Muslim Code-Writers

A fourth night of rioting by Muslims in Paris occurred last night ... but again, you need to read between the lines to understand what's going on. Here's an analysis of Reuter's use of code in its coverage, eschewing deliberate definitions:

The lead paragraph mentions a mosque, a very bold code word, but it just calls the event "a fourth night of rioting," not "a fourth night of rioting by Muslims."

The third paragraph uses the popular "immigrant" code word, which lets reporters feel much better about themselves than using something as inflammatory as "angry Islamic youth:"

Youths hurled rocks and set fire to cars in the northeastern Clichy-sous-Bois suburb of the French capital, where many immigrants and poor families live in high-rise housing estates notorious for youth violence.

The article also uses the "meetings with Muslims" code in two separate references. We're not sure why politicos and police are meeting with Muslims, since the article never says Muslims are rioting, so unless you understand the code, you're in the dark.

"Of African origin" is nice code for Muslims from northern Africa; it does not mean Christians from Congo or or Copts from Egypt. Here's Reuter's use of this code:

The violence began four days ago among residents of Clichy-sous-Bois over the deaths of two teenagers believed to be of African origin who were electrocuted while fleeing police.

Then there's the "don't mention anything but let them conclude what they will" code:

In June, an 11-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet in the northern area of La Courneuve. The eastern suburb of Vitry-sur-Seine made headlines in 2002 when a 17-year-old girl was set alight by an 18-year-old boy.

Shall we guess the ethnicity and religion of those involved?

See also:
Who's Rioting In Paris? Who Knows?