Dear Editor of London Bangla,

I cannot express how appalled I am at the standard of an article by one of your  journalist called Mrs Parveen Hassan named “Facebook women crave artificial attention”. There are no references to any facts, and it is biased, attacking Muslim women with general allegations. If she was trying to convey warning signals to women then she sure has done more damage than there was, not only to the community of Muslim women but to London Bangla that is supposed to bea community paper for Bangladeshi’s.

Bringing Islam into this context just frustrates me, there was simply NO need! She could have written the same article without mentioning religion or one gender.

If people are so conscious of etiquettes within their religion, then I wouldn’t expect them to mingle with opposite sex on a socialsite regardless of who they are.

In addition she claims that men rape women on the first date (where are the facts?), women flaunt themselves, crave attention etc… Facebook is a social site and people willingly socialise. If people meet, it’s their individual choice. I consider any interaction on social sites demands some attention regardless of gender, religion or organisation. That’s the purpose of social sites, interactions and building networking contacts etc… Surely being exposed to the Media, Mrs Hassan would be aware of the purposes, whether positives or negatives involved with social sites.

Her warning was not clear, the whole article was attacking “Muslim women”, and this is so conflicting to a “Muslim female journalist”. One could say if she used religion in this Facebook issue, then being a journalist is not exactly a rightful way in religion to crave attention. As to be a good reporter one needs to crave and grab attention of the public, MEN and WOMEN, brothers, sisters and families, business networks, politics. This is not exactly any less than what she describes of her perception of“Muslim women” on face book.

Why generalise? There may be a minority who perform such acts. This does not mean emphasis should be put on “Muslim” women! Don’t we have enough issues tackling us “Muslim Women” in today’s society? I am not disputing that cyber/internet bullying/romance does not happen but there is no clarification of percentages, facts, sources instead she is labelling ALL Muslim Bangladeshi women. Women dressing how they wish, that’s their choice, that’s their liberation. Surely Mrs Hassan dresses as she wants to and wouldn’t appreciate someone writing an article generalising that Muslim Bengali women who do not cover their hair are loose women flaunting their hair to crave attention! No I didn’t think she would, and that’s why we the majority on facebook who use it correctly are frustrated with this article. It feels like being labelled and tarnished with bad characteristics.

The article exposes women flaunting and craving attention, this could apply to men too! If so, why ONLY “Muslim” women are referenced? This is humiliating and demeaning to women.

Being a Bangladeshi Muslim Women myself, I cannot digest the unfair reflection of this article. I demand an apology from Mrs Hassan or yourself in the next edition. If this is not done, it will prove that London Bangla have no RESPECT for Muslim women and cannot be a community paper as it claims to be.

I cannot understand how this unstructured article was published. In addition there aremany errors, and it astonishes me that the standards of London Bangla are coming down.

I am aware many people have complained including Muslim men and I hope all these complaints including mine will be considered with value.

Regards

Ripha Begum, 29 November 2010

Response

Dear Ms Ripha Begum,

Thank you for your feedback and observation on my article Facebook women crave artificial attention. The article derived from the previous week’s edition on the safety precautions on internet on line dating through social media.

Facebook women crave artificial attention was written to debate facebook etiquette with a female perspective and how particular women are perceived when engaging on social media, to share views on women attitudes utilising facebook as a channel to engage with men.

The article highlighted Muslim women and Bangladeshi women and the nature of alerting these groups to relate to the readership of London Bangla from these communities. It was not personalised although Muslim Women were mentioned. It was highlighting women from these groups are affected. The article was not intended to offend particular groups, indeed Muslim Women themselves have feed back positively.

Your comment I’m aware many people have complained against the article is factually incorrect, as your letter is the only formal letter of complaint received out of the 30,000 circulated readerships with concern on the content. In context, I had five formal responses from Muslim Women with positive feedback on the interest, how they found the article balanced and related to them. A further two Muslim female readers liked the content with no commentmade. A Muslim male journalist also commented on the article which he found factualand ‘true’ according to his words. I am aware there may have been comments on social networks on the article creating further debate but no formal complaint was received apart fromyours.

Your comment stating you perceive London Bangla has no respect for Muslim Women if an apology is not given is not entirely true; many articles have been written about Muslim Women with a positive light. Recent articles are the Muslim Power of Influence List, Muslim Women Imams and Muslim female politicians on political and civic participation.

I disagree with your generalised comment on the standards of London Bangla are coming down reflecting on one individual article a whole team of volunteers dedicated to meeting the needs of the community interest are contributors and are extremely positive.

I have written this article to create debate and not to demonise women which you may have found offensive.

I appreciate you have taken the time to feedback your concerns.

Mrs Parveen Hassan