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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/nov/23/press-watchdog-clears-sun-writer-who-referred-to-the-muslim-problem
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Press watchdog clears Sun writer who referred to 'the Muslim problem' | Press watchdog clears Sun writer who referred to 'the Muslim problem' |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The Independent Press Standards Organisation has cleared a column in the Sun, written by Trevor Kavanagh, which referred to “the Muslim problem”. In a decision that prompted anger from groups representing Jews and Muslims, Ipso ruled that the column did not breach accuracy or discrimination clauses in the editors’ code of practice. | The Independent Press Standards Organisation has cleared a column in the Sun, written by Trevor Kavanagh, which referred to “the Muslim problem”. In a decision that prompted anger from groups representing Jews and Muslims, Ipso ruled that the column did not breach accuracy or discrimination clauses in the editors’ code of practice. |
| The ruling also said that while Kavanagh’s use of the phrase was “capable of causing serious offence” he had not discriminated against an individual. | The ruling also said that while Kavanagh’s use of the phrase was “capable of causing serious offence” he had not discriminated against an individual. |
| Kavanagh’s article sparked a fierce backlash when it was published, with more than 100 cross-party politicians signing an open letter to the Sun criticising the piece for using “Nazi-like language” regarding the Muslim community in Britain. | Kavanagh’s article sparked a fierce backlash when it was published, with more than 100 cross-party politicians signing an open letter to the Sun criticising the piece for using “Nazi-like language” regarding the Muslim community in Britain. |
| Kavanagh, the former political editor at the Sun, subsequently apologised for causing offence in an online article, saying: “I can honestly say it never occurred to me that this could be interpreted as a play on ‘the Jewish problem’ and I will happily apologise to anyone who is thus offended.” | Kavanagh, the former political editor at the Sun, subsequently apologised for causing offence in an online article, saying: “I can honestly say it never occurred to me that this could be interpreted as a play on ‘the Jewish problem’ and I will happily apologise to anyone who is thus offended.” |
| The Sun welcomed Ipso’s ruling. A spokesperson for the newspaper said: “This is a welcome reminder that the vitality of newspapers comes from the free exchange of ideas and opinions, perhaps particularly those which some might disagree with.” | The Sun welcomed Ipso’s ruling. A spokesperson for the newspaper said: “This is a welcome reminder that the vitality of newspapers comes from the free exchange of ideas and opinions, perhaps particularly those which some might disagree with.” |
| Kavanagh is a board member of Ipso but plays no role in handling complaints, which are dealt with by a separate committee. | Kavanagh is a board member of Ipso but plays no role in handling complaints, which are dealt with by a separate committee. |
| The Board of Deputies of British Jews, and the Muslim Council of Britain condemned Ipso’s ruling. | The Board of Deputies of British Jews, and the Muslim Council of Britain condemned Ipso’s ruling. |
| Marie van der Zyl, vice president of the Board of Deputies, said: “This decision suggests that the Ipso code is unfit for purpose and is in urgent need of redrafting. It is incomprehensible that the committee could at once acknowledge that the article ‘was capable of giving serious offence, given it could be interpreted as a reference to the rhetoric preceding the Holocaust’ and yet conclude that there was no breach of the code.” | Marie van der Zyl, vice president of the Board of Deputies, said: “This decision suggests that the Ipso code is unfit for purpose and is in urgent need of redrafting. It is incomprehensible that the committee could at once acknowledge that the article ‘was capable of giving serious offence, given it could be interpreted as a reference to the rhetoric preceding the Holocaust’ and yet conclude that there was no breach of the code.” |
| Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council, said the decision was “deeply disappointing, albeit not unexpected”. | Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council, said the decision was “deeply disappointing, albeit not unexpected”. |
| He added: “Discrimination against Muslims, despite being rampant within sections of the media, appears not to be of concern to our press regulator or the editors’ code committee, despite protection for groups being a recommendation of the Leveson inquiry. | He added: “Discrimination against Muslims, despite being rampant within sections of the media, appears not to be of concern to our press regulator or the editors’ code committee, despite protection for groups being a recommendation of the Leveson inquiry. |
| “However what is truly astonishing is that regardless of the specifics of the code, Ipso does not seem to have any concern that one of its board members used this Nazi-like phrase about Muslims.” | “However what is truly astonishing is that regardless of the specifics of the code, Ipso does not seem to have any concern that one of its board members used this Nazi-like phrase about Muslims.” |
| The column was published in the Sun in August following the conviction of 18 people in Newcastle for being part of sex grooming network and an article by Sarah Champion, then the shadow equalities minister, in which she wrote: “Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls.” Champion resigned from her position following a backlash about the article. | The column was published in the Sun in August following the conviction of 18 people in Newcastle for being part of sex grooming network and an article by Sarah Champion, then the shadow equalities minister, in which she wrote: “Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls.” Champion resigned from her position following a backlash about the article. |
| Kavanagh used his column to praise Champion for her comments. He said that Britain and the rest of Europe faced an “unspoken fear” that had been “gagged by political correctness”, adding: “The common denominator, almost unsayable until last week’s furore over Pakistani sex gangs, is Islam. Thanks to former equalities chief Trevor Phillips, and Labour MPs such as Rotherham’s Sarah Champion, it is acceptable to say Muslims are a specific rather than a cultural problem.” | Kavanagh used his column to praise Champion for her comments. He said that Britain and the rest of Europe faced an “unspoken fear” that had been “gagged by political correctness”, adding: “The common denominator, almost unsayable until last week’s furore over Pakistani sex gangs, is Islam. Thanks to former equalities chief Trevor Phillips, and Labour MPs such as Rotherham’s Sarah Champion, it is acceptable to say Muslims are a specific rather than a cultural problem.” |
| Ipso investigated the article following a complaint that it discriminated against immigrants and Muslim men and that it contained inaccuracies – such as claiming that it was acceptable to say that Muslims were a “specific rather than a cultural problem” and that the “contemptible treatment of women” was a problem caused by immigration when 90% of sex offenders in the UK were white males. | Ipso investigated the article following a complaint that it discriminated against immigrants and Muslim men and that it contained inaccuracies – such as claiming that it was acceptable to say that Muslims were a “specific rather than a cultural problem” and that the “contemptible treatment of women” was a problem caused by immigration when 90% of sex offenders in the UK were white males. |
| However, Ipso ruled that while the first of these comments was contentious, the article was a comment on a complex social phenomenon and “could not be understood as a claim of fact”. With regard to the second comment it said that Kavanagh had been referring to his comment about “Muslim sex crimes … including outrages such as female genital mutilation and ‘honour killings’” rather than women in general. | However, Ipso ruled that while the first of these comments was contentious, the article was a comment on a complex social phenomenon and “could not be understood as a claim of fact”. With regard to the second comment it said that Kavanagh had been referring to his comment about “Muslim sex crimes … including outrages such as female genital mutilation and ‘honour killings’” rather than women in general. |
| The article was cleared of being discriminatory because Ipso’s code protects individuals rather than groups. It said in the ruling: “The committee acknowledged that the question posed at the end of the column – ‘what will we do about the Muslim problem then?’ – was capable of causing serious offence, given it could be interpreted as a reference to the rhetoric preceding the Holocaust. | The article was cleared of being discriminatory because Ipso’s code protects individuals rather than groups. It said in the ruling: “The committee acknowledged that the question posed at the end of the column – ‘what will we do about the Muslim problem then?’ – was capable of causing serious offence, given it could be interpreted as a reference to the rhetoric preceding the Holocaust. |
| “The committee made clear that there is no clause in the editors’ code which prohibits publication of offensive content. It was clear that many, including the complainant, were offended by this aspect of the article, but there was no breach of the code on this point.” | “The committee made clear that there is no clause in the editors’ code which prohibits publication of offensive content. It was clear that many, including the complainant, were offended by this aspect of the article, but there was no breach of the code on this point.” |
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