ARGUMENT ON AIR: Watford guest hits out at BBC’s Gaza coverage …
A row broke out this morning (Thursday, November 23) on BBC Three Counties Radio when a guest from Watford criticised the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. On the Andy Collins breakfast show, human rights lawyer Mohammed Sbahuddin Rafiuddin was brought on to speak about his campaign to have sound mental health enshrined in the Human Rights Act following his own struggles, a story we recently reported on in Watford News[1]. But after being asked the first question by Andy, Mohammed decided to use his platform for another cause.
He stated: "I just want to use this opportunity to say that I'm very disappointed in how the BBC has covered Gaza and Palestine. It's been abysmal, it's been atrocious, it's been completely one-sided. "It seems that the BBC is more interested in dehumanising the Palestinian people."
He went on to say he did not want to talk about himself as there were more important things happening at this point in history, and emphasised that he condemned the actions of terrorist organisation Hamas. Andy attempted to steer the conversation away from the conflict, saying: "I'm really going to have to cut in there. Listen mate, you've got your opinion.
It's way above my pay grade what you're discussing there. We're talking about your situation, that's what we've got you in for, my friend. What you've been through is important."
However, Mohammed continued to ask Andy to speak to his bosses at the broadcaster. The two continued to argue back and forth, until eventually, the host decided to mute Mohammed and ended the interview, with Andy expressing his disappointment at how the conversation went. In the ongoing conflict, it is estimated that around 1,320 Israelis have been killed in the conflict, while 14, 352 people inside the Gaza Strip have been killed.
The BBC's coverage has come under criticism from both sides of the conflict, having received more than 1,500 complaints.
Share this article:
Sign up to get weekly local news updates & offers:
References
- ^ a story we recently reported on in Watford News (www.mynewsmag.co.uk)