| Submit your comments on this article |
| Olde Tyme Religion |
| Islam Online faces collapse after Cairo staff revolt over 'religious pressure' |
| 2010-03-18 |
| The widely read and influential Islamic news website Islam Online was on the brink of collapse yesterday after a mass walkout and strike in its Cairo-based newsroom. More than 300 employees of the site, which is run by a Qatar-based religious non-governmental organisation, were negotiating a severance deal that could gut the website's staff. "By Sunday there probably won't be an Islam Online. It will be an empty building," a striking employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. Months of growing tension between the site's Cairo-based newsroom and the Islamic Message Society, which funds the project, culminated in Monday's mass walkout and street protest by employees. One, Fathi Abu Hattab, said that the new directors of the site had been interfering in editorial decision-making, seeking to alter its moderate tone and diversity of content. "They want to change the personality of Islam Online," he said. "Even if you fund the organisation you don't have the right to just change the editorial policy without first talking to us." The dispute has played out over the internet via Twitter and through a live online video stream set up by the striking workers. With strikers chanting in the background, a steady stream of employees have voiced their grievances before the video feed, with many saying that they were fighting for their jobs and their vision for their website. "If you want to found a conservative website, go and found one. Don't take over Islam Online and try to change it," one unnamed striker said on the video feed on Monday. The website was established in 2000 under the guidance of the prominent Qatar-based Egyptian cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi. It has built a reputation for covering a diverse array of issues in English and Arabic, including advice columns that homosexuality and pornography addiction. The site is also known for employing non-Muslims and openly secular staffers. A mission statement on the website says that it aims to embody a "holistic image" of Islam and "present the unified and lively nature of Islam that is keeping up with modern times in all areas". That vision, according to Abu Hattab and other current and former employees, changed several months ago with a shake-up on the board of the Islamic Message Society. The new bosses, Abu Hattab said, immediately sought to rein in the scope and tone of Islam Online. That included scaling down or completely eliminating the culture and youth sections. "They want Islam Online to be only a religious website," Abu Hattab said. He recalls one particular controversy last month when the new board strongly objected to an article on Valentine's Day reprinted from a local newspaper. After widespread newsroom resistance to the editorial changes, administrators informed employees on Monday that all Cairo contracts would end on March 31, prompting the walkout. Efforts to contact the Islamic Message Society in Qatar or the website's local administrators were unsuccessful. Several strikers speculated that the new board, viewing the newsroom as insubordinate, was determined to purge the Cairo operation. "They don't want anyone to stay. They're fine if all 315 or so employees walk out," Abu Hattab said. He expected all employees to resign and take the guaranteed severance package rather than risk an uncertain future under the new management. He added: "Besides, anyone who stayed would become their slaves." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 A mission statement on the website says that it aims to embody a "holistic image" of Islam and "present the unified and lively nature of Islam that is keeping up with modern times in all areas". Is this lively enough for you? How's that mission statement working out for you? Feeling unified yet? |
| Posted by: Swanimote 2010-03-18 10:09 |
| #1 this site has enough content management to employ a staff of about 3 Qatar has lots of money but also some other needy folks. |
| Posted by: lord garth 2010-03-18 08:27 |