Umamah Bakharia | ub@radioislam.co.za

3min read
19 October 2022 | 10:00 am CAT

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly condemned Russia’s attempt to annex four regions of Ukraine.

In total, 143 countries backed the resolution reaffirming Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity. However, 35 countries, including South Africa, abstained from voting, while Russia and four other countries, such as Syria, voted against it.

Photo credit: NPR Illinois

Speaking to Radio Islam International on this week’s ‘Media Lens’, analyst Ebrahim Deen says there are double standards in how conflict is condemned in the West.

“So we see this attempt [by South Africa] to justify the vote even though in terms of international relations – the annexation wasn’t even supported by countries like China fro example,” says Deen.

However, Deen says there is no context on why countries have either supported or abstained from the vote.

“Global media is more Ukraine/Western-centric while South African media, aside from your Daily Maverik and maybe News24, is very pro-Russian,” he says.

According to Deen, the lack of context behind the decision to vote or abstain has caused the media to create polarization on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Listen to this weeks ‘Media Lens Report’ here: