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Original poster

Why report the descent of a person when committing a crime?

100 replies

donemeover · 21/10/2021 22:54

I totally understand if the perpetrator is not yet found why their race or descent might be crucial to solve the crime and identify a person.

But why is reporting the descent and race of a criminal even mentioned by the media? It serves no purpose to the crime itself.

I'm referring to the murder of the MP, every other newspaper mentions the murderer is of Somali descent. Why?

It's very tragic the MP has been killed, but I can't help notice this is an example of how racism is so entrained in society that these subtle ways of reporting just normalise it.

Sad on both counts, the racial reporting and the murder itself.

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 21/10/2021 23:38

Well that's the thing see, I think they are much quicker to mention it if they are not white. When was the last time you heard the parentage of a white British man being flagged?

Original poster
donemeover · 21/10/2021 23:40

@stairway

It might be relevant though, Where he was trained and radicalised etc. A persons background will be of interest to intelligence agencies.
Yes but not to the public! Of course, during their internal investigations I would expect it to be discussion. But why the news headlines? Why?

It's othering and subtle racism that we see every single day - that adds to people thinking black and brown people are trouble makers. Period.

OP posts:
Original poster
donemeover · 21/10/2021 23:43

@stairway

Porcupineintherough, I think when terrorist acts occur they always mention race/background though.
But why? Doesn't that add to people thinking terrorise = non white?

Why aren't peodophiles ancestry mentioned?

Why because it's terrorise does his Somali descent have to do with the crime? Should we be more wary of people from Somalia? Is that what they're implying? If not then why is it important?!!

It has literally no relevance whatsoever.

OP posts:
eastegg · 21/10/2021 23:43

@Porcupineintherough

Well that's the thing see, I think they are much quicker to mention it if they are not white. When was the last time you heard the parentage of a white British man being flagged?
But the point being made is that they are quick to mention it because it’s terrorism, not because the person is BAME. I suppose to test the theory we’d have to look at what they have said when a white person is arrested on suspicion of terrorism.
SeasonalNamechange · 21/10/2021 23:44

people would only speculate if there is a lack of information, fill in the gaps to match their agenda

before you know it they would be blaming Afghan refugees or another part of society they want to have a go at. better if we have clarity from the off

because people always want to blame someone.

Original poster
donemeover · 21/10/2021 23:44

@QueEsEsto you are exactly right. Black and brown people are only British when it suits.

OP posts:
Original poster
donemeover · 21/10/2021 23:46

@eastegg but why because it's terrorism is his descent important?

OP posts:
23minutesfromTulseHill · 21/10/2021 23:47

Fucksake. In this case, being treated as terrorism, the accused's parentage is relevant, given his father's former position as adviser to the Somali PM.

hannsmum · 21/10/2021 23:47

@QueEsEsto

I agree OP. Taking this murder case away for one minute - because I know people will use it as a reason to misunderstanding you - many white British people are of french/greek/polish/swede, etc descent but it's rarely mentioned. Hell, the Queen is of German/Danish descent. A black person wouldn't be able to live their descent down and just be called British/Black British, especially if they step out of line.

If they've done something great, then they're British/Black British.

This exactly
Kummerspeck · 21/10/2021 23:50

Is it said because Somalia is known to be a recruiting ground for extremist Islamist groups? Maybe to highlight that he could be radicalised?

I rarely see people described as of Nigerian, Kenyan, Ethiopian, etc descent so am guessing this is some kind of shorthand for likely to be an extremist

eastegg · 21/10/2021 23:51

This has got me thinking. Just looked up the bbc reports of the Norwegian home-grown bow and arrow terrorist. It pointed out his parentage; mother Danish and father Norwegian, and said whereabouts in Norway he lived.

eastegg · 21/10/2021 23:55

@SeasonalNamechange

people would only speculate if there is a lack of information, fill in the gaps to match their agenda

before you know it they would be blaming Afghan refugees or another part of society they want to have a go at. better if we have clarity from the off

because people always want to blame someone.

I agree.
CarolynMartens · 21/10/2021 23:55

I see your point, but there have been problems in other countries eg Germany where they sometimes have been reticent on reporting accurately the ethnicity of the perpetrators and I don’t think it’s helped.

Somalia is a country where the majority of the population are Muslim, so if it’s terrorism related then I think it’s relevant.

Also lots of people discussed Emma Radacanu’s background in the media, just to think of a recent example.

thinkfast · 22/10/2021 00:00

It's highly relevant in this case as there is a suspected terrorist / political motive. Somalia is known for having a high threat to western / British interests. The suspect's father was an advisor to the Somalian prime minister.

I also read a news story today of a sad story of a man who shot his wife dead. They were both wife. It mentioned the wife was German originally. Is that othering and racist too? Or is it just part of reporting the facts of the crime?

Courtier · 22/10/2021 00:02

Because he's Somalian. It helps inform people about the facts. About the politics and possible reasons/background information.

Concealing information is another form of censorship if somewhat pertinent to a case.

Porcupineintherough · 22/10/2021 00:04

@Courtier he was born in Britain, he grew up in Britain, so why is he Somali not British? You are just feeding the narrative that you csnt truly be considered British if your skin us nor white.

ShipwreckSunset · 22/10/2021 00:07

Pretty sure when they reported Jo Cox’s murder they reported that the perpetrator was white.

TheyWentToSeaInASieve · 22/10/2021 00:07

I think it's wanting to avoid saying that he is Muslim.

bathmatandbin · 22/10/2021 00:10

I think in this case it is because the suspects father was former prime ministerial adviser in Somalia.

thinkfast · 22/10/2021 00:13

Porcupinesintherough the report I read said he is a British man, but mentioned his father was an advisor to the Somali prime minister. That doesn't deny the suspect's nationality, but the additional fact is clearly relevant when there's a suspected terrorist motive. The victim was a politician so the suspect's family having political connections is hugely relevant. That's totally obvious to me. I dont understand how you can't see that.

Can't we mention people's heritages when it's relevant?

Nomoreporridge · 22/10/2021 00:20

Saying he is Somali tells us a lot about the context of this.

He has links to a country where extremist terrorist groups operate and actively recruit young men.

British Somali boys have the poorest outcomes in school ( in contrast to Somali girls who are among the hiighest achievers) which makes them easy prey for extremists.

MintJulia · 22/10/2021 00:44

It is natural for the public to try to understand why things happen in our society. Given the different kinds of terrorism prevalent at the moment, his cultural background is relevant.

The reports didn't only say that he is Somali descent but also what his father did for a living and the fact that he was not living in the UK as an asylum seeker or refugee. On the whole, it was a balanced report.

Dasher789 · 22/10/2021 00:48

When Jo Cox was murdered the murderer was plastered everywhere as right wing. He might have held right wing views but that doesn't make you any more of a murderer than being Somali. Its background info on the person committing the crime and stories sell papers.

Redredwiney · 22/10/2021 00:59

Thank you for this post OP. I have noticed that too, and it’s painful to see it so widespread in the media. I’m a second generation immigrant, born and raised in the UK. The UK is very much my home. It is where I am from and it is where I identify with. I have visited my parents’ country just once, and doubt I ever will again. English is my first language, whilst I speak my parents’ language poorly.

But reporting the attacker as British of Somali descent just reminds me that I will never ever be truly accepted as British. And what about my children? I’m married to a white Brit…will they also be described as being of a certain descent, or will that cease because they’re half white? What if I was married to someone from the same background?

That sort of reporting just continues to make people like me feel like outsiders, and has a “them and us” type approach.

amusedtodeath1 · 22/10/2021 01:01

Most people won't see that as racism because (for once), it's just factual reporting.

It like focusing on a mole hill when there are mountains to climb.