Zagreb, (IKA) – The Islamic Community of Croatia, the Ibn Sin Institute of Sarajevo, the University of Zagreb and the Majlis of the Islamic Community of Zagreb organized the 22nd International Scientific Symposium on Islam and the Media, which was held from April 23 to 25 in Zagreb. The objective of the symposium was to rethink various aspects of the exceptionally complex phenomena relating to the treatment of Islam in the media and the perception of the role of the media among Muslims.
A total of 28 papers were presented by authors attempting to provide answers and views concerning the current situation. The first part of the symposium took place in the Rectorate of the University of Zagreb, and included the following presentations: The Role of the Media in the Renewal of the Islamic Community (Mufti Ševko Omerbašić), Media Diplomacy and the Islamic Media in International Relations (Dr. Rouhollah Ghaderi Kangavari, Ibn Sin Institute, Sarajevo), The Place and Role of Spiritual Diplomacy in the Islamic World (Vahid Parast Taš, University of Isfahan, Iran), Progressive and Regressive Use of New Media by Some Movements in the Muslim World (Prof. Dr. Inoslav Bešker, University of Dubrovnik), Islamophobia in the Global Media (Prof. Dr. Foad Izadi, University of Tehran, Iran), The Attitude of the Arab Media toward the Arab Spring: A View from Tunisia (Prof. Dr. Abderrazak Sayadi, University of Manouba, Tunisia), Christian Media Presence in a Muslim Country: The Experience of the Catholic Church in Algeria (Fr. Jose Maria Cantal Rivas, M.S., Society of Missionaries in Africa, Oran and Algeria), and Muslim Self-Representation: The Presentation of Islam (Dr. Fahira Gejzić Čengić, Faculty of Political Science, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina).
On Saturday, April 25, at the Islamic Center in Zagreb, the following papers were presented: The Presentation of Islam in the Croatian Catholic Media (Dr. Suzana Vrhovski Peran, Catholic Press Agency—IKA—Zagreb), Perception of Islam through the Modern Media (Ivan Šaravanja, M.S., HINA), From Prudent to Sectarian: Internal, External and Integral in the Thematic Options of Internet Approaches to Islam (Dr. Ibrahim Kajan, Džeman Bijedić University, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina), How to Respond to the Brutal Abuse of Islam in the East and the Growing Islamophobia in the West (Mirnes Kovač, M.S., Preporod Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina ), Media and the Islamic World (Prof. Dr. Hasan Rahimpour Azgadi, University of Qom, Iran), The Impact of the Media on Religious Tolerance and Trust among Nations (Prof. Dr. Mario Plenković, University of Maribor), The Media and Islam in Slovenia (Nevzet Porić, Islamic Community in the Republic of Slovenia), Islam and Muslims in the Croatian Media (Mirza ef. Mešić, M.S.), Religious Extremism and the Media in the Balkans, (Saeid Abedpour, M.S., Ibn Sin Institute, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Time for Slow Journalism (Dr. Stjepan Malović), The Role of Journalist Training in Promoting Diversity (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gordana Vilović and Assist. Prof. Dr. Igor Kanižaj, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Zagreb), Exposing Representations of Islam in the Mass Media as a Critique of the Global Aspects of Mass Media Manipulation (Nenad Vertovšek, M.S., University of Zadar), Wind in the Hair: Consideration of the Phenomenon of Islamic Headscarves in the Gap between Western and Non-Western Discourse (Vesna Ivezić, M.S.), How Metaphysical Prejudices Become Actual Forces (Prof. Dr. Lino Veljak, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb), The (Im)possible Role of the Media in Christian-Muslim Dialogue (Dr. Tomislav Kovač, Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb), The Beginnings of Religious Culture on Croatian Radio –Television [HRT]: January 1991 to Today (Augustin Bašić, M.S., HRT), The Framing of Islam (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sead Alić, University of the North), and The Media and the Mission of Faith (Mufti Dr. Aziz Hasanović).
During the symposium, there was also a panel discussion on the topic of Media Experiences in the Transmission of Religious Contents. The discussion participants included Salahudin Fetić (Information Service of the Islamic Community in Serbia, Dr. Suzana Vrhovski Peran (Catholic Press Agency—IKA—Zagreb), Mirnes Kovač, M.S. (the Islamic newspaper Preporod, Sarajevo), and Mirsad Ovčina (Radio of the Islamic Community—BIR), with the moderator, Augustin Bašić, M.S.
Each of the speakers attempted to approach the topic from his or her area of expertise, and it could be concluded that Christians and Muslims have nearly identical problems with the secular media, especially regarding new technologies. In this context, the valuable contributions made to the symposium concerning the example of the media presence of the Catholic Church in Algeria, presented by Fr. Jose Maria Cantal Rivas, require particular mention. That events in the Islamic world are covered by the Catholic media, in this case with emphasis on the media in Croatia, was vividly presented by Dr. Suzana Vrhovski Peran. Dr. Tomislav Kovač presented an interesting review of the problem of noise in communication and called for the improvement of religious culture and intertextual hermeneutics.
Mufti Hasanović provided a type of summary of the symposium with his presentation. Although speaking from the Islamic point of view on the problem of the media, i.e., their attitude toward Islam, the theses presented in most cases could be applied to monotheistic religions in general because “faith is the starting point, mission is its goal, and media are exclusively and can only be instruments.”
In a statement read at the conclusion of the symposium, it is emphasized how “in view of the indispensable role of religion in the public and private lives and activities of the vast majority of the world population, at a time of exceptionally highly developed information technologies, religion certainly occupies a significant place in the global media landscape, as evidenced by daily practices. However, the massive presence of religion in the media carries with it the risks of various misunderstandings, misinterpretations and abuse, both by media companies and by those who abuse media space and religion itself in order to achieve their own goals, today generally in reference to Islam.” The statement also warns that the most drastic example of such practices is the violence that is ostensibly committed “in the name of God” and for the sake of preserving Islam, while in fact it has a detrimental effect on Islam and Muslims.
The statement points out that such a situation contributes to the “deepening of the rift between cultures and civilizations, and promotes a negative perception of Islam. It is not uncommon for the negative perception of Islam to reinforce Islamophobia and the growth of anti-Islamism, which is then used for daily political and electoral purposes.” Therefore, with the goal of preventing such negative phenomena, it is necessary to initiate processes that will include the training of persons working in the media and introducing them to the original teachings of Islam, as well as raising the level of media culture among Muslims themselves and developing a culture of dialogue among Muslims and between Muslims and members of other religions. In this connection, it is necessary to insist on expanding horizons through mutual contacts, the promotion of common values and building a quality moral and spiritual climate based on universal values. The media themselves can contribute significantly to these processes by maintaining an objective and critical approach but not sensationalism, which only further fans various phobias and is detrimental to peace and stability. The openness of religious communities to the media and their perseverance in preventing the development of deviant interpretations of religion are prerequisites for the success of these processes, according to the statement.
Thanking the participants, Mufti Hasanović expressed the hope that cooperation would continue. “Thank you for being with us. We are enriched by a new experience, new knowledge, and for that I thank you,” he said, and also thanked the co-organizers, the University of Zagreb and the Ibn Sin Institute of of Sarajevo.
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian Fard, pointed out that during the symposium there had been much to hear and learn. He also emphasized that we have a model in Croatia that could be applicable in Europe as well as in Islamic countries.
Prof. Dr. Tomislav Kovač expressed his gratitude to the organizers, especially for inviting Prof. Dr. Abderrazaka Sayadija of Tunisia and Fr. Jose Maria Cantal Rivas of Algeria. At the end of the meeting, Prof. Dr. Sead Alić once again stressed the openness of the Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, to cooperation and the willingness of the Dean of the CFT, Prof. Dr. Tonči Matulić, to organize a similar meeting in the near future.