Blog #2 Jordan Reacts to Shootings in Chapel Hill

For this week, I decided to examine the international reaction to the fatal shooting involving three Muslims that occurred on Tuesday in Chapel Hill. The New York Times covered the international reaction while focusing in particular on the way in which Jordanians perceived the media coverage of the event. As noted by the New York Times, the shooting occurred on Tuesday but was largely ignored by mass media until the next day which has led many commentators to suggest that Western media is hesitant to cover hate crimes against Muslims in the news. Furthermore, the shooting has largely been attributed to a parking dispute in the media despite the fact that most involved parties believe that the crime was an act of hate against Muslims. 

The way in which the case has been handled thus far has led many Jordanian comics and international commentators to weigh in on the ways in which the religious aspects of this particular incident have been largely ignored. Dr. Abu-Salha actually argues in the Times article that crimes committed by Muslims are usually covered constantly while crimes against Muslims are generally ignored by the media when possible.

In fact, the international reaction has been so strong that some Jordanian social activists are calling for a march in Amman to mourn the death of the victims. Regardless of whether or not this particular crime was fueled by hatred or not, it serves as a perfect example of how conflict in the Middle East is impacting local events in regards to how those events are viewed and the significance of those events in regards to the larger picture. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/14/world/middleeast/online-commenters-see-reporting-bias-in-killing-of-3-muslims.html?ref=world

Ashley Rydzfski
2/13/15 10:43pm