"How do I make amends?" Were the words that rang in the mind of Idris Muktar- a former CNN producer who lost his dream job over two tweets that he posted decades ago.
Muktar trended in November 2022, after tweets that he sent showing his support for Hamas, a terrorist organisation and using hashtags such as #TeamHitler during the World Cup final match between Germany and Argentina in 2014.
Muktar has since made a public apology over comments that he stated as 'harmful messages written in the immaturity of his youth.'
The heat resulting from the tweets ultimately led to his dismissal from CNN.
In an opinion piece on Foward(dot)com, an American news media organization for a Jewish American audience, he detailed how his career crushed after the incident and his bid to set the record straight. He believes that the online articles and online speeches did not account for the context of the situation.
Muktar's career had reached a penultimate pinnacle; from the slums in Korogocho, Nairobi to Deutsche Welle (DW) and ultimately to CNN. But since then, he has been trying to clear his name in a bid to rise back to his profession.
He revealed that in the past two months, he sought forgiveness through public statements on social media over the remarks. In addition, the journalist had to reach out to the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, USA in an attempt to apologize and clear his name.
"I am committed to learning more about forgiveness in both the Jewish and Muslim faiths, and I want to fully perform teshuvah by confessing to my tweets, expressing my deep regret, and making sure I am never misguided again," he stated.
Born and raised in Korogocho slums, Muktar noted that he grew up as a devoted Muslim. He noted that through his father's demise in the hands of criminals, he sought to become a journalist.
He relentlessly applied for internships with Kenyan news stations and worked his way up from an intern to a producer. He then received an opportunity to freelance for CNN at the age of 25.
