MURIC accuses media of sidelining Muslims in genocide debate

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused Nigerian media organisations of refusing to give Muslims a chance to speak in recent discussions about alleged attacks on Christians in the country.

The group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said on Saturday that many newspapers, radio stations, and TV platforms only interview Christian clerics and ignore Muslim scholars who should also explain their side of the story.

According to him, Muslims are being portrayed negatively because only one group is being heard. He said this is unfair and unprofessional, asking, “When will Muslims be allowed to speak?”

Akintola mentioned that a Christian cleric was recently interviewed on national television concerning killings in his community, but no Muslim leader from the same place was invited to respond.

He added that Muslim groups from that area had already denied the allegations, claiming that Muslims have actually suffered more attacks over the years.

MURIC warned that the media’s selective reporting could increase tension and give the public the wrong picture. The group said the press should reduce hostility, not fuel it.

The organisation also said that Muslims in states such as Sokoto, Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Yobe, and Kebbi have long been victims of violent attacks, but their stories rarely get attention.

Akintola urged regulatory bodies, including the National Broadcasting Commission and the Nigerian Press Council, to step in and ensure balanced reporting.

He insisted that discussions on religious attacks cannot be called “national” if Muslims are not invited to participate. According to him, giving only one side of the story is harmful and may cause unrest.

This comes after the United States recently listed Nigeria as a country of concern over religious freedom issues, increasing public argument over whether Christians are being targeted.