BELGIUM PARTNER ENORB SUCCESSFULLY GET LA DERNIÈRE HEURE TO CHANGE MUSLIM WOMEN PHOTO
Our Belgium partner ENORB complained to La Dernière Heure about an article on Covid-19 which used an image of Muslim women:
“Hello,
At Get the Trolls Out, our mission is to identify articles containing discriminatory or stereotypical anti-religious statements, stigmatizing, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic or anti-Christian.
In this context we noted an article “” incident “below published on June 3:
https://www.dhnet.be/actu/monde/coronavirus-dans-le-monde-plus-de-30-000-morts-au-bresil-l-italie-rouvre-ses-frontieres-5ed7304cd8ad58250fa080c4
We note that the photo chosen to illustrate your article depicts Muslim women wearing a veil and associated with information about the coronavirus around the world, which may mislead readers and imply, although indirectly, a link between these women and the resurgence of the virus.
It is likely that the person responsible for choosing this image did not consciously choose it to convey this negative narrative; however, this is precisely the problem. On the other hand, given the media context of stigmatization of Muslim women, as well as the many hate messages addressed to Muslim populations targeted and falsely accused of spreading the virus, the media must be more aware of the images they choose and of their impact.
During our previous arrests, the photos were modified. We again hope to modify the photo to illustrate this article and remain available to support efforts for more accurate editing reflexes and iconographic choices.
Best regards,
”
Enorb received an answer from La Dernière Heure. They changed the picture as Enorb asked.
“Bonjour,
Bien que non-intentionnelle et réaliste (en Iran, dont il est fait mention dans l’article, la majorité des femmes sont voilées, c’est un fait), nous ne souhaitons pas que nous soient prêtées les intentions néfastes que vous évoquez, et qui ne font pas partie de notre mode de fonctionnement.
L’illustration a donc été changée, à titre préventif.
Bien à vous,”
