Attention to all members of groups seeking to change negative, stereotypical imagery. If this is true, this is not the way to do it:
A prominent Buffalo area businessman who founded the BridgesTV network to improve the image of Muslims in the U.S. has been arrested and charged with murdering his estranged wife – by beheading her at his company’s office in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Thursday.
Police have charged the husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder in the death of Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37.
In its logo, BridgesTV boasts of “connecting people through understanding” via its dish network available in several states. Its Web site quotes comments about the company by Jay Leno, Brian Williams and others, plus a screen shot of a CNBC interview with Hassan conducted by Maria Bartiromo.
The site also shows a picture of Hassan with his slain wife, described as playing “an instrumental role in the creation of Bridges TV since she came up with the idea for the network.” The alleged killer is called “Mo S. Hassan” at the web site.
According to police, the woman had an order of protection from him. NPR had profiled the couple in 2004.
Programs include kids shows, “American Muslim Teen Talk,” Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now” and an interview show with James Zogby. Its news program “brings you balanced coverage from around the world. News you can trust.”
The crime itself is shocking and a pity, and so is its impact: the stated goal in founding the network was a laudable one. But by allegedly dealing with his marital difficulties this way, Hassan has provided one more tidbit that will strengthen a stereotype that touches on Muslims in general — the majority of whom would never thinking of beheading anyone.
The bottom line: his network had been on the cutting edge of battling stereotypes, but now he and by association the name of his network are on the cutting edge of a crime story…
Blog reaction is plentiful — but beware when you read comments, which suggest that the TV network has a LOT of work to do to change stereotypes. Some reaction here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Newsbusters argues that the network had some other problems in nurturing the kind of positive press it had sought -because it offered some content that played to stereotypes.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.