Ilford Muslims challenge 'Islamic 'terror' scare at Jewish school' story in local paper

Tuesday, 20 January 2009 18:00

Muslims in Ilford have complained to the editor of the Ilford Recorder for the publication of a story in the local paper headlined ‘Islamic 'terror' scare at Jewish school’, and which refers to ‘two Muslim boys with knives’ causing havoc at a Jewish school in the borough.

Despite learning from the headteacher of the school in question that the disturbance was not related in any way to events in Gaza, the newspaper printed the following:

‘Initial fears were that Islamic extremists had targeted King Solomon High School, Forest Road, Barkingside, because of Israel's bombing of Hamas fighters in Gaza, in the Middle East, but headteacher Spencer Lewis told the Recorder it was not "an international story".’

Ilford Muslims complained to the editor criticizing the paper for not availing itself of all the facts before printing the story and presenting it as an instance of Muslim-Jewish tensions in their local area, even though they had been informed otherwise by the headteacher of the school. They received the following by way of reply:

Dear Mr Ahmed,

The incident was breaking news and at the time of the initial story posted on the web several parents contacted us claiming that "two Muslim boys with knives" were in the school. That is what we reported. We did not report it as fact - we reported that some parents feared that in the light of the situation in Gaza.

While I accept we have a responsibility not to create a fear among the community, (and regular readers will know that is what the Recorder is know for) we also have a duty to report the news as it happens and that is what we did. In later stories we quoted the headteacher scotching the rumours which were circulating among the parents.

I am sorry you were not happy with the story, but hope you now understand the editorial decision taken.

regards

Chris Carter
Editor,
Ilford Recorder series

The editor’s letter offers no apology to the complainant for publishing the story without due checking of facts, or for headlining it in such a sensationalist manner, though the headteacher’s own remarks make perfectly clear that the incident had nothing to do with Islam, Muslims or the Middle East.

Muslims in Ilford will be taking the matter further pressing for a full apology from the newspaper. We’ll keep you posted on developments.