Caabu wrote to the Spectator to raise the issue of its casual use of Middle Eastern stereotypes to depict a Sunni-Shia war. Caabu feels that such stereotyping risks alienating Arab and Iranian communities further.
Published in the Spectator 1 February 2014.
Sir: Is The Spectator ’s cover (25 January) of two bearded, large hooked-nosed, weapon-wielding men how the publication wishes to portray a Sunni-Shia war in the Islamic world? This casual use of Middle Eastern stereotypes of both Arabs and Iranians is not new but it is certainly not helpful. Depicting Arabs and Iranians in this way risks alienating these communities further and entrenching negative stereotypes. Images matter more than words and have a major impact in how people see others.
Chris Doyle
Council for Arab-British Understanding
London EC4
