London, United Kingdom (August 28, 2014): “The Sikh Federation (UK) press release issued yesterday titled: ‘Abandon term ‘Asian’ and call a spade a spade for the sake of child victims’ has largely been ignored by the mainstream media”, informs another press release by the UK Sikh body.
In part this is no surprise as it criticises the media itself for being on the political correctness bandwagon. It is easy for the media to keep using the word ‘Asian’ and not be specific. Journalists should however view this as a form of self imposed censorship.
The right to freedom of expression is particularly important for journalists and other people working in the media. Being specific about perpetrators of a crime is not expressing views that encourage racial or religious hatred, instead it is exposing the truth and ensuring communities from which the perpetrators originate and those in positions of power address the serious problem at hand.
Whilst the mainstream media may have deliberately ignored the Sikh Federation (UK) press release it has struck a chord with leading politicians. Both the Home Secretary and the Leader of the Opposition retweeted the press release within hours of its release. This implies senior politicians are far more sympathetic with the line being taken by the Sikh Federation (UK) – the media has a duty to follow this up.
Hundreds of non-Sikhs have retweeted quotes by Bhai Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) from the press release. Many have also positively responded to the Sikh Federation (UK) tweets. For example, in response to the tweet:
It is time for the media, police, local authorities and others to abandon political correctness and stop using the throwaway term ‘Asian’
Some of the reactions are below:
‘This is the most sensible suggestion I have read to date, well done.’
‘Please see what the Sikhs have asked. Drop the term ‘Asian’ it is misleading & offensive’
‘Absolutely brilliant, well said. Thank God for our friends in the Sikh community who love and care about Britain!’
‘Pity there`s not 4 Million Sikhs in the UK’
‘Indeed.. hard working resourceful people.’
‘Fully supported here. They use the term “Asian” as a deliberate attempt to fog the reality of what’s been happening.’
‘My wife is Japanese. She finds it offensive. No one uses “European” to describe French, Germans etc.’
‘Totally agree mate it’s turning and needs to! Stops tarring decent upstanding Asian communities.’
‘Agreed. As far as I know, most of the “Asian” perpetrators were of Pakistani origin. Why not say so?’
‘I agree 100%! I have been saying this for years! It’s an insult to Sikhs.’
‘BTW, re 2011 riots when some of you guys came out & guarded your temple. So proud you were British!’
‘Totally agree. The truth is out there, do use it. Muslim Grooming Gangs. Its not bigoted or racist. It’s the truth!’
‘Wouldn’t it be just ideal thing to replace UK Islamics with our Sikh friends. I’m very sorry you have been smeared by the media’
‘Sikhs are honourable people, their culture is the antithesis of Muslim culture.. they treat women as equals.’
‘Totally agree. I’m sorry media implying Sikhs involved in Rotherham abuse by only using term ‘Asian’’
’I agree, time to put the blame firmly where the blame and guilt lies…’