Media is a powerful tool of communication. In the present day world, it does wonders with its infinite powers. The Jihadi movements are making best use of it for the purpose of propaganda. They use both print and electronic media and leaflets to set the ground right for their heinous crimes. We can take lesson from recent past how a cleric spread mayhem using an illegal local FM channel in Swat.
Unfortunately, it was not countered well in time and we are still facing its consequences. The station aired the religious sermons. Initially, the interpretations of the Holy Quran only carried a tinge of emotion. Ultimately, he took control of Swat and challenged the writ of government. And more recently, Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was shot dead just because the countrys mainstream media portrayed the assassinated governor in a bad light and deliberately made him controversial.
As it is pointed out by Ali K Chisti in his article Jihadi media is booming(11th Jan, 11), these Jihadis disseminate their message via various websites, magazines and discs in different languages targeting diverse audiences worldwide. While such organisations also utilise the media for military and operative purposes for services of Jihadi fighters in the field, their primary use of this medium is for indoctrination and propaganda. Most of these messages available online can be picked up cheaply from almost any newsstand throughout Pakistan despite there being a strict ban and monitoring system in place by various intelligence agencies on such literature.
The easy target of Jihadi media is usually the young, the less educated, and the lower strata of our society. They use all the techniques of propaganda to make their message more effective. They arrange Quranic verses and Ahadith in a fashion that directly hit its target. It is not that the media in Pakistan is used only by Jihadis but had been used for de-radicalisation as well.
This Jihadi media has become one of the biggest challenges for us and it should be countered as soon as it is possible before it gets too late.
SYEDA NAILA BATOOL
Lahore