2.5 billion. France will deliver to Saudi Arabia 30 Fennec combat helicopters, ten NH-90 transport helicopters for the Navy, and at least two air-tankers Airbus A330-200. In 2007, there a new large sales contract for weapons and military equipment, worth Euro 4.0 billion is expected. When Ares speaks, the Muses keep silent! [8]

In an American cultural magazine Telos, one can read an article by Russell Berman, entitled: Freedom of Expression Disappears: France and Its New Repressions” [9]. In conclusion, the author wrote:

“Beyond a doubt, there is certainly a real and dangerous enemy of the West, ready to hijack planes and explode trains; but there is another enemy, a logic of fear and repression, which uses Islam as a pretext to develop a new culture of control.

This is the retreat of the West: unless it becomes willing to defend its freedoms at home, it will surely not fight for them against an external enemy in the East because: liberty is indivisible.”