BBC offers apology to Muslim Council of Britain over guest's remarks

**Uthman** · 06-01-2009

The BBC has offered £30,000 and an apology to the Muslim Council of Britain after airing accusations that it encouraged the killing of British troops.

The corporation offered the settlement after a Question Time panellist accused the council of failing to condemn attacks on British soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Charles Moore, a former editor of The Daily Telegraph, made the comments on the programme in March during a debate about Islamic protests at a soldiers’ homecoming parade in Luton. He claimed that the council thought it was a “good thing, even an Islamic thing” to kill troops.

The council, an umbrella organisation representing about 500 Islamic bodies in Britain, said that his claims were a “total lie” and threatened the BBC with legal action.

It pointed to a 2007 interview with its secretary-general, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, published in a national newspaper, in which he categorically condemned attacks on British soldiers.

Last night Dr 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’s lawyers are now considering the BBC’s offer.

It is believed that Mr Moore was not consulted over the BBC’s decision to settle.

A BBC spokesman said: "Question Time is a programme that includes input from a wide range of contributors. On occasion this means that those who are not present don’t get a chance to put their case. This was one of those occasions.”

Question Time is filmed one hour before it is broadcast for legal advisers to check its content. No concerns were expressed at the time over Mr Moore’s remarks, which were seen as provocative but not defamatory.

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**Sampharo** · 06-01-2009

I would not like it honestly if they accept the money.

I would take an arrangement for air time to promote the healthy true muslim organizations beliefs and maybe show their true side to get people a little off their backs. Worth a million pounds I would say.

**Uthman** · 07-16-2009

BBC pays damages to Muslim leader

The BBC has agreed to pay £45,000 in damages to the head of the Muslim Council of Britain over a libellous claim in the Question Time programme.

The claim was made by a panellist on the programme, who accused Muhammad Abdul Bari of implicitly condoning the kidnap and killing of British soldiers.

Mr Bari argued this was untrue, citing his public condemnation of the killing of British troops in Iraq in 2007.

The BBC accepted the argument and apologised unreservedly.

The libellous claim - made on the 12 March 2009 edition of Question Time - came in response to a question from an audience member concerning controversial protests in March by a group of Muslim men against a regiment of British troops on parade in Luton on their return from duty in Iraq.

The audience member asked: "Should these protests we saw last week when the Royal Anglia Regiment came to Luton be banned?"

In response to the question, one of the Question Time panellists suggested that despite having been asked many times to condemn the kidnapping and killing of British soldiers, Mr Bari had failed to do so and thereby implicitly condoned such acts.

The panellist also suggested that Mr Bari believed the kidnapping and killing of British soldiers was a good and Islamic thing.

Mr Bari was not mentioned by name, but was implied in the panellist's reference to the "leadership" of the Muslim Council of Britain.

The BBC is paying £45,000 in damages to Mr Bari - which he will donate to charity - as well as his legal costs.

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**GuestFellow** · 07-16-2009

Personally I would not like it if the Muslim council accepts the money. I think an apology is enough. I would avoid using the courts and just have a simple mediation or conciliation as a form of alternative dispute resolution. It would help to keep a healthy relationship with the BBC and the Muslim council.

**Zafran** · 07-16-2009

Charles Moore the Neo Con in the UK.

**nocturnal** · 07-16-2009

It does conform to the Telegraph's right wing agenda. Perhaps he was hoping that in the middle of a poignant and sensitive time in the country when British troops are engaged in combat in Afghanistan, the moment was favourable to incite people further against the supposedly insidious threat of Muslims under the guidance of the MCB.