Somalian Descent

[YearsSinceISawYou]

AIBU to wonder why the papers are referring to the man arrested for killing David Amess as a British Muslim of Somalian descent.

Surely, if he is British-that's all we need to know. Why do we need to know about his line of descent?

[mygenericusername]

@Jinkiesfredlll

I’m the ignorant one? That’s the most hilarious thing I’ve heard all day.

The 9/11 were Saudi and UAE Nationals. I never said anything about Indians being Hindus or Muslims. I said my Indian brother in law still gets stopped as an Indian. Not all Asians look the same believe it or not.

Really take a good look at your own prejudice beliefs.

[Fyngal123]

Because that’s British press for you. Only claiming the individual as British if it’s positive news. He is British end of. He was probably born and raised here a product of this soil doesn’t know what Somalia looks like. If he had represented Great Britain in Olympics and won they don’t specify his descent. Never heard them referring to most athletes descent when talking about their wins only when it’s related to an offense.

[Peaflock]

Because he is of Somalian descent?

[Coogee]

To this day my Indian BIL gets stopped at the airport gate more than my white sister.

My white British husband gets stopped at airport gates all over the world about nine out of every ten times he flies. I’ve been stopped about once in my whole life. It’s a running joke.

[DevonTF]

Because we live in a free democratic society and expect the news to report the actual news. And not decide which parts we can know.

[lazylinguist]

Because someone's background is (usually) relevant to their motive

^This. Plus it's pretty normal for the media to include all kinds of details about suspects or anyone in a news story. Whereabouts they live, age, if they are married, have kids etc, even when those things aren't relevant to the crime/story. I mean... were you under the impression it usually just says 'person' and leaves it at that?

[CatsArePeople]

oh please. of course we need to know. actually paints to clearer picture what and why.

[OhWhyNot]

It’s believed to be terrorist link

Coogee sometimes people do get stopped regularly and we don’t know why. But let’s not pretend that it happens as much to white people as it does to people of colour. Your husbands case is unusual sadly for many black and Asian men it’s a common occurrence

[mygenericusername]

@Coogee. It may be a man v woman thing. Who knows. I guess when you’ve been bunched in with all Asians for the past 20 years, been stared at on planes and in crowded spaces with constant suspicion because of something that was carried out by people not only of a different religion but nationality it makes you a bit paranoid.

It was never stressed enough where the attackers came from. People from civilised countries have been victimised for years as a result.

[Rosesareyellow]

I imagine it might mean that he has British citizenship but hasn’t lived in Britain for that long? If his parents were Somalian but he had been brought up here I doubt it would be worth the mention. I think terrorists who originally and fairly recently come from different countries but have British citizenship may be ‘British’ on paper but don’t feel a strong affiliation with Britain. So I think it is relevant. It’s basically saying they are technically British but not really…

[JanglyBeads]

twitter.com/sarahbealewales/status/1449280302187257856?s=21
Mo Farah is also of Somali descent….

[0blio]

He is British end of. He was probably born and raised here a product of this soil doesn’t know what Somalia looks like.

Not necessarily, he could just as easily have a completely different background and culture to most of us - that's what is relevant.

[EvilRingahBitch]

There was instant online speculation linking this attack to the UK's refugee policy and assuming that this man was an illegal immigrant/asylum seeker/refugee - presumably based on eye witness descriptions of his appearance.

The most convincing way to clear this speculation up is to state that he was a UK national of Somali descent.

[Missgemini]

OP, I understand your question completely.
The guy is British and has been arrested. It's not like he's still out on the streets and we need to watch out for him.

The answer to your question is that the media needs to make it clear that he's not 'one of us', even though he clearly is!
Had he been Mo Farah winning golds for Britain, then he'd just be British!
Now watch as attacks on immigrants will shoot up, even though this one crazy guy may have been British born and raised!

[Rubyupbeat]

Ffs...let's be honest here, somalians, generally, are hated by other Africans, and vice versa.
I worked within a somalian community, there would be violent fights between themselves and other Africans, mainly so between the women, to the point they had a separate nursery.
This reporting would probably lessen offence between the communities. I don't know, anyway his identity will be revealed soon.
I feel so bad for the family of the victim, he was meant to be a lovely man and well loved in leigh on sea and southend area.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Because the murder has been confirmed as a terrorist attack.

[DysmalRadius]

I just read a few reports of Jo Cox's murder - initial reports just referred to the arrest of 'a man'. There didn't seem to be much mention of his appearance and although later reports mention his far-right ideology, his heritage and religious beliefs don't seem to have been mentioned. Perhaps there was more at the time, but I don't remember it being, despite that also being a terrorist attack.

[mygenericusername]

@DysmalRadius. are you kidding? It was immediately jumped on that he was a right wing extremists with links to Britain first that shouted Britain first as he killed poor Joe. It was later reported that he said this is for England/Britain.

[PineappleWilson]

From what I heard on the radio this morning, there had been speculation as to who the person involved was. It's a way of ruling out the other person suspected.

[DysmalRadius]

[quote mygenericusername]@DysmalRadius. are you kidding? It was immediately jumped on that he was a right wing extremists with links to Britain first that shouted Britain first as he killed poor Joe. It was later reported that he said this is for England/Britain.[/quote]
Exactly- his ideology was reported, but not his appearance, heritage or religion. Which is what I was saying.

[Theythinkitsalloveritisnow]

I really don't want to live in a country where the powers that be decide what details of news people can hear and that there are things better kept quiet. I want access to a free press and to read facts, even if some may be uncomfortable for some to hear.

[MakingM2]

Might I suggest that this might be their way of saying he is both black and Muslim as they are both common characteristics of the Somali community without saying he is black and Muslim. They’re not really fooling anyone, are they?

[CuteGirlsWatchMeEatEther]

@Ponoka7

On a different note, if African countries could get sporting teams together, we'd barely get a look in. Look at the top 'French/British/Spanish/German' sportspeople.

What’s that got to do with anything?

[MakingM2]

@Theythinkitsalloveritisnow

I really don't want to live in a country where the powers that be decide what details of news people can hear and that there are things better kept quiet. I want access to a free press and to read facts, even if some may be uncomfortable for some to hear.

Good luck with that. A “free press” has never actually existed. Anywhere. Ever.

[Marguerite2000]

Why refer to a man, OP? Surely he should be just be called a person. Why do we need to know he's male?
A person has been arrested. There you go, as little information as possible.