Rifqa Bary: Nidra Poller, a Real Journalist Takes on a Propaganda Journalist

Here is a "French" take on media malfeasance in the Rifqa Bary coverage. Nidra Poller responds to this Atlas post exposing the shills over at the Orlando Sentinel:

Dear Pamela, I wanted to give Amy Edwards a chance to reply to my letter before eventually forwarding a copy to you. But to my surprise and astonishment I received an "out of office" reply.

Rifqa Barry's case is going to be heard today, and the journalist who is "covering"  it for the Orlando Sentinel isn't available until Monday. She asked people to send her information...and closed her doors and windows.

 

So here is the letter, which you are free to publish.

I understand that you have been covering the Rifqa Bary case. You claim that there have been exaggerations "on both sides." I assume that you don't know how these situations are handled in France.

We have the largest Muslim population of any western European country. France has made major concessions to Muslim demands on all levels while at the same time taking a firm stand on certain questions, such as the prohibition of hijab in public schools and government offices.

Both sides, you might say, are discontented. No matter how many accomodations made by French authorities, the Muslim Brotherhood is never satisfied . But liberated free-thinking Muslim French women are constantly urging the government to offer greater protectionagainst extremists who want to impose sharia.

That, in a few brief words, is the context.

Now for the specifics: on the question of runaway Muslim girls and women, French authorities consistently provide refuge.  Offering refuge to Muslim girls and women who flee oppression and death threats from their families is so commonplace it rarely gets into the news. I can't imagine a French social worker refusing to believe that the woman'who seeks refuge is not truly in danger.

Because we have a huge Muslim population and extensive experience with these situations, the danger of "honor" killings is taken seriously. Runaway girls and women are housed in secret locations where family members can not reach them.

Rifqa Bary would be given refuge without a sliver of a doubt.

Muslim families often try to marry their teenage daughters to men in the home country during school vacations. When the girl's classmates--Muslim or not--suspect this has happened because the girl doesn't return to school after the vacation, they report it to the authorities who investigate and intervene when necessary. These Muslim girls are French citizens--as Rifqa Bary is American. As citizens they are entitled to the protection of French authorities. Whatever their origin or religious beliefs, families do not have the right to deprive their children of the freedom granted to all citizens.

It is curious to observe the ignorance of American authorities and media on such fundamental issues. And it is troubling to see that the freedom of a young woman is taken so lightly in the United States, the land of liberty.

cordially,

Nidra Poller (journalist)