Oral History interview with Wilfred Darlington and Faisal Qureshi, representatives of the North West Islamic Media Forum (MWIMF)

Index to the oral history. Summary also available from the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RCACE Centre library.

00:00 Introductions.

00:32 North West Islamic Media Forum (NWIMF) established ‘as a reaction to a perception of the problems of representing Muslims and Islam’.

01:10 Wilfred recalls a visit by BBC staff to the Central Mosque in Rusholme.

02:02 NWIMF acted on the assumption that (mainly tabloid) journalists were ignorant of the teachings of Islam.

02:33 [Phone buzzes] Activities suspended after the 2016 referendum / Leveson Inquiry .

03:59 Faisal joined the Forum to offer a freelance perspective. Other members comprised grassroots activists, BBC employees and a few independents. Amongst them: Haras Rafiq , Talat-Farooq Awan , Rahila Bano , Leo Devine , Mobeen Azhar , Mohammed Shafiq and Zahid Maqbool, Shabbir Dastgir , Sohail Rahman .

09:42 Some established their own channels to counter issues identified by the group. Mentoring young Muslims was a key objective.

11:00 Members specialised in news, current affairs, local radio, religion and ethics. Being a Muslim was not a pre-requisite.

12:20 ‘Matters of doctrine’ occassionally discussed. NWIMF wrote to newspaper editors with objections to misrepresentations. Some objections referred to stories where Muslims were supposedly offended but no evidence was offered.

13:25 Both discuss attitudes towards Christmas news features.

14:10 Wilfred raises the issue of commercialism which causes tabloids to take a different approach to the BBC.

15:07 Faisal remembers a time when Anjem Choudary and Hassan Butt (‘rent-a-gobs’) became spokespeople for ‘Muslims everywhere’. Explains how extremist points of view were used to inflame public discourse (for entertainment purposes) while seeming to adhere to codes of balanced reporting.

17:31 Wilfred outlines the role of the NWIMF after Britain’s military invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.

19:45 The responsibility of journalists to ensure balance, not skewed by extremism.

21:00 Wilfred describes NWIMF’s procedures for addressing concerns. Gives examples of cases where action was taken.

24:05 The group also ‘Identified the need for alternative voices to be heard in the media’.

24:57 Wilfred expresses uncertainty about the impact of the NWIMF.

26:03 Faisal describes the rising influence of public opinion via social media.

28:02 Respect for the NWIMF was evidenced through the replies it received from senior executives. Points were evidence-based, rational and made politely.

30:35 Wilfred ‘I was always conscious about the fact that if you complain about a newspaper, some time has been taken in preparing the story. And a lot of the time [broadcast] news is live, and people do say things that maybe they shouldn’t, just accidentally almost.’

31:12 Clarifies that the PCC has a code of conduct widely regarded as ‘toothless’.

32:36 Wilfred recalls that the NWIMF was invited to make a film about the life of Gerald Kaufman MP and worked with students to conduct ‘low level’ interviews.

35:05 Faisal remembers cautioning a spokesperson who had put themselves forward for a media interview about the reporting of a child sex abuse scandal.

37:18 Wilfred ‘I felt we were looking at matters which were underlying, rather than big blockbusting stories because there clearly was a prejudice… against ethnicities and particularly Muslims.’ People sometimes questioned his motives for being involved.

38:25 Describes perceived concerns about BBC underrepresentation.

40:42 Recalls a visit from the regional Creative Diversity Network, which had persuaded broadcasters to adopt an inclusive recruitment policy. The representative went on to express her own prejudices!

41:41 Faisal is Chair of BECTU ’s ‘Black Members Sub Committee’. Feels prejudice is more pronounced in the regions than in London.

43:11 Wilfred recalls allegations of bias when he was sent to cover Condoleezza Rice ’s visit to Jack Straw ’s constituency in Blackburn.

44:40 Faisal describes how he established a career in the media ‘with great difficulty’ after producing an award-winning short film .

45:30 Attended Burnage High School, witnessed Ahmed Iqbal Ullah’s murder .

46:00 Degree in bio-chemistry. Studied editing at film school. Now works as a writer/ editor/ director and collaborates with others . Also undertakes investigative work . Has struggled to overcome ‘people’s preconceptions of what a Muslim should be’.

48:38 Faisal: ‘I tend to go to Hollywood or London for work’.

49:03 Discusses the value of a science-based education.

51:15 As NWIMF Secretary, Wilfred carried out most day-to-day tasks. Members took turns as ‘Revolving Chair’ (to protect individuals and share responsibilities). Meetings held quarterly.

53:50 Discussion about perceptions of the Forum. The networking aspects of being involved. Wilfred: ‘It was a talking shop’ which also complimented as well as criticised producers.

59:43 Faisal recalls a disagreement with other members .

1:00:37 There were fewer women than men in the Forum.

1:02:27 The group debated reported attitudes towards female Muslims’ attire on several occasions.

1:05:33 Discussion about Salman Rushdie’s ‘Satanic Verses’ . Several NWIMF members asked Wilfred to complain to the Prime Minister when Rushdie was knighted .

1:07:37 Faisal recalls how the ‘Rushdie test’ replaced the ‘Tebbit test’ during his youth.

1:09:57 Wilfred proposed a suspension of the NWIMF’s activities in 2016. Explains his reasoning. There was widespread agreement to donate the Forum’s papers to the AIU Centre.

1:14:04 Faisal believes the NWIMF is still needed to counteract harmful media narratives. Describes a generation alienated by ‘hostile’ media representations.

1:16:42 Both recall Brexit. Wilfred was shocked by the result. Faisal highlights a campaign to frighten people by suggesting Turkey was about to join the E.U. Neither recall much discussion on the subject within the Forum.

1:21:43 Wilfred proposes a new objective for the Forum – ‘to put this [sort of discourse] before the great British public’. Ponders issues posed by social media.

1:23:20 Both discuss the rise of Populism. Some second or third generation Muslims are making plans to live in their ancestral homes, as a result of ‘hostile environment’ policies.

1:26:09 Opportunities for the Forum to ‘reclaim the narrative’ were few. Faisal thinks the Forum needs to provide context for news stories in order to avoid simplistic ‘good or bad’ narratives.

1:33:13 The culpability of ‘the community’ when it is defined as ‘other’.

1:33:44 Thanks and farewells.