|
AWR investigates the validity of a dangerous rumor claiming that the Muslim Brotherhood recently "crucified" opponents of President Muhammad Morsi
August 28, 2012
CAIRO, Egypt (AWR) – Rumors have recently circulated on a number of websites and blogs about "crucifixions" alleged to have been carried out by Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood earlier this month outside the Presidential Palace in Cairo.
The event was said to have happened on the same day as a well-established incident in which liberal media members were assaulted. Those assaulted accused Muslim Brotherhood supporters of the attack and vandalism against their vehicles.
AWR researcher Jayson Casper investigated the claims of the so-called "crucifixions," and has come to the conclusion that such accusations are likely propaganda pieces against the Muslim Brotherhood and its rising political power.
"The websites in question have not simply failed to properly investigate a likely hoax," says Casper. "They have aided and abetted it."
Casper points out that there have been no published names of victims of the alleged crucifixions, no photographic evidence, and the story was not covered by respected mainstream publications in Egypt. Moreover, such unfounded rumors have existed in the past and have been quickly debunked.
Thanks to WorldNetDaily and several other websites, this story has already spread among thousands of otherwise innocent readers in the West, many of whom already have justifiable concerns about the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and the future of Egypt.
"Islamism as a political movement may well deserve opposition. Carrying and embellishing ‘news’ of this sort, however, serves neither truth nor peace. On the contrary, it hurts international relations, damages internal Egyptian politics, and provides a precursor to enmity and perhaps even war."
Read more....
|
