Twitter Mocks Anti-Muslim Comments with #FoxNewsFacts after ‘Expert’ Says Birmingham, England is ‘Totally Muslim’ · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Source: Pundamentalism on Twitter.
There is nothing the Brits do better than dry humor and Fox News, America's most watched cable television news channel, provides ample opportunity for England to enjoy its national pastime.
In January, the Twitter hashtag #FoxNewsFacts swung into action following a broadcast with terrorism expert Steve Emerson, where he remarked:
“In Britain, there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don't go in. And parts of London, there are actually Muslim religious police that actually beat and actually wound, seriously, anyone who doesn't dress according to religious Muslim attire.”
Host Jeanine Pirro opines, “What's happening is [that] this is metastasizing into a simple takeover,” calling Muslim communities “a caliphate within a particular country.”
Highly credentialed, Emerson is an award-winning investigative journalist, author of the acclaimed film “Jihad in America,” and founding director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism. Pirro is the Emmy-winning television host of “Justice with Judge Jeanine,” a judge, and legal analyst.
Responding to the segment, British Prime Minister David Cameron reported:
“When I heard this, frankly, I choked on my porridge and I thought it must be April Fool’s Day. This guy’s clearly a complete idiot.”
Not to be outdone by their fearless leader, Twitter users quickly got into the game, trending #FoxNewsFacts globally. Social search engine Topsy reports that the tag has been tweeted more than 400,000 times this week.
Dear @FoxNews Your ineptitude is now being mocked worldwide. Now THAT's news. You could report it as one your #foxnewsfacts. #JeSuisBrummie
— Barry Butler (@barryjbutler) January 12, 2015
User Grill Griliopoulos posted a screenshot of Emerson's Wikipedia page, showing that its open source content had been tampered with for the sake of ridicule. Wikipedia's revision history reveals that content was removed due to usage violations as it was considered “partisan,” scolding, “stop using the encyclopedia to vent your anger. DISPASSIONATE TONE.”
Enjoying the amazing #FoxNewsFacts that have appeared on Steven Emerson's Wikipedia page… pic.twitter.com/mWdU133snS
— Grill Griliopoulos (@GriddleOctopus) January 11, 2015
Other users got into the act, professing their ignorance and purported job skills.
If @FoxNews are on the lookout for international experts, I know remarkably little about Belarus. #foxnewsfacts
— Josie Fraser (@josiefraser) January 11, 2015
And the comical:
Birmingham is entirely populated by muslims. Unlike nearby Wolverhampton, which is entirely populated by wolves. #foxnewsfacts
— Ian Rennie (@theangelremiel) January 11, 2015
The city is now called Birming because Ham is not halal. #foxnewsfacts — Kamila Shamsie (@kamilashamsie) January 11, 2015
Rabeb Othmani, who identifies herself as a Muslim Tunisian Brit, leverages #IllRideWithYou (I'll Ride With You), a hashtag that trended worldwide on December 15, 2014, in the wake of the Sydney, Australia café attack.
If you are a non-muslim and would like to visit Birmingham #illridewithyou #FoxNewsFacts
— Rabeb Othmani (@Rabeb_Othmani) January 11, 2015
Following the incident, Muslims reported feeling unsafe in public spaces, fearing backlash due to the high scale visibility of the Islamic flag that was hung in the storefront window during the 16-hour siege. The I’ll Ride With You Movement started when non-Muslim Australians began posting their locations and destinations on social media, offering to accompany and protect anyone who felt unsafe. The movement garnered huge popular support, marking 150,000 tweets in its first 12 hours, and offered a clear statement against racism and Islamophobia.
Othmani's tweet has been shared over 5,000 times.
On the trend of commentary about Muslim traditional dress, the hijab played a starring role, challenged only by the burka.
Oh man the hashtag.. “@axlreznor: Queen of England forced to convert to Islam. Seen here in her hijab. #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/M4WIW3mfZs”
— YasminWaQahwa/Dima S (@YasminWaQahwa) January 12, 2015
British citizens respond to new sharia laws ordering #hijab on tableware, with flair and imagination. #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/aWdc6tnvEF
— Ahmad Fraz (@Ahmad_Fraz9) January 12, 2015
#Islam‘s spread into outer space started many years ago, as can be seen by this inter galactic #burka. #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/4LQJ7EOWGc — Ahmad Fraz (@Ahmad_Fraz9) January 12, 2015
Not to be outdone, classical and pop culture asserted their rightful role, invoking both Shakespeare and the 1980s British Invasion rock band Duran Duran.
Residents of Stratford-upon-Avon are forced to speak in iambic pentameter. Those who fail to do so are fed to angry swans #foxnewsfacts
— Jen Evans (@JenElizaEvans) January 11, 2015
The top selling Birmingham music act of all time is 80s halal pop supergroup Qur'an Qur'an #foxnewsfacts
— Chris Kehoe (@MrKehoe79) January 12, 2015
A bit of espionage was added into the mix.
Secret map of Pentagon(USA) through underground passes tattooed on Muslim girl's hand. #FoxNewsFacts pic.twitter.com/dpsYhhpOvt
— Sir. Mad (@Sermadd) January 12, 2015
Spaghetti junction in Birmingham is modelled on the logo of jihadi propaganda channel, “Al Jazeera”. #FoxNewsFacts pic.twitter.com/JvNnWBi9dI
— kristyan benedict (@KreaseChan) January 12, 2015
A British man named “Lawrence”, seen in Arabia is suspected to be the latest homegrown, ISIS recruit #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/I3HUmB2knV
— Darcy Byrne (@MayorDarcy) January 12, 2015
And we would never deign to discuss Britain without a mention of its sunny (or is it Sunni?) climes.
#Muslims are controlling the weather in Britain. In some places it's Sunni, but mainly Shi'ite. #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/fXzpIPXofa
— Ahmad Fraz (@Ahmad_Fraz9) January 12, 2015
Lastly, the BBC has been leveraging the #FoxNewsFacts tag throughout, positioning itself as a credible source in the commentary. Here they note that the Muslim population of Birmingham, one of Britain's largest cities, is less than a quarter of its population, featuring a piece that promotes the “real people of the city.”
As #FoxNewsFacts reaches over 250,000 tweets, here's some #BBCNewsFacts about Birmingham pic.twitter.com/Bbt0uLLmUc
— BBC Trending (@BBCtrending) January 12, 2015
As #FoxNewsFacts protests Birmingham's “Muslim-only” label, meet the real people of the city http://t.co/IPUigJKO2A pic.twitter.com/jI2ykccB8H
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) January 12, 2015
After that, dear friends, we leave you to your own devices. Quips of your own are welcome in the comments.
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