BBC refuses on-air apology over Question Time 'Muslim slur'

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 19:48

THE BBC has rejected calls for an on-air apology over controversial remarks made by a Question Time panellist that Muslim leaders in the UK were encouraging the slaughter of British troops.

Following the broadcast in March and comments made by journalist Charles Moore, the corporation has reportedly offered to pay 30,000 to the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and carry an apology on the Question Time website.

In a statement released yesterday, the BBC said: "Question Time always had a lively and wide-ranging debate. On occasion, this results in unfairness to individuals who aren't there to put their view and this is one of those occasions."

But BBC chiefs have turned down a request to air an apology during the popular programme hosted by veteran presenter Sir David Dimbleby. A BBC insider said yesterday: "It's not the case that we have agreed to an on-air apology. That is not something that is being entertained."

Moore, a former editor of the Daily Telegraph, was speaking in the wake of Islamic protests that disrupted a UK soldiers' homecoming parade in March.

During the show in question, Moore said: "I've gone to (the MCB] many times, and said, 'Will you condemn the killing and kidnapping of British soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan?', and they won't. Because these wars are in Muslim countries, they will not do this. They do one thing that is perfectly understandable – they are opposed to the war. That is perfectly legitimate.

"But there is a bigger step they take … they say it is actually a good thing, even an Islamic thing, to kill or kidnap British soldiers."

Moore was speaking two days after a homecoming in Luton for the Royal Anglian Regiment was disrupted by an anti-war demonstration featuring vocal Muslim protesters. They waved placards with slogans including: "Anglian Soldiers: Butchers of Basra" and "Anglian Soldiers: cowards, killers, extremists".

The MCB formally presented a letter of complaint to the BBC after the March broadcast and threatened legal action, resulting in the corporation's offer of an apology.

MCB secretary general Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said: "These kinds of statements are very damaging and we received many complaints from our Muslim supporters who said they were extremely offended by the comments. In fact, when a British man called Ken Bigley was kidnapped in Iraq, we sent envoys there to plead for his release. This is accusing us of encouraging terrorism abroad."

The council wants an on-air apology on the Thursday night political programme. This month it attracted a record 3.8 million viewers for an edition dealing with MPs' expenses.

Question Time is recorded an hour before broadcast so that lawyers can check the content for possible defamatory remarks. It is believed that no legal objections were made to Moore's comments, which were seen as provocative but not legally actionable.

All the panellists condemned the actions of the protestors, but only Moore, now a political biographer, singled out the MCB – which on its website says its aim is to work for a more enlightened appreciation of Islam and Muslims in wider society – for criticism.