New York Times accused of framing Muslims as true victims of 9/11 in anniversary coverage

The New York Times is facing accusations of portraying Muslims as the primary victims of 9/11 terror attacks, a characterization the paper dismisses as disingenuous. Critics argue the coverage overlooks the broader impact and ignores potential support for terrorism in some Muslim circles, while the Times defends its reporting as a comprehensive look at societal shifts and challenges faced by Muslim Americans.

• The New York Times published a story titled “After 9/11, Islamophobia Shaped a Generation of Muslim New Yorkers,” which highlighted the “wave of hate” and “anti-Muslim prejudice” following the attacks.
• Critics, like NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham, argue the Times frames Muslims as the main victims and ignores the context of Islamist terrorism.
• The article detailed how Muslim New Yorkers organized their communities, leading to political empowerment and the election of the city’s first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
• The Times’ reporting also mentioned heavy-handed law enforcement tactics and suspicion faced by Muslim communities, and noted that public attitudes toward Islam have become more negative.
• The New York Times defended its coverage, calling criticism a “misleading statement” and a “disingenuous attempt to seek attention and stoke outrage.”