Islamic world media urged to help defuse western media propaganda

Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Ali-Akbar Javanfekr urged Islamic world’s journalists Wednesday to help defuse the pre-planned project and propaganda of western media against Muslims.Javanfekr made the remarks in a meeting here with a group of foreign journalists currently in Iran to attend an upcoming meeting to discuss establishment of a union of the Islamic world’s press. Stressing the need for the union’s formation, the IRNA chief said, “Although establishment of the union is a good point, The existence of just one single voice is not enough to echo the voice of Muslims worldwide.” Referring to effort made by IRNA to enhance its presence throughout the world, Javanfekr said IRNA had currently 30 overseas branches and “is to increase the number up to 47 in the future.” He also welcomed a suggestion made by one of the participants of the meeting for creating a new terminology to change the present terminology used by western media against Muslims. Stressing the need for forming the Islamic states’ media terminology, Javanfekr said it was a must for defusing western media's plan to distort the image of Muslims worldwide. “I agree that we should have our own plan to confront the current trend created by western media against Muslims,” said the IRNA chief. Criticizing western media’s plan against Muslims, Javanfekr said the current situation has indicated that “they are working against Muslims based on a pre-planned project.” “Under the influence of western media’s propaganda, whenever you hear the word fundamentalist or terrorist, it will come to your minds that it should be a Muslim,” complained the IRNA chief. He also stressed the need for cooperation of all media staffers in every Muslim state to defuse the plots of western media against Muslims worldwide. “IRNA is to issue Honorary Journalist Cards for foreign journalists present in the meeting,” Javanfekr said, inviting the participating journalists to be “the honorary representatives of IRNA in your countries.”