What Happened: After Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureishi said Israel has ‘deep pockets,’ and that ‘they control the media,’ during a CNN interview that aired yesterday, the anchor Bianna Golodrya accused him of being anti-Semitic. Many Pakistanis, including the Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari, took to Twitter to call out the hypocrisy of Western media outlets, and #CNNexposes was trending on Twitter. In response, British journalist Mehdi Hasan, host of The Mehdi Hasan Show which airs on MB NBC, addressed all those defending the FM’s remarks and tweeted that he did indeed ‘invoke some pretty anti-Semitic slurs.’ However, Hasan himself ended up invoking the wrath of Pakistani Twitterati.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 20, 2021
The Response : Mehdi’s statements outraged Pakistanis as many took it to Twitter to not only highlight his hypocrisy but also to remind him that FM Qureishi had not once used the word ‘Jews’ when making those remarks, hence the accusation that he had given in to an anti-Semitic trope was baseless.
FYI:
He didn't say JEWS he said Israel.. You and that anchor should listen to that interview before she moulded it into an antisemitic statement.— Abdul Basit (@Abdulbasit9999) May 21, 2021
Where did the foreign minister mention Jews?? He mentioned Israel
— Fahad Zahid (@fahadrumana) May 22, 2021
hypocrisy….
Thats all pic.twitter.com/b0QbLu0n1m— M.Madni (@M1Pak) May 21, 2021
How Did Mehdi Hasan Respond: Hasan replied to some of the tweets of disgruntled Pakistanis. Far from apologizing or amending his previous statements, he was even more ruthlessly critical.
“They control media.” I’m not sure if English is your first language or second, and totally fine if it’s your second, but that’s what he said. It’s on tape. It’s untrue. It’s an antisemitic trope (Google it). And I’m done debating with bad faith trolls on this hellsite. Goodbye.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 21, 2021
This is the kind of crap I've been dealing with for the past 24 hours.
As a Muslim journalist, criticize Israel and you get called antisemitic.
But also as a Muslim journalist, criticize antisemitic tropes and you get called a 'sellout' and a 'Zionist apologist' etc etc. https://t.co/LzPeLvUg96
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 21, 2021
Apparently I, with a single tweet, united the whole of Pakistan against me. Simply because I singled out a single inaccurate and offensive statement by the country's foreign minister. Apparently, I "turned out to be anti-Pakistan". Don't know whether to laugh or cry. https://t.co/HaxXYnZT5T
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 22, 2021
Yes it's me. Talking about the role of pro-Saudi and pro-Israel lobbies here in the U.S.
And not making sweeping remarks about a foreign country, the world's only Jewish state, 'controlling' the U.S. media. If you can't see the difference in language, not sure I can help you.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 21, 2021
When I was criticizing the Modi government over Covid, I got trolled by pro Indian govt folks. Now after criticizing the Pakistani foreign minister for saying Israel ‘controls’ the media, I’m getting trolled by pro Pakistani govt folks.
They’re more similar than they think.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 21, 2021
Conclusion: Mehdi concluded this war of words with Pakistanis with a final comment.
My last comment: the last people I’m going to take lessons from on objectivity or bias or ‘selling out’ are nationalistic defenders of a government – Pakistan – that is so in debt to another – China – that it turns a blind eye & even denies the crimes against the Uighur Muslims.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 21, 2021
Lastly, some trolls keep posting this old tweet as if it's a 'gotcha' or hypocrisy. Thing is, it's fine to criticize the role of various lobbies pressuring politicians/journalists. But it's not fine to suggest the only Jewish state 'controls' the U.S. media. Language matters. pic.twitter.com/LkfRoeUVhC
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 21, 2021