GTTO Sends a Letter of Complaint to Bild due to Concerns Over Misrepresentation of UMMAH Martial Arts School

Screenshot of article on Bild

The GTTO team sent a letter of complaint to BIld, addressing concerns about an article published on October 24, 2024, titled “Schon Kinder recken den Islamistenfinger!” (Even children are raising the Islamist finger!). The article links the UMMAH martial arts school to Islamist extremism, using the “Tauhid” finger gesture, a peaceful Islamic expression, as evidence of radicalization. The complaint criticises the misrepresentation of this religious symbol and the use of inflammatory language like “Islamist fighting club,” which perpetuates harmful stereotypes and anti-Muslim sentiment. The Get The Trolls Out! team urged Bild to issue a clarification, providing a balanced view of the UMMAH school’s mission and the true meaning of the gesture, while avoiding language that fuels division and mistrust.

For more details, please read the translated full letter here. 

Dear Ms. Aswad, 

I am writing to you to express my concerns about the article “Schon Kinder recken den Islamistenfinger!” (Even children are raising the Islamist finger!) published on Bild’s website on October 24, 2024.

In the article you allege that there are links between the UMMAH martial arts school and Islamist activities, using symbols like the “Tauhid” finger as evidence of extremism. To provide clarity, the “Tauhid” gesture—raising a single index finger—is widely recognised in Islam as a peaceful expression of faith, symbolising the belief in the oneness of God (“There is no god but Allah”). By presenting this as a sign of Islamist radicalization, you misrepresent a fundamental religious practice and perpetuate a harmful narrative that conflates ordinary expressions of Islamic faith with extremism.  

Furthermore, we are deeply concerned that your article perpetuates harmful stereotypes and contributes to anti-Muslim sentiment through your choice of language. You use terms like “explosive” and “Islamist fighting club” throughout your article without substantive evidence, creating an impression that all Muslim-led projects, particularly those aimed at youth, are inherently linked to extremism. This type of reporting unfairly stigmatises the Muslim community in which the vast majority are peaceful individuals.  

We urge you to consider taking corrective actions to address these concerns. Specifically, I ask that Bild issue a clarification providing a balanced view of the UMMAH fight club, its mission, and the true meaning of the “Tauhid” finger gesture. Additionally, we also hope that, moving forward, you will avoid language that risks fuelling anti-Muslim sentiment, especially given the current rise in anti-Muslim hate worldwide. Reporting on such sensitive issues with greater care can promote understanding and help counter harmful stereotypes.  
 
Thank you for considering this feedback. We hope it helps inform more nuanced and inclusive reporting in the future. 

Sincerely, 
The Get the Trolls Out!