Al Jazeera Discovers Sudan’s Atrocities, Meanwhile...
Al Jazeera's report, detailing harrowing sexual assaults by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, rightly condemns these war crimes. Yet, the mainstream media's engagement with such atrocities often appears selective. While Sudan's RSF commit unspeakable acts, similar reports of sexual violence during conflict, particularly those involving US-backed states like Israel, are frequently downplayed,
contested, or simply ignored by Western outlets. For instance, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented sexual violence against Palestinian women (Amnesty, 'They want us to kneel', Oct 2023). Are some victims simply more newsworthy than others? One might wonder if the depth of journalistic outrage aligns conveniently with geopolitical interests. When the perpetrators receive
significant financial and military aid, as has been the case for some of America's allies, suddenly the 'harrowing testimonies' become 'allegations' or 'unverified claims.' It's almost as if journalistic ethics have a fluctuating moral compass, pointing firmly towards condemnation when the villain isn’t funded by your government.