Voice of British Muslim Women

Saira Bhatti, Slough

All it takes, all it should take, is one person

To set the wheels of truth into motion.

The truth. Let’s talk about the truth. Is the truth free or is it constantly under siege? How do we hold onto peace amidst raging conflict? Journalism – this noble profession – shines a light on our darkest realities. Many cover their eyes, but journalists don’t have that luxury. They risk everything, especially in places like Palestine, where the conflict asks them for their most prized possession -their lives, all they hold dear, their voices. Their voices for peace?

It’s ironic, isn’t it? In a society overflowing with notions, the one we desperately need is honesty.

Journalism is not just relaying facts, it’s about storytelling, about connecting us to the human experience behind the headlines. The ugly truth. Imagine a world where injustices go unreported, and the oppressed suffer in silence. Journalists give voices to the voiceless, exposing hidden abuses and moving us with their stories.

“The soul of my soul”

“I’m so scared, please come”

“Sleep, I will bring you food in the morning”

These heart-wrenching quotes, you’ve surely heard them these past few months; they made headlines, some louder than others. Any how can you hear these words echo in your mind, haunting you? Because of journalists. They have shown us the truth, opened our eyes; they drive us to act, to demand change, to fight for a better world. We’re witnessing this right now, in real time. The tides are changing, people are becoming less infatuated with Hollywood and more driven to demand justice.

The world is waking up.

And who do we have to thank for this awakening? Those brave journalists risking their lives to show us the truth. They charge their phones and cameras, ten to a socket, foregoing food and sleep to seek out danger and reveal it to the world. They seem to shout, “Look, really look at what is happening! How can you let it continue?”

Yet, as we very well know, the pursuit of truth comes with a heavy price, sometimes the heaviest as journalists often walk a perilous path. In Palestine, conflict has raged on for many years, and journalists have risked their lives to uncover truth. Think of Shireen Abu Akleh, a journalist who dedicated her life to covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for Al Jazeera. Her reporting was fearless, her dedication unwavering. But on May 11, 2022, her voice was brutally silenced when she was shot and killed while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank. Shireen’s death was a stark reminder of the risks journalists face, and without them the world would remain ignorant of the true horrors of conflict.

“Truth Under Fire”—does the title make sense now?

Why should we care about the safety of journalists? Because a free press is the backbone of democracy, it ensures that power is held accountable, that the public remains informed, and that transparency prevails. When journalists are silenced, the truth is buried. In conflict zones, where misinformation and propaganda run rampant, the role of journalists becomes even more vital. They challenge the false narratives spun by those in power, offering a lifeline of truth to a confused and often misled public.

And that is why I’m writing this. It’s the least I can do from my comfortable conservatory surrounded by cushions, while journalists in Palestine are surrounded by bombs and destruction, mourning lost family members. I may be far from the conflict physically, but through my words, I can amplify their voices, shed light on their courageous efforts, and by adding to the #voicesforpeace, advocate for a world where truth is not silenced.

And it should make you do the same.