Anti-Muslim narratives spread in Greece, Hungary and Poland whilst antisemitic conspiracy theories spread in France and incitement to violence is promoted in the UK
In March’s media monitoring we saw the spread of the Islamisation narrative in both Greece and Hungary whilst in the UK, GB News enabled the incitement of violence against migrants and in France a TV show spread antisemitic conspiracy narratives. In Poland, anti-Muslim rhetoric was spread uncritically whilst in Germany, we saw a positive reaction with the cancellation of a TV show appearance of a well-known antisemitic conspiracy theorist.
Greece – Writer and opinion columnist exploits French protests to spread Islamisation narrative
Soti Triantafillou, a Greek author and opinion columnist, known for her anti-migrant and Islamophobic positions, expressed anti-Muslim remarks when commenting on the recent French protests against the pension reform law that increased the retirement age.
In an article for Athens’s voice, Triantafillou said that extending the pension age is not a real problem, and that French citizens should be more concerned with mosques and Islam.
Similarly, when interviewed by Liberal, she said: “the modern Left, which deals with false enemies and imaginary phobias, rather than the big problems, which it either does not see, or serves its vision, such as mosques, laziness, and an education system that produces activists, not citizens, and expresses the question, what exactly are 18- and 20-year-olds defending on the street”.
Triantafillou not only blames Islam as one of the issues that should concern France, but she also spreads interpersonal ageism to devalue the protesters age and social values.
UK – Former Sun editor advocates violence during a TV interview
In an interview given to the right-leaning GB News, the former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie incited violence against people smugglers.
When the host, Patrick Christys, asked him: “If Rishi Sunak sent the SAS just to shoot one people smuggler dead, do you think he would win the next election?” MacKenzie replied “Well, I would be more inclined if he shot 12 or 20 dead, but you're quite right, it would be great, it would be fantastic.”
Further, when Christys specified that they were not advocating violence, the former Sun editor denied and stated that he is. On Twitter, many asked how Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, would allow such an explicit call for murder on national TV.
This incident, an example of inhuman portrayal of migrants, is far from being an isolated case of anti-migrant reporting. On the same channel, the same week, a viewer was given a platform to express some racist remarks “When they arrive, you wouldn't know what country they come from because, bless them, they all look the same... What are they planning to do with our country, that's what worries me.”
The two journalists did not challenge her.
France – National TV show spreads the antisemitic conspiracy narrative of the ‘blood libel’
On the 9th of March, the French TV channel C8 broadcast an antisemitic episode spreading the ‘blood libel myth’ on the TV Show "Touche pas à mon Poste".
The special guest on this controversial show was Gérard Fauré, a former drug dealer. He was invited to share his views about a car accident, which badly injured several people, caused by French actor Pierre Palmade, who was under the influence of drugs.
During the conversation, Gérard Fauré stated: "I don't confirm anything, but maybe there is a history of adrenochrome". The show's commentator added: "A lot of celebrities use children's blood to reach eternal youth, and the adrenochrome molecule is in children's blood”.
Instead of stopping the guest, the commentator supported the guest until the point of receiving comments accusing French President Emanuel Macron of also using children's blood. Although the TV channel published a tweet explaining that the antisemitic remark only 'engage sir Fauré', the editorial team failed to acknowledge the comments and explain why the blood libel myth was not condemned during the show.
This narrative is dangerous and influences far-right groups such as the QAnon, to spread misinformation and incites violence against Jewish communities worldwide.
Hungary – Public service media outlet spreads Islamisation narrative
Hirado, the online portal of the Hungarian public service media, published on the 10 March 2023 an article claiming that the European Commission has been financially supporting two "Islamist" pan-European organisations (FEMYSO and ENAR), which have the goal to “create an Islamic world”, with tens of millions of euros.
The article is based on an interview, published by the newspaper Le Figaro, with the French anthropologist Florence Bergeaud-Blackler. The article repeats the academic’s claims, recently published in a book, of the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe. Hirado reported that although the movement in Europe "prefers to present itself as non-violent and more moderate" and is happy to associate "even with LGBTQ organizations", its ultimate goal is to "move Europe towards a global and universal Islamic society."
This article reveals controversial journalistic ethics, as the language, tone, and quotations, were intentionally made to make the audience believe that the Muslim community is ‘invading’ Europe and taking advantage of the EU’s economy.
The Hungarian fact-checking organisation Lakmusz has debunked Hirado’s and Florence Bergeaud-Blackler’s claims one by one. Read it here in Hungarian and here in English.
Germany – RTL2 channel cancels TV show with former singer Michael Wendler
Michael Wendler is a popular former German pop singer who became a conspiracy theorist and has been increasingly spreading antisemitic narratives via Telegram for almost three years.
This month, RTL2 announced that they were going to air a TV show exploring the life of Michael Wendler and his wife’s pregnancy. The couple are currently residing in the U.S. Nevertheless, following a large backlash and massive criticism from the public, RTL2 decided to cancel the documentary project and released an apology which stated that they apologise for hurting anyone’s feelings. It also mentioned that RTL2 chooses to ‘always distanced themselves from the extremism of all kinds and stands for open-mindedness and tolerance’.
Here is an example of a positive media reaction to the public’s concerns and RTL2 choosing not to provide a platform to an individual who is known for spreading antisemitic conspiracy narratives.
Poland – MEP Patryk Jaki spreads anti-Muslim rhetoric
In 2020, a number of feminist protestors interrupted a Church mass in Poznan in an effort to fight against the abortion ban in Poland.
Three years later, the District Court of Poznan decided to acquit the protestors, who had been charged for their disturbance. In reaction to the news, a Member of the European Parliament, Patryk Jaki, strongly criticised and condemned the verdict. This was picked up by the newspaper DoRzeczy.pl, which quoted Jaki uncritically. DoRzeczy.pl is the website of Do Rzeczy, a radical-right weekly which is subsidized by various institutions including the Ministry of Justice.
In his quoted comment, Jaki falsely implied that Muslims have a larger level of protection in comparison to Catholics in Poland. Jaki’s quoted comment included the rhetorical question of whether ‘contemporary barbarians would have the same bravery to intrude into a mosque’ as though to imply that they would be too fearful.
This comment, made by an individual of political importance is extremely problematic – a comment such as this can be interpreted as encouraging attacks on Muslim religious sites in Poland whilst simultaneously spreading anti-Muslim sentiments.
