Mike Jempson
mike@presswise.org.uk
Wed, 28 Aug 2002 13:33:26 +0100
No doubt the BEP's response will be to defend freedom of speech by pointing out that the BB column is a deliberately controversial 'comment' column, designed to stir people up. This is likely to be the PCC's response too, but that is not a reason for not complaining to the PCC that such derogatory and offensive copy serves to harm community relations. PressWise is able to provide advice to anyone wishing to complain, and would certainly like to monitor responses. Mike Jempson Director, The PressWise Trust 38 EBC, Felix Road, Bristol BS5 0HE, UK tel: +44 (0)117 941 5889 / 93 99 333 fax: +44 (0)117 941 5848 mobile: 07967 031 532 VISIT OUR WEBSITES www.presswise.org.uk <http://www.presswise.org.uk> www.ramproject.org.uk <http://www.ramproject.org.uk> email mike@presswise.org.uk <mailto:mike@presswise.org.uk> -----Original Message----- From: nuj_bristol-admin@lists.southspace.net [mailto:nuj_bristol-admin@lists.southspace.net]On Behalf Of Tony Gosling Sent: 27 August 2002 17:49 To: nuj_bristol@lists.southspace.net Subject: [NUJ Bristol] Bristol Muslims' response to Mike Lowe's column Hi All, This is the first email sent as part of our new automated list - to post to all Bristol NUJ members on the list send an email to nuj_bristol@lists.southspace.net You have to register a password at http://lists.southspace.net/listinfo/nuj_bristol if you want to view the archives in future thanks Tony Gosling Bristol NUJ branch sec. 0117 944 6219 PRESS RELEASE : BRISTOL MUSLIM CULTURAL SOCIETY This press release has been forwarded to you by Bristol-Stop-The-War. For comment from Bristol-Stop-The-War contact : James Venables : James@Venables.plus.com : 0117 9514 744 The 'Devil's Advocate' column in the Bristol Evening Post of 14th August has provoked a strong response due to it's racist content. An extract from the offending column can be seen below: "(S)ome Muslims have pretty fixed ideas about religious warfare. They honestly believe that if they die in battle there will be 16 virgins waiting for them in Paradise...That may just give them the edge when it comes to diving on grenades...On the other hand, they believe it is a mortal sin to have anything to do with pigs, ie: no bacon butties must enter their bodies. So why not equip Our Boys with pork bullets? The towelheads will then spend their time dodging flying lumps of crackling & black pudding bombs while we roll down the road to Baghdad unimpeded." Barry Beezlebub. 14th Aug 2002 ************************************************* THIS IS THE RESPONSE FROM THE BRISTOL MUSLIM CULTURAL SOCIETY. This response was originally addressed to the Bristol Evening Post & The Bristol Racial Equality Council. Date: 20th August 2002 Re: EP Article: Devils Advocate 14th August 2002 Dear Sirs, I am writing to advise you that our office has received a number of complaints regarding the Devils Advocate Column in your paper dated 14th August 2002. Whilst I missed the original article, a copy has been forwarded to this office by one of our members. The content of the article is appalling, and serves to further propagate the usual racist and stereotypical misconceptions regarding both the worldwide Islamic faith and the national Arab identity. The fact that Iraq is secular country, including people of all faiths, including Vice President Tariq Aziz, (a Christian) seems to have eluded Barry Beelzebub. He deliberately ignores the fact that the issue with Iraq is nothing to do with Islam, (remembering it was Iraq's invasion of a Muslim country, Kuwait that led Iraq to be a pariah state) however, this does not prevent him form spewing his obvious ill-informed animosity towards people of the Islamic faith. His reference to "16 virgins" waiting in heaven for the dead Iraqis singularly indicates his comments as a baseless stereotype, groomed on a deliberate distortion of the Quranic texts. His further "advice" to use pork bullets against Iraqis is astounding and numbs every basic human instinct, inciting violence against those very people who have been suffering for decades both at the hands of Saddam Hussein and the merciless UN sanctions. His suggestion that perhaps Iraqis would somehow find "pork bullets" more deadly than other bullets is phenomenal in its malice. And if such comments were not appalling in their own right, his reference to the Iraqis as "towel heads" is racism pure and simple. Whilst I recognise and vehemently support the need for opposing viewpoints to be articulated in both the local and national press, especially in the current conformist climate, Barry Beelzebub's ignorant and bigoted comments are not an opposition to any view, rather they seek to merely reinforce the swell of misinformed views already prevalent in today's media, and therefore contradictory to the whole purpose of the Devils Advocate column. The comments are further unfortunate especially in view of the tremendous efforts of the Evening Post reporting staff to reduce racial/cultural tensions in our City, both in the wake of September 11th and in the papers support for Bristol's bid to become the "European Capital of Culture". Mr Beelzebub's comments are deeply offensive to at least 20,000 Muslims of all nations who live in our city, and I am sure equally offensive to all decent people of all faiths. The gravity of the offence caused can only be adequately articulated by asking one simple question: "How much longer will the people of Bristol have to endure the personal prejudices of Barry Beelzebub, being habitually masqueraded within the pages of a trusted local family newspaper?" Yours sincerely, Mr. Farooq A. Siddique Public Relations (BMCS) For comment from Bristol-Stop-The-War Contact : James Venables : James@venables.plus.com : 0117 9514 744 -- James Venables --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.384 / Virus Database: 216 - Release Date: 21/08/02 --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). 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