The international forum themed “The Role of Media in Inciting Hatred and Violence – Risks of Misinformation and Bias,” has concluded in Jeddah, issuing the “Charter of Media Responsibility.”
The forum recommended the establishment of a unified international law to regulate media ethics. Additionally, the forum endorsed standards for responsible media practice and advocated for national and international laws to deter all forms of hatred.
The forum also pledged national and international support for enhancing the media message, raising awareness of various concepts and implications, using media as a soft power to serve humanitarian causes, resolve conflicts, and strengthen civilisational alliances among nations and peoples in countering hatred.
In a session on the role of religious institutions and leaders in combating hate speech and violence in media platforms, Father Nabil Haddad, the founder and director of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center (JICRC), discussed an initiative he presented to Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat about the details of the initiative, Haddad stressed the duty to exert positive influence, drawing a parallel with humanity uniting against the coronavirus pandemic.
He urged a unified effort to confront the virus of hatred, asserting that in this era, the world needs peacebuilders.
The initiative he proposed calls for an alliance between Christians and Muslims to reject hatred.
Arab and Islamic history is rich with examples of harmony and concord, which should serve as a model for others, stressed Haddad.
Haddad clarified that the Christian-Islamic Alliance program, outlined in his proposal, calls for celebrating affection, incorporating discourse marked by wisdom and virtuous admonition.
He emphasized the need to collaborate by organizing seminars, conferences, and dialogues.
The goal is to bring together media professionals and religious leaders to support a media discourse centered on affection.
