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The Wire
7 days ago
- Health
- The Wire
How Turkey, Morocco and Eid al-Adha Were Misrepresented by Indian Media
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now media How Turkey, Morocco and Eid al-Adha Were Misrepresented by Indian Media Afroz Alam Sahil 7 minutes ago The decision to ban animal sacrifice in Morocco and the high number of injuries in Turkey were represented very differently on social and news media. Eid al-Adha prayers in Istanbul. Photo: Afroz Alam Sahil. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now 'A total of 14,372 people were injured across Türkiye during animal sacrifices carried out for Eid al-Adha. The highest number of injuries were reported in Ankara (1,049), followed by Istanbul (753) and Konya (655),' said a report. When I asked a Turkish journalist about the 'high number of injuries' during Eid al-Adha he said that many feel that they can perform the animal sacrifice – a job that requires skill – themselves. Locals tell me that most people who end up in hospitals during Eid al-Adha in Türkiye suffer only minor injuries – the kind that, in countries like India, are often treated at home or with a quick visit to a local pharmacy. However, in Türkiye, even for such small issues, people often go to the hospital – especially during public holidays, when family doctors are also on leave for five days. Interestingly, Türkiye has a well-structured primary healthcare system where every individual is assigned a family doctor. These doctors handle minor health concerns and routine care — a service also available to many foreign residents. The injury statistics were widely reported in the Turkish media, based on data released by health minister, Kemal Memişoğlu. The goal behind publicising these numbers was to urge people not to perform animal sacrifices on their own, but instead to rely on trained butchers to reduce the risk of accidents. Distorted coverage However, in India, the statistics were manipulated by some media outlets to stir communal tensions. Some Hindi-language news websites framed the story through a lens of prejudice, using it to further divisive narratives. One striking example comes from Zee News Hindi, which ran the headline: 'Preparations were underway for animal sacrifice on Bakrid, suddenly 14,000 people injured, chaos in hospitals.' The article continued with misleading claims, such as, 'In Türkiye, considered a close ally of Pakistan, animals for sacrifice were seen running wild on the streets during Bakrid, with people chasing them. More than 14,000 were injured in the stampede.' Ironically, the same article ended with a disclaimer stating, 'Dear readers, this news is intended for awareness. The videos included have been sourced from foreign X handles. Zee News does not verify the claims made in them. The intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiments.' Such framing not only distorts facts but also shifts the focus from public safety – Türkiye's actual concern – to communal sensationalism, which undermines journalistic integrity and responsible reporting. Morocco's decision Morocco's decision to suspend animal sacrifice (qurbani) during Eid al-Adha in 2025 due to livestock shortages and worsening climate conditions was also distorted in Indian media. The sensitivity of the timing is worth noting: this discussion in Indian media surfaced just as certain far-right groups were demanding a ban on animal sacrifice in India, as they do every year. Morocco was repeatedly cited as an example to justify their position. However, what was often left out of these narratives was the fact that Morocco's decision had been made back in February, well in advance of the festival. The country, facing a climate emergency – where over 92% of its land is now classified as dry or semi-arid – had taken the decision as part of broader efforts to address an agricultural and environmental crisis. Official Moroccan data indicates that the number of locally bred sheep and goats available in slaughterhouses this year has dropped to approximately 1.5 million — less than half the usual 3.5 million. This falls significantly short of the estimated six million animals typically needed to meet demand during Eid al-Adha across the country. By removing the environmental and economic context, and reframing the story as a religious or political statement, sections of the Indian media distorted the intent behind Morocco's decision, turning a climate-conscious move into a communal flashpoint. Some websites framed it as 'a strong message from Morocco to the global Muslim community, including India.' Some outlets portrayed Morocco as if it were representative of the entire Muslim world, ignoring the fact that Morocco's total population is just 37.7 million, roughly equal to the population of Delhi alone. On social media too, Morocco's decision was widely misrepresented, with many voices calling for a ban on animal sacrifice in India by citing Morocco as a model. One must remember how in 2020, an attempt was made to incite hatred in India during Eid al-Adha by circulating a video from Morocco on social media. Nepal Even Nepal was brought into the conversation to fuel communal tensions around animal sacrifice. For instance, ABP News published a report stating: 'There is a festival in Nepal called the Gadhimai festival, where animal sacrifice has been completely banned. In the past, hundreds of thousands of animals were sacrificed at the Gadhimai Temple, but in 2015, a ban was imposed to protect animals.' However, multiple independent reports contradict this simplified narrative. A BBC investigation in 2019 revealed that despite the official ban, animal sacrifices continued. Similarly, Time magazine reported in 2024 that approximately 250,000 animals were sacrificed during the 2019 edition of what it called 'the world's bloodiest festival.' According to the animal rights organisation Animal Equality, this tradition was still ongoing as of 2024. The Gadhimai festival is a Hindu religious festival held every five years at the Gadhimai Temple in Bariyarpur, about 160 kilometres south of Kathmandu, Nepal's capital. Preparedness and economic significance in Türkiye Despite the injuries, Türkiye prepared well. In Istanbul alone, the Turkish government deployed 62,200 healthcare workers across 53 public hospitals during Eid al-Adha this year. Specifically, 15,467 of them were assigned to emergency departments. Additionally, 6,234 healthcare personnel were on 24-hour duty within emergency services, including the 112 emergency call center and the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE). Eid al-Adha is also crucial for Türkiye's leather industry, which depends heavily on the skin collected during the festival. Burak Uyguner, vice-president of the Istanbul Leather Exporters Association, estimated in 2022 that these skins were worth 500 million Turkish Liras before processing, rising to 5 billion TL afterward (at the time, one TL was about Rs 9). He warned that burning or burying skins could cause severe environmental harm. Türkiye exported $2.57 billion worth of leather products in 2022, underscoring the festival's economic significance. Afroz Alam Sahil is a freelance journalist and author. He can be contacted at @afrozsahil on X. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News In Photos: Eid in Srinagar Developments in Syria a 'Conspiracy Between Israel, Turkey & US': Former Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad An MoU Cancelled Is an Opportunity Lost 'Attack on Religious Right of Kashmir's Muslims,' Says Mirwaiz as J&K Govt Bar Eid Prayers at Srinagar Eidgah Full Text | India-Turkey Relationship Before and After the Recent Conflict With Pakistan India Discusses Celebi's Security Clearance Revocation With Turkish Embassy Tharoor's Jibe at Kerala's 2023 Aid to Turkey Skips Mention of Modi Govt's Operation Dost FIR Against Amit Malviya, Arnab After Republic Implies Turkish Convention Hall Is Congress Office Listen: India's Reaction to Turkey is Understandable, But We Should Not Give Up on Diplomacy with it About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Turkey weighing citizens in public to fight obesity, critics slam the move as fat shaming
Turkey is tipping the scales in its war on obesity. The country has launched a nationwide campaign to measure citizens' weight in public spaces to combat its rising obesity rates — a move critics argue amounts to public fat shaming and government overreach. The initiative, called "Learn Your Ideal Weight, Live Healthy" campaign, will see around 10 million people assessed between May 10 and July 10. If they are deemed overweight, they will be directed to health centers to receive nutritional counseling and monitoring by dietitians, according to Turkish Minute. The controversial move aims to raise awareness about chronic weight dangers and to promote healthier lifestyles. Obesity Most Prevalent In These 3 Southern Cities Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu introduced the initiative earlier this month, stating that health personnel would take measurements in public areas across all 81 provinces, Turkish media reported. Read On The Fox News App Various images posted to social media by Turkey's health ministry show health officials taking people's height measurements before guiding them onto weighing scales at so-called check points in public spaces. Individuals have their body weight and height measured to calculate their body mass index (BMI), a simple calculation used to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height. If someone has a BMI of 25 or higher, they will be referred to the health centers. The initiative has drawn backlash, with critics slamming it as invasive, stigmatizing and essentially amounting to fat shaming in public. Other detractors argue that the government is not addressing broader contributing factors such as soaring food prices, stagnant wages and limited access to affordable nutrition. Fresh Food Consumption Could Help Solve Diet-related Illness: Experts Gökben Hızlı Sayar, a Turkish psychiatrist and academic, likened the stations to fat check points and said she was forced to get measured. "I got caught in a fat car showdown in Üsküdar Square, she wrote on X last week. "Luckily, they reprimanded me a little and let me go. When I saw the radar, I warned 3 fat people who were going that way to flash their headlights at each other. Today is the day of unity, my fat brothers." The health minister, however, said the goal is to inform the public and make them healthier. In an effort to lead by example, Memişoğlu himself was measured and revealed that he is over the limit, although it wasn't clear by how much. "Which dietitian should I go to?" he humorously said to reporters before later adding, "turns out I'm a little over. It's up to me now, I'll be walking every day," Turkish Minute reported. Memişoğlu also posted video of himself walking, writing, "it's time to get down to business, we'll walk every day." Turkey has a population of around 85 million people and around 32.1% are considered obese, according to the World Health Organization. Anyone over a BMI of 30 is considered obese. That rate is still lower than in the United States, where the most recent studies by the CDC show obesity among adults at 40.3%. Experts link the rate in Turkey to rising fast-food consumption, economic barriers to healthy food and urbanization reducing physical activity levels, according to Turkey article source: Turkey weighing citizens in public to fight obesity, critics slam the move as fat shaming
Fox News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Turkey weighing citizens in public to fight obesity, critics slam the move as fat shaming
Turkey is tipping the scales in its war on obesity. The country has launched a nationwide campaign to measure citizens' weight in public spaces to combat its rising obesity rates — a move critics argue amounts to public fat shaming and government overreach. The initiative, called "Learn Your Ideal Weight, Live Healthy" campaign, will see around 10 million people assessed between May 10 and July 10. If they are deemed overweight, they will be directed to health centers to receive nutritional counseling and monitoring by dietitians, according to Turkish Minute. The controversial move aims to raise awareness about chronic weight dangers and to promote healthier lifestyles. Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu introduced the initiative earlier this month, stating that health personnel would take measurements in public areas across all 81 provinces, Turkish media reported. Various images posted to social media by Turkey's health ministry show health officials taking people's height measurements before guiding them onto weighing scales at so-called check points in public spaces. Individuals have their body weight and height measured to calculate their body mass index (BMI), a simple calculation used to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height. If someone has a BMI of 25 or higher, they will be referred to the health centers. The initiative has drawn backlash, with critics slamming it as invasive, stigmatizing and essentially amounting to fat shaming in public. Other detractors argue that the government is not addressing broader contributing factors such as soaring food prices, stagnant wages and limited access to affordable nutrition. Gökben Hızlı Sayar, a Turkish psychiatrist and academic, likened the stations to fat check points and said she was forced to get measured. "I got caught in a fat car showdown in Üsküdar Square, she wrote on X last week. "Luckily, they reprimanded me a little and let me go. When I saw the radar, I warned 3 fat people who were going that way to flash their headlights at each other. Today is the day of unity, my fat brothers." The health minister, however, said the goal is to inform the public and make them healthier. In an effort to lead by example, Memişoğlu himself was measured and revealed that he is over the limit, although it wasn't clear by how much. "Which dietitian should I go to?" he humorously said to reporters before later adding, "turns out I'm a little over. It's up to me now, I'll be walking every day," Turkish Minute reported. Memişoğlu also posted video of himself walking, writing, "it's time to get down to business, we'll walk every day." Turkey has a population of around 85 million people and around 32.1% are considered obese, according to the World Health Organization. Anyone over a BMI of 30 is considered obese. That rate is still lower than in the United States, where the most recent studies by the CDC show obesity among adults at 40.3%. Experts link the rate in Turkey to rising fast-food consumption, economic barriers to healthy food and urbanization reducing physical activity levels, according to Turkey Today.
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Turkey's war on obesity or dignity? Public weigh-ins spark outrage and shame
Turkey has launched a controversial health initiative that sees citizens weighed and measured in public spaces as part of a sweeping campaign to tackle obesity. The programme, which aims to assess the body mass index (BMI) of 10 million people by July 10, has sparked a fierce national debate over privacy, government overreach, and the economic realities that underpin public health. While authorities insist the campaign is necessary to confront an obesity crisis, many Turks have voiced outrage over being stopped and assessed in town squares, parks, shopping centres—and even outside buses and football stadiums. Health officials have been stationed across all 81 provinces, equipped with scales and tape measures, conducting impromptu BMI checks on passersby's. The government is promoting the campaign under the slogan 'Know your weight, live healthy,' and views it as a crucial step in what it describes as a 'national fight' against obesity. Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, speaking at a recent nursing conference, emphasised the seriousness of the issue: '50 percent of our society is overweight,' he said. 'Being overweight means being sick, it means we will get sick in the future. Our young children are overweight, their body resistance is high and that's why they don't get sick, but when they start getting older, that weight will turn into joint and heart diseases.' In a symbolic move, Memişoğlu himself was weighed in Ankara last week and found to be 'above normal weight,' as classified by health officials. Photos circulating on social media show individuals being directed onto scales and having their height recorded before calculating their BMI. The campaign, which launched on May 10, aims to reach one in eight Turkish citizens. Those whose BMI exceeds 25 are referred to state-funded Family Health Centres and Healthy Life Centres, where they are eligible for free nutritional advice and monitoring.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Turkey is publicly weighing citizens, urging those overweight to slim down under new health crackdown
In a bid to combat rising obesity rates, Turkey has launched a nationwide health initiative that involves weighing citizens in public spaces and urging those found overweight to slim down, reported the Daily Mail. The campaign, which began on May 10, aims to evaluate the body mass index (BMI) of 10 million people, roughly one in eight citizens, by July 10. Health workers equipped with weighing scales and tape measures have been stationed across all 81 provinces, carrying out spontaneous BMI checks in town squares, malls, bus stations, and even outside football stadiums. At a recent nursing conference, Turkey's Minister of Health, Kemal Memişoğlu, highlighted the urgency of the issue, according to the outlet. 'Fifty percent of our society is overweight,' he stated. 'Being overweight means being sick; it means we will get sick in the future. Our young children are overweight; their body resistance is high and that's why they don't get sick, but when they start getting older, that weight will turn into joint and heart diseases.' Ironically, Memişoğlu himself was measured by health officials in Ankara and told he was 'above normal weight.' 'Which dietitian should I go to?' he reportedly asked. In a later post, he added, 'Turns out I'm a little over. It's up to me now, I'll be walking every day.' The campaign, run under the slogan 'know your weight, live healthy,' channels individuals with a BMI over 25 to state-run Family Health and Healthy Life Centres for free dietary counseling and follow-ups. However, not everyone is on board with the public nature of the initiative. Psychiatrist and academic Gökben Hızlı Sayar shared an encounter online, saying, 'I got caught in a fat checkpoint in Üsküdar Square. Luckily, they scolded me a little and let me go. Like drivers warning of speed traps, I tipped off three other chubby people heading that way. Solidarity, my fellow fat comrades!' Memişoğlu acknowledged the jokes but stressed the gravity of the situation: 'Dear young people, I read what you write on social media. You are very entertaining, but the issue of being overweight is serious.' Images from across the country show citizens stepping onto weighing scales in open areas as health staff measure height and calculate BMI. While some welcome the effort, others have criticised it as invasive and insensitive. Many Turks argue that the government is ignoring economic hardships—like rising food prices and stagnant wages—that limit access to healthy diets. Also read: 'General population is cooked': Eerily realistic videos of AI reporters created using Google Veo 3 raise red flags According to 2023 World Health Organisation data, about 30% of the Turkish population is obese. Dr. Arya Sharma, an obesity researcher at the University of Alberta, told Live Science that BMI is helpful for assessing population trends but has limitations for individuals. 'Many professional athletes qualify as overweight or obese based solely on their BMI. But they have much more muscle mass, which weighs proportionally more than fat.' A recent report from the Lancet Commission echoed these concerns, stating that obesity diagnoses should be based not just on BMI but also on health conditions directly caused by excess body weight, like type 2 diabetes. Under the BMI system, a score under 18.5 is considered underweight, 25–29.9 is overweight, and over 30 qualifies as obese. Also read: Las Vegas mom outraged after school gives daughter, classmates sex ed handout in 5th grade
