UK, Media: Terrorism Double Standard?
February 24, 2009
When terrorism isn’t newsworthy
(Scottish Islamic Foundation Blog)
Imagine if a Scottish Muslim had pled guilty to threatening to blow up Glasgow Cathedral and behead one Christian a week until all British troops were pulled out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
There would be outrage, right? It would be splashed over the front page of every newspaper in the land. It would be the top of all news bulletins….
… So when news came into the Scottish-Islamic Foundation office this week of one Neil MacGregor pleading guilty to threatening to blow up Glasgow Central Mosque and behead one Muslim a week until all Scottish mosques were shut down, we thought it couldn’t possibly be true. There had been no build up to such a trial, no coverage during it and none on the verdict….
Entry Filed under: Mass media, Terrorism, United Kingdom. .
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1.
Charlie | February 25, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Could this be a hoax? A few days after reading this story about Neil MacGregor, born in Glasgow:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUKTRE51H4EZ20090218
I see this one about a man with the same name, born in the same place. I’ve searched and found no independent verification of this story, other than from the same sources, i.e. this story seems to originate from one place.
But even if it is true the man only threatened to carry out the attacks, in a letter to the police, which he presumably signed and left a return address! The man sounds like he is mentally ill, rather than a terrorist, but it would be interesting to get more information on this story.
2.
proggiemuslima | February 25, 2009 at 10:48 pm
{{Could this be a hoax? }}
If it does turn out to be a hoax or simpy bad information, please let me know!
3.
Nikki | October 22, 2009 at 7:07 am
Neil Macgregor is a complete fantasist and playing at being a terrorist was just another fantasy role for him…He was once a work colleague of my husband and I think he should be locked up in a mental institution before he does harm to someone!
Considering the lack of press coverage and the apparent lack lustre of the police and courts to take the matter seriously, I can totally understand why people may feel sceptical and angry towards what seems a hypocritical system that has failed to reassure all communities of its commitment to a blind and fair system of justice. I can only hope that the outcome of this case was based purely on Neil Macgregor’s mental failings, because please be reassured this guy is simply an out and out nutcase who flits from one fantasy life to another, without actually having the courage of his convictions.
Please see the links below, this is the same guy who tried to buy two football clubs?? Is apparently a big time pornography/sex industry boss in the U.S and to top it all off a Gulf war hero and private body guard to top celebrities’ and politicians to boot.
http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4867/Sex_industry_boss_bids_for_Caley_Thistle.html
http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4899/Fans_blast_porn_boss_proposals.html
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/01/20/tycoon-behind-bid-for-spl-club-exposed-as-pimp-78057-20291098/
I have also read some racist statements in some forums supporting Macgregor, I hope these people see these links and realise what even bigger idiots they are. I just wish the press and courts highlighted the issue a lot more than they did and explained that Macgregor’s behaviour was a latest in a line of purely attention seeking fantasy to put the Muslim community minds at rest. I’m not making excuses for him, the upset and panic he caused must have been awful. He deserved far more than 3 years probation, an example should have been made of him to discourage others from thinking they can get away so lightly if they pursue similar actions, especially for those who don’t realise that he didn’t do it for any ‘cause’ but rather for his own fantasy drama, attention seeking needs.