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Ahmadinejad show 'causes offence' | Ahmadinejad show 'causes offence' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Allowing Iran's president to deliver Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message will cause "international offence", the UK government has said. | |
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was shown telling viewers of the British TV channel "the general will of nations" was for a return to "human values". | |
The decision angered some MPs, who branded him a "dangerous fanatic" with anti-Semitic and anti-gay views. | |
Channel 4 said it had offered viewers an "alternative world view". | |
The speech, in Farsi with English subtitles, was the channel's 16th alternative message and was shown after a brief introduction to Mr Ahmadinejad contextualising his views. | |
In it, Mr Ahmadinejad congratulated the people of Britain on the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. | |
He said that problems in society were rooted in the rejection of the message of the prophets of God, including Jesus. | |
And he criticised the "indifference of some governments and powers" towards the teachings of "the divine prophets". Channel Four has given a platform to a man who wants to annihilate Israel and continues to persecute Christians at Christmas time Mark Pritchard MP | |
However, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "President Ahmadinejad has during his time in office made a series of appalling anti-Semitic statements. | However, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "President Ahmadinejad has during his time in office made a series of appalling anti-Semitic statements. |
"The British media are rightly free to make their own editorial choices, but this invitation will cause offence and bemusement not just at home but amongst friendly countries abroad." | "The British media are rightly free to make their own editorial choices, but this invitation will cause offence and bemusement not just at home but amongst friendly countries abroad." |
Labour MP Louise Ellman, chairwoman of the Labour Jewish Movement, said: "I condemn Channel 4's decision to give an unchallenged platform to a dangerous fanatic who denies the Holocaust, while preparing for another, and claims homosexuality does not exist while his regime hangs gay young men from cranes in the street. | |
"Who will deliver next year's alternative Christmas message? Will it be David Irving or Robert Mugabe?" | "Who will deliver next year's alternative Christmas message? Will it be David Irving or Robert Mugabe?" |
Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, a member of the Commons all-party media group, said: "Channel 4 has given a platform to a man who wants to annihilate Israel and continues to persecute Christians at Christmas time. ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS SPEECHES Sharon OsbourneBrigitte BardotJamie Oliver | |
"This raises serious questions about whether Channel 4 should receive an increased public subsidy for their programmes." | "This raises serious questions about whether Channel 4 should receive an increased public subsidy for their programmes." |
Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor said: "In Iran, converts to Christianity face the death penalty. | |
"It is perverse that this despot is allowed to speculate on the views of Jesus, while his government leads Christ's followers to the gallows." | |
He said Channel 4's decision to broadcast the message was a "scandal and a national embarrassment" and in "its search for ratings and shock factor, Channel 4 had lost its ethical way". | |
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell joined the attack, calling the president a "criminal despot, who ranks with Robert Mugabe, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and the Burmese military junta as one of the world's most bloody tyrants". | |
'Enormously influential' | 'Enormously influential' |
But Channel 4 defended its decision to broadcast the message. | But Channel 4 defended its decision to broadcast the message. |
Head of news and current affairs Dorothy Byrne said: "As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle East, President Ahmadinejad's views are enormously influential. | Head of news and current affairs Dorothy Byrne said: "As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle East, President Ahmadinejad's views are enormously influential. |
"As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative world view." | "As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative world view." |
A spokesman added: "Channel 4's role is to allow viewers to hear directly from people of world importance with sufficient context to enable them to make up their own minds." | A spokesman added: "Channel 4's role is to allow viewers to hear directly from people of world importance with sufficient context to enable them to make up their own minds." |
He said the channel had not asked for increased public funding, rather an indirect subsidy to overcome a funding shortfall caused by the digital switchover. | He said the channel had not asked for increased public funding, rather an indirect subsidy to overcome a funding shortfall caused by the digital switchover. |
Channel 4's first alternative message was delivered by gay icon Quentin Crisp in 1993. | Channel 4's first alternative message was delivered by gay icon Quentin Crisp in 1993. |
Others to have given the broadcast include French actress Brigitte Bardot, former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne and TV chef Jamie Oliver. | Others to have given the broadcast include French actress Brigitte Bardot, former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne and TV chef Jamie Oliver. |
Last year's message was given by Major Andrew Stockton, a British soldier who lost an arm fighting in Afghanistan. | |
Unlike previous years, the president's message was broadcast at night and not at the same time as the Queen's speech. | |