BBC: Unbalanced & Inaccurate

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Maryam Namazie
by Maryam Namazie
08-Sep-2010
 

BBC Sunday Live invited me to join its debate on whether ‘it is right to condemn Iran for stoning’ on 5 September 2010 via webcam. During the debate, the programme allowed only two interventions via webcam (that of Suhaib Hassan of the Islamic Sharia Council and Mohammad Morandi of Tehran University – both of whom were in support of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s stoning and/or execution). I (who had presumably been invited to defend Ms Ashtiani and oppose stoning in the debate) was never given the opportunity to speak.
 
To the BBC’s Sunday Live Programme
 
I am writing to ask that you rectify gross inaccuracies regarding Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case and that of stoning in Iran in your upcoming programme.
 
Presenter Susanna Reid repeatedly provided misinformation on Sakineh’s case and on the practice of stoning in Iran during the 5 September debate on whether it was ‘right to condemn Iran for stoning.’
 
The first major inaccuracies were regarding the practice of stoning in Iran.
 
In the clip preceding the debate, Susanna Reid said that ‘the Iranian government says it is stopping stoning as a punishment for adultery and homosexuality.’ During the debate, she said: ‘Officially the Iranian government does not condone stoning. There has been an official moratorium since 2002. Officially it has been dropped from the penal code.’ Obviously these two statements contradict one another – either the Iranian government has stopped stoning or it is stopping it, but has not yet done so.
 
In fact, stoning is still part of the penal code. Moreover, despite a 2002 moratorium (which is not the same as officially dropping stoning from its penal code), 19 people have been stoned since and including 2002.
 
And far from being rare, as Ms Reid stressed on a number of occasions, there have been 150 known cases of death by stoning since 1980 with more than 20 people awaiting death by stoning in Iran right now, including Azar Bagheri who was 15 when she was arrested. The list of those stoned or awaiting death by stoning compiled by the International Committee against Executions can be found here.
 
Furthermore, contrary to the comments provided by the Islamic Sharia Council, stoning sentences are issued not only when there are four witnesses but also as a result of confession, thus explaining why Ms Ashtiani was forced to ‘confess’ on TV, clearly under duress.
 
The other important inaccuracy was that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has been sentenced to execution for the murder of her husband. This was mentioned a number of times in the programme without providing information to the contrary.
 
In fact, Ms Ashtiani has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery and not for murdering her husband. At a 30 July press conference in London, Mina Ahadi of the International Committee against Execution and International Committee against Stoning and I provided evidence of the stoning verdict. You can see a copy of the actual court judgment of stoning for adultery here.
 
Sakineh has never been found guilty of murdering her husband in an Iranian court. Even the man who was found guilty of her husband’s murder has not been executed. In Iran, under Diyeh laws, the family of the victim can ask for the death penalty to be revoked. Sakineh’s 22 year old son, Sajjad, explains why he and his 17 year old sister spared the man’s life in an interview with French writer and philosopher, Bernard-Henri Levy.
 
The reason the Islamic regime of Iran is branding her a murderer and denying sentences of death by stoning for adultery is because of the international campaign in her defence and against the medieval and brutal punishment of stoning. It hopes to provide legitimacy for her execution now that it may not be able to stone her because of the public outcry. Unfortunately your programme has done the same.
 
Given that a woman’s life is at stake, it becomes all the more urgent for your programme to rectify its inaccuracies.
 
I look forward to your immediate response and action.
 
Notes:
 
1. The programme can be seen here until next Sunday and begins at 47.00 minutes.
 
2. Every day from today until next Sunday’s programme, I will write a post on my blog addressing other issues raised in the debate, which never received a response.
 
3. For more information:
Maryam Namazie
BM Box 6754
London WC1N 3XX, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 7719166731
maryamnamazie@gmail.com
www.maryamnamazie.com
maryamnamazie.blogspot.com

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more from Maryam Namazie
 
yolanda

......

by yolanda on Sat Sep 11, 2010 07:27 PM PDT

Thank you for your blog with all the links.....I really like this link:

//stopstonningnow.com/wpress/3618

So apparently, Sajjad (son of Ashtiani) and his sister have forgiven the real killer of their dad 'cause they don't want the killer's 3 year old daughter without a dad. It is super gracious! It looks like this lady won't be stoned, but IRI is trying to find other excuse to keep her in jail! If one day, stoning is abolished in Iran (without annoucement), Sajjad is definitely one of the trailblazers....he has been working so hard to save his mom and bring the world attention to the barbaric stoning practice in Iran. I hope Sajjad's tireless effort can be rewarded by his mom's release! If it happens, I will share his joy with the rest of the world!


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Anonymouse

BBC is expecting people to read their mind!

by Anonymouse on Fri Sep 10, 2010 05:59 AM PDT

Everything is sacred


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hamsade ghadimi

thanks for the link

by hamsade ghadimi on Fri Sep 10, 2010 05:44 AM PDT

thanks for the link vildemose.  while bbc tried to defend the unbalanced aspect of their program, they did not bother talk about its accuracy.  and our good woman, ms. namazie, rightfully responded.  thanks all around to ms. namazie for her noble efforts.


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Reality-Bites

vildemose

by Reality-Bites on Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:59 PM PDT

Thank you so much for posting that link.

As usual, BBC appears defensive and unable to admit shortcomings in its discussion programmes. Richard Pattinson (BBC executive producer) totally missed Ms Namazie's points about the contradictory statements and misinformation given by the show's presenter, Susanna Reid.

Regardless Ms. Namazie, credit to you for taking the Corporation to task over this matter.


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vildemose

BBC's response to Maryam Namazie

by vildemose on Thu Sep 09, 2010 08:33 PM PDT

BBC Sunday Morning Live: A woman's life is at stake A BBC Sunday Morning Live Executive Producer has responded to my complaint. Below you will see his email and my reply.

 

//maryamnamazie.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-insist-on-facts.html


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Rea

Thx for clarifying the issue

by Rea on Thu Sep 09, 2010 05:41 AM PDT

More power to women !


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Reality-Bites

Ms Namazie

by Reality-Bites on Thu Sep 09, 2010 01:06 AM PDT

Thank you for pursuing this issue and bringing it to public attention. Have you had any response from the BBC over your points yet?


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hamsade ghadimi

ms. namazie, thanks for

by hamsade ghadimi on Wed Sep 08, 2010 01:25 PM PDT

ms. namazie, thanks for your thoughtful article.  it's unfortunate to hear of your experience with bbc and the way they botched the debate on such vital issue. (i can't believe in this day and age, there should be a debate on stoning) the false and contradictory information that was disseminated is simply inexecusable.  do you think that it was the incompetence of bbc's producers and moderator to not let an opposing view to stoning speak?  or in your opinion, the reason was more nefarious?


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Bavafa

Dear Maryam Namzie,

by Bavafa on Wed Sep 08, 2010 01:05 PM PDT

Thank you thank you thank you for your efforts to bring this barbaric ritual to the worlds attention and try to save a person's life.

BBC has seldom been balanced and accurate so I am not surprised by any means in this case.

Shame on IRI to allow and practice such barbaric act regardless of the crime and in many cases the perceived crime.  Nothing justifies this barbaric act.

Mehrdad


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Fred

Marandi Jr.

by Fred on Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:44 PM PDT

There is a typo in the name of the guy from Tehran University. His name is Mohammad Marandi and not Morandi.  

His daddy is the former minister of Health and congress member in the Islamist Rapist Republic and a close buddy of the Head Rapist Khamenei.

Whenever the lovely Leverett couple of “race for Iran” go to Iran, marandi Jr. Is their host and tour guide.  


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Onlyiran

Stoning is barbarism...oh, wait, we're talking about the IRI...

by Onlyiran on Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:25 PM PDT

so it makes sense.  


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Multiple Personality Disorder

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!

by Multiple Personality Disorder on Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:11 PM PDT

For a moment I thought I might have been wrong about stoning still being in the Islamic Penal Code, Article 71, 74, 83, 84, 89, 91, 93, 98, 99, 102, 103, 104, and 107 of the Islamic Republic of Iran's constitution, but you made it absolutely clear.  Stoning is in the IRI constitution.

Stoning is a barbaric act that must be abolished, NOW.  Stoning is a human rights issue and all caring people in this world must object to it.

Thank you for this great blog.  It is very concise and to the point.


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Simorgh5555

The question posed by the BBC is offensive.

by Simorgh5555 on Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:08 AM PDT

If stoning is written in the penal code as Maryam Namazie is stating then of course it should be condemned unreservedly. You cannot trivialise this matter or try to find exceptions. If s state's legal code permitted child pornography or something equally abhorrent then you would not even hesitate to condemn it.


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Roozbeh_Gilani

Dear Maryam, Thank you for your excellent post.

by Roozbeh_Gilani on Wed Sep 08, 2010 01:04 PM PDT

Given it's high audience and regard in Iran, it is particularly important for the BBC to maintain neutrality and avoid taking sides with the Iranain regime (as is the case here). It is known that despite it's neutrality, The BBC can be "directed" by the British Foreign Office when Britains National Interest is at stake, (WWII).

 I do however share this opinion with billions of people world over that no amount of cheap oil is worth the life of a defenceless woman looking at a painful death in the hands of a bunch of Islamist maniacs. 

In short, BBC's reputation is at stake here.....


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Anonymouse

Sargord's claim of "viewers judging" = one side being gagged!

by Anonymouse on Wed Sep 08, 2010 08:30 AM PDT

Everything is sacred


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vildemose

Fantastic job of

by vildemose on Wed Sep 08, 2010 08:28 AM PDT

Fantastic job of deconstructing BBC.

Ignore the troll virus...;)


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Sargord Pirouz

Your claim of "unbalanced"

by Sargord Pirouz on Wed Sep 08, 2010 07:49 AM PDT

Your claim of "unbalanced" is unsubstantiated in this post. Your real contention is accuracy, to which the balanced forum has provided a range of perceptions. 

You've provided your own claims. It would be unbalanced to not provide counter-claims.

Let the viewers decide for themselves. 


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