“Hostages” and “kidnappers”: why journalists should tread carefully
The use of the word “hostage” during the Iran crisis was one we at Islam Channel News decided against using. That is effectively taking sides, and journalists shouldn’t be taking sides with anybody. But it’s a debate we’ve had a number of times about various words in all sorts of world conflicts.
Perhaps the most memorable is the use of the word “kidnap” last summer when we were reporting on the Israeli soldier being held by the Palestinians.
In our newsroom we ruled that the word “kidnapped” implies an unlawful abduction. And if a man is armed, in military uniform, and taking part in a military operation, his capture by the enemy doesn’t amount to an “unlawful” act.
Corporal Gilad Shalit was taken by fighters from Palestinian resistance groups, including Hamas, during “Operation Summer Rain”, an Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. Given that Hamas is – let’s not forget – democratically elected and hence representative of the Palestinian people, the capture is as lawful as any other capture of a prisoner of war.
Let’s remind ourselves of what a prisoner of war is: a combatant who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. To be a POW the service member must have conducted operations according to the laws and customs of war, be part of a chain of command, wear a uniform and bear arms openly. In short, there is no doubt that Corporal Shalit fits the criteria; and so to call him a hostage, or a kidnapped soldier, is simply wrong and misleading.
But what was surprising to see is that it wasn’t just the right-wing, pro-Israeli, Zionist news organizations using the word “kidnap”, but also those who are supposedly giving an Arab perspective; a sign perhaps that we journalists don’t care to question and challenge anymore. We’re beginning to sound more and more like politicians.
And when a Palestinian is taken from his home and imprisoned by Israel, before being tried in a military court, there’s no question over whether it’s a justified detention or not, no debate over whether it’s unlawful or lawful. There are thousands of children in Israeli jails, some as young as nine.
We’ll never see the word “kidnap” used when referring to Taliban fighters (who, incidentally don’t wear uniforms) or members of Al Qaida (no rules of engagement in their fights) being held in Guantanamo Bay. But perhaps that’s just another case of “George Bush says, journalists do”.
Sadiya Chowdhury, reporter, Islam Channel News
