CNN accuses FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi of anti-Semitism

US-based news agency CNN has accused Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi of anti-Semitism after an interview with their journalist Bianna Golodryga, a Jewish immigrant.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who travelled to the US in order to attend an emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Israeli violence in Palestine, claimed that Israel controls the media because of their “deep pockets.”

“Israel is losing out… They’re loosing the media war despite their connections… They’re loosing the media war.” he said during his interview with CNN. “They’re very influential people. They control media.”

However, the views of Foreign Minister Qureshi did not sit well with inteviewer Bianna Golodryga, who said that she would call it “an anti-Semitic” comment.

Qureshi stood by his stance and responded by saying that Israel has a lot of influence and they get a lot of coverage. He added that there is a perception that the coverage on Israel-Palestine issue is biased, and media should give a balanced coverage to negate it.

The remarks were conceived as anti-Semitic just days after Israel bombed a building in Gaza which housed international media outlets that were reporting about Israeli atrocities in Palestine.

Read more: Israel destroys building housing Al Jazeera, other media outlets.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari also responded to he CNN accusations on Twitter. “Ridicule Islam & our Prophet PBUH & spread Islamophobia by claiming it as “freedom of speech”; when we highlight Israelis “deep pockets” & influence over western media & govts, it gets labelled “anti Semitic”! Massacre Palestinians & claim it’s right of self defence,” she said.

Foreign Office Backs FM Qureshi

The Foreign Office of Pakistan has backed the Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi saying that the remarks “cannot be constructed as anti-Semitic by any stretch of the imagination.”

In a press release issued by the Foreign Office, it said, “The right to freedom of expression must be respected equally by everyone,”

Netizens Support FM Qureshi

FM Qureshi is being lauded for his statement by netizens all across Pakistan.

Read more: Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire after several days of violence.

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