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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ofcom rejects complaints about Channel 4 presenter wearing hijab when reporting on Nice attack | Ofcom rejects complaints about Channel 4 presenter wearing hijab when reporting on Nice attack |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Ofcom has rejected complaints from the public that Channel 4 News used a Muslim presenter to cover the Nice lorry attack in which radical Islamist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel killed 84 people. | Ofcom has rejected complaints from the public that Channel 4 News used a Muslim presenter to cover the Nice lorry attack in which radical Islamist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel killed 84 people. |
| The media regulator received 17 complaints about Fatima Manji presenting news of the massacre. | The media regulator received 17 complaints about Fatima Manji presenting news of the massacre. |
| But it has also emerged that the former editor of The Sun, Kelvin MacKenzie, who used his regular column in the paper to urge people to complain, did not lodge a complaint to Ofcom himself. | But it has also emerged that the former editor of The Sun, Kelvin MacKenzie, who used his regular column in the paper to urge people to complain, did not lodge a complaint to Ofcom himself. |
| In July, Mr MacKenzie argued the television channel would not have used an “Orthodox Jew to cover the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, and should not have used Ms Manji, to cover the Nice attack. | In July, Mr MacKenzie argued the television channel would not have used an “Orthodox Jew to cover the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, and should not have used Ms Manji, to cover the Nice attack. |
| He wrote: “Was it appropriate for her to be on camera when there had been yet another shocking slaughter by a Muslim? | He wrote: “Was it appropriate for her to be on camera when there had been yet another shocking slaughter by a Muslim? |
| “Was it done to stick one in the eye of the ordinary viewer who looks at the hijab as a sign of the slavery of Muslim women by a male-dominated and clearly violent religion?” | “Was it done to stick one in the eye of the ordinary viewer who looks at the hijab as a sign of the slavery of Muslim women by a male-dominated and clearly violent religion?” |
| Mr Mackenzie’s column prompted more than 1,400 complaints to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), and The Sun deleted a tweet promoting the column. | Mr Mackenzie’s column prompted more than 1,400 complaints to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), and The Sun deleted a tweet promoting the column. |
| At the time, Ms Manji wrote a response to the Sun article in the Liverpool Echo, writing: “It would be easy to dismiss Kelvin MacKenzie as an embarrassing, and serially embarrassed, relic of a bygone era in British journalism. | At the time, Ms Manji wrote a response to the Sun article in the Liverpool Echo, writing: “It would be easy to dismiss Kelvin MacKenzie as an embarrassing, and serially embarrassed, relic of a bygone era in British journalism. |
| “But it’s dangerous to regard Mr MacKenzie and those who echo his Islamophobic sentiments as mere pantomime villains. | “But it’s dangerous to regard Mr MacKenzie and those who echo his Islamophobic sentiments as mere pantomime villains. |
| “Their soapbox allows them to spread their ill-informed, irresponsible and malevolent invective to millions of readers. Racist and Islamophobic rhetoric has real consequences – lives have been lost and shattered in our own country. | “Their soapbox allows them to spread their ill-informed, irresponsible and malevolent invective to millions of readers. Racist and Islamophobic rhetoric has real consequences – lives have been lost and shattered in our own country. |
| “Mr MacKenzie’s article was but one wild screed in a long-running and widespread campaign to intimidate Muslims out of public life.” | “Mr MacKenzie’s article was but one wild screed in a long-running and widespread campaign to intimidate Muslims out of public life.” |
| An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed to the Independent that Mr Mackenzie did not lodge a complaint himself. | An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed to the Independent that Mr Mackenzie did not lodge a complaint himself. |
| The spokesperson said: “We received a small number of complaints that it was inappropriate for a presenter wearing a hijab to present a report on the attack in Nice. We won’t be taking the matter forward for investigation. | The spokesperson said: “We received a small number of complaints that it was inappropriate for a presenter wearing a hijab to present a report on the attack in Nice. We won’t be taking the matter forward for investigation. |
| “The selection of a presenter is an editorial matter for the broadcaster, and the way in which the presenter chose to dress in this case did not raise any issues under our rules.” | “The selection of a presenter is an editorial matter for the broadcaster, and the way in which the presenter chose to dress in this case did not raise any issues under our rules.” |
| Channel 4 said the presenting timetable was drawn up in advance of the attack, and in a statement said Mr MacKenzie’s comments were “offensive, completely unacceptable, and arguably tantamount to inciting religious and even racial hatred”. | Channel 4 said the presenting timetable was drawn up in advance of the attack, and in a statement said Mr MacKenzie’s comments were “offensive, completely unacceptable, and arguably tantamount to inciting religious and even racial hatred”. |
| The statement said: “It is wrong to suggest that a qualified journalist should be barred from reporting on a particular story or present on a specific day because of their faith. | The statement said: “It is wrong to suggest that a qualified journalist should be barred from reporting on a particular story or present on a specific day because of their faith. |
| “Fatima Manji is an award-winning journalist. We are proud that she is part of our team and will receive, as ever, our full support in the wake of his comments.” | “Fatima Manji is an award-winning journalist. We are proud that she is part of our team and will receive, as ever, our full support in the wake of his comments.” |