By Nishaat Ismail

A person’s attire and Faith should not define her capabilities as a journalist but that became the case when Kelvin Mackenzie decided to unleash his repugnant views about Channel 4’s Fatima Manji in a column that somehow is still represented as authentic “journalism.”

I do not expect much else from The Sun; denigrating the Islamic faith and Muslims is the norm for the tabloid. Earlier this year it was forced to acknowledge that its headline “1 in 5 Brit Muslims’ sympathy for jihadis” was not only misleading but simply not true. But singling out a prominent British Muslim reporter and deeming her unsuitable to cover a global news story following a horrific attack, due to her sharing the same faith as the perpetrator, is unadulterated discrimination. It is hard to imagine them making similar accusations in other circumstances, for example against white reporters during mass shootings in the US.

Let us remember that Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel went against the very basic principles of the Islamic faith by taking the lives of 84 innocent individuals. The act of murder is explicitly condemned in the Quran, compared to killing “all of mankind.” So to then disparage Channel 4 and Manji for outwardly displaying her faith, through her hijab, whilst covering the Nice attack last week suggested she was somehow answerable for the evil acts of a man who has since been revealed as an alcohol-drinking, wife-beating criminal.

Mackenzie ventured that it was somehow inappropriate, even insulting, for her to be on camera when there had been yet another shocking slaughter by a Muslim. Maybe its more pertinent to ask whether it was appropriate him to espouse such bigotry and vitriol in an already brittle climate, when the “othering” of Muslims by the far-right has reached extraordinary heights, as became clear from the abuse faced after the EU referendum.

Those in agreement with Mackenzie will say he has every right to express his opinions, however intolerant and blinkered they may be, under some semblance of freedom of speech and expression. How incongruous when Manji is exercising her freedom to wear what she desires and carry out her professional duties. Mackenzie went on to not only insult Manji but female journalists at large by calling her “a pawn in this TV news game”, suggesting they are incapable of voicing their opinions and navigating their own careers.

Far from being criticised, Channel 4 should be lauded for placing Manji in the studio to present the news bulletin covering the Nice attack. Where The Sun, used this as an opportunity to open further fissures in British society, Channel 4 News proved its’ commitment to objective journalism, establishing cohesion and continuing the philosophy of progressiveness. Whether or not Bouhlel’s ties with ISIS are eventually confirmed there must be an effort to stop fuelling these beasts by giving into their “us” versus “them” narrative through the incessant stereotyping that jeopardizes the safety of Muslims on the streets of Europe.

That means not buying into the toxic rhetoric being espoused by Mackenzie and his ilk, who openly conflate a professional reporter with felonious individuals like Bouhlel and the knife wielding radicals of ISIS.

Even for The Sun, Manji Abuse a step too far was originally published in Convivencia Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Read the responses to this story on Medium.