Jihadi Publications in Pakistan and Public Perception of Religious Minorities

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of jihadi publications of Pakistan in creating a negative perception of religious
minorities in the country. Drawing on framing and discourse analysis as theories of mass media effects this paper examines
how jihadi publications, through the use of language and particular frames, affect tolerance and trust of their readers
when they form opinion about religious minorities. The empirical data collected through a survey of 50 respondents in
Peshawar city of Pakistan demonstrates that people who read extremist or mainstream media have almost the same level of
tolerance and trust for religious minorities. However, there is a trend, though small, of extremist media readers showing
comparatively less tolerance towards minorities than those who read the mainstream media. Findings of this research
indicate that jihadi publications play a role in shaping public opinion about minorities.