Posted on 08/22/2005 2:34:30 PM PDT by Pikamax
BBC rejects complaints from Muslims
The BBC has defended a Panorama Special on the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Britain's most powerful Islamic body, after receiving 250 complaints about the TV programme.
Sunday night's Panorama accused the MCB of being "in denial" about sectarianism within the religion's communities.
It suggested that the MCB should provide a stronger lead and that groups affiliated to it were peddling hard-line views.
The MCB is writing to the corporation calling for a public apology about Sunday's programme, which they have branded a "witch hunt" against Muslims in the UK.
It is sending a letter to BBC director general Mark Thompson, the programme's editor Mike Robinson, director of BBC News Helen Boaden, and reporter John Ware.
The MCB spokesman said: "John Ware had a preconceived goal, which was trying to portray the MCB as being in denial, and so the programme didn't present the true facts to the viewers."
The MCB is an umbrella organisation with more than 400 affiliated groups.
Its Secretary General Sir Iqbal Sacranie, who was knighted this year, is viewed as the voice of moderate Islam by the Government.
In Sunday's programme, Mehboob Kantharia, former member of the MCB's Central Working Committee, accused the MCB of being unable to tackle the problem of extremism because it was in denial.
A BBC spokeswoman defended the programme, which featured an interview with Sir Iqbal.
I'm beginning to get a healthy dose of respect for our cousins across the pond.
We need to be kicking some mooslims out of our country just like the brits are now doing.
Sounds like more denial to me.
Apparently the BBC has more integrity and bigger 'nads than the girly-men at ABC....
Or the girly-men at WMAL.
No way. Since when would a muslim WANT to be knight? Wouldn't that conflict with their view of the Crusades? How could you celebrate/participate in both?
Or all the girly-men on both sides of the aisle in Washington.
Make a note of the date!
As far as I know, this is the first time in the last 60 years that any "public broadcaster" anywhere has rejected an obvious abuse of Western civil rights.
I am pinching myself.
Cut their benefits..then hear em roar.
Oh don't be insulting, girly-men have bigger 'nads than ABC...
I'm afraid I'll just have to take your word for that!
Dadgum. This from the BBC. I think those tube bombers got some folks attention in Britian.
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