Archive for February, 2009

By Douglas J. Hagmann, Director

It is unfortunate when the reporting of a story by the media actually rises to the level of importance, in a purely societal sense, as the crime being reported.-- Douglas J. Hagmann, Director, Northeast Intelligence Network

17 February 2009: Individually and collectively, investigators and researchers of the Northeast Intelligence Network have held most members of the “mainstream media” accountable for their political correctness over their lack of intellectual honesty in reporting on matters involving the tenets of Islam. “Honor killings” and mistreatment of women and wives in general under Sharia is one such topic that is routinely absent from media reports. The media, therefore, bears a certain amount of responsibility and in some cases is actually complicit in obfuscating the truth about Islam’s most fundamental teachings. The lack of accurate reporting, deliberate omissions and even purposeful misrepresentations perpetuate the public’s confusion about Islam and consequently, add to the peril faced by the West by its enemies.

Therefore, when a major media news source admits even a possible link between a belief system inherent in Islam to a hideously abhorrent criminal act, it is only fair that we acknowledge that source for reporting that nexus, no matter how tenuous the link is portrayed. Reporting such a nexus within the corporate media, even when essentially compelled to do so by the components of the story behind the report, is unfortunately rare. The fallout, however, is not.

It is unfortunate when the reporting of a story by the media actually rises to the level of importance, in a purely societal sense, as the crime being reported. I am referring to the article published in today’s edition of the Buffalo News staff by staff reporter Fred O. Williams regarding the murder of Aasiya Zubair by her husband, Muslim TV network owner Muzzammil “Mo” Hassan. The Northeast Intelligence Network reported on this horrendous story last week, portraying the murder as an “honor killing” having its roots deep within the tenets of Islamic culture and law. Obviously, we received numerous condemnations for making such an absurd association despite about 1400 years of historical evidence that suggests otherwise.

The murder of Aasiya Zubair caught the attention of Marcia Pappas, New York State president of the National Organization for Women (NOW). About the murder, Ms. Pappas stated that “[t]his was apparently a terroristic version of honor killing, a murder rooted in cultural notions about women’s subordination to men,” Williams wrote. Indeed.

It is unclear to me how many more murders, stonings, and other violent acts against women it will take for the media to continue to acknowledge the fundamental teachings inherent in Islam, which is far more than a religion. What is clear to me, however, is the rarity of such public acknowledgements, and the certainty of the condemnation and criticism that will follow. I can sadly assure you that the coming outrage over publishing that the motive for this murder was influenced by Islam will be equal to, if not more than the condemnation of the act itself. The outcry will be deafening.

Mark my words.