Middle East Decries ‘Racist’ Double Standard in Ukraine Media Commentary
BAGHDAD (AFP/MEE) – Like much of the world, Arabs were followed the latest developments of the conflict in Ukraine with great care, but worry quickly gave way to indignation over media commentary seen by many as racist against people from the Middle East.
“This isn’t a place -- with all due respect, you know -- like Iraq or Afghanistan that has seen conflict raging for decades,” said Charlie D’Agata of U.S. network CBS News.
“This is a relatively civilized, relatively European -- I have to choose those words carefully too -- city where you wouldn’t expect that or hope it is going to happen.”
A day later, after much online furor, D’Agata apologized for his “poor choice of words”.
This was just one of many remarks on reputable media outlets drawing a line between the conflict unfolding in Ukraine and those in other parts of the world.
But Arabs were quick to point out the double standard, noting that while the toll of war may be similar in the respective conflicts, the media treatment is not.
Many also drew a comparison between Europe’s welcoming of Ukrainian refugees and the influx of Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans, which was declared a “migrant crisis”.
Political scientist Ziad Majed said that, while there was “magnificent solidarity” from the world over the Ukraine conflict, it also revealed a “shocking distinction”.
The discrepancies in media treatment revealed the “dehumanization of refugees from the Middle East”, said Majed, a professor at the American University of Paris.
The Qatari channel Al Jazeera English was also not immune to the controversy.
“These are not, obviously, refugees trying to get away from areas in the Middle East that are still in a big state of war,” said one of its anchors.
“They look like any European family that you would live next door to.”
The network later issued an apology, describing the remarks as “insensitive and irresponsible”.
Salem Barahmeh, director of the pro-Palestinian platform Rabet, was quick to point out seeming discrepancies in the commentary.
“First we discover that international law still exists. Refugees are welcome depending where they come from. Resistance to occupation is not only legitimate but a right”, he wrote on Twitter.
The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists’ Association condemned “examples of racist news coverage that ascribes more importance to some victims of war than others”.
“This type of commentary reflects the pervasive mentality in Western journalism of normalizing tragedy in parts of the world such as the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Latin America.”
Journalist Philippe Corbe referenced that conflict when he spoke about the Ukraine refugee flow on French broadcaster BFM TV.
“We are not talking about Syrians fleeing the bombardment in Syria,” he said.
“We are talking about Europeans who are leaving in their cars, that look like our cars... and who are just trying to save their lives.”
Some Arabs have poked fun at what they see as double standards.
A popular meme shows a scene from U.S. sitcom Family Guy, where the main character stands behind a skin tone chart with a line in the middle that indicates who is considered “civilized” and “uncivilized”.
But for others, the issue is no laughing matter.
Turkish Football Player
Refuses Anti-War Shirt
Meanwhile, a Turkish football player refused to wear an anti-war T-shirt condemning Russia’s operation in Ukraine, citing a lack of solidarity with victims of war in the Middle East.
Aykut Demir, captain of second division side Erzurumspor, was the only player not to wear a T-shirt with the words “No war” - in both Turkish and English - before a match against Ankaragucu.
Demir told sports publisher Futbol Anadolu: “Thousands of people die every day in the Middle East. Those who ignore the persecution there do these things when it comes to Europe. I didn’t like wearing the T-shirt because it wasn’t made for those countries.”