London - The Charity Commission must act against the Henry Jackson Society, after the BBC gave a platform to extreme right ideologue Douglas Murray during their Sunday Politics programme on 28 May, allowing him to spread anti-Muslim vitriol at a time of heightened sensitivity. The BBC must also be held to account for airing a programme which has been considered incitement to hate by many. During the segment, Murray, an associate director at the controversial Henry Jackson Society, advocated that “less Islam leads to less terrorism”, clearly implying that eradicating Islam from Europe was a solution. Murray has made similar comments in the past which encourage intolerance. He has said that “tolerating Islam is suicide” and penned articles in support of far-right-winger and former EDL leader Tommy Robinson, while also expressing support for the EDL. Despite his extreme and intolerant views, the mainstream media continues to give him unchallenged platforms. Moreover the Charity Commission refuses to intervene perhaps due to the fact that such opinions of William Shawcross, a former board member of the HJS, and current-head of the Charity Commission. Shawcross once infamously opined: “Europe and Islam is one of the greatest most terrifying problems of our future.” This is not the first time that the Charity Commission has practiced double standards. Over the last four years, the Commission has regularly monitored and investigated many Muslim charities for even minor “controversial” comments of speakers and trustees. The Commission has claimed such comments put a charity’s public reputation at risk and promote extremism. Such reasoning must therefore be applied particularly to the HJS.
Cerie Bullivant, spokesperson for CAGE, said:
“Murray’s latest tirade on the BBC shows him up to be particularly hateful towards Islam, and the Charity Commission should take action against him and the Henry Jackson Society. It is shocking that no action is taken against HJS and no conflict of interest given links with board members . In addition we have been given the run around by various parliamentary committees who allegedly oversee the work of the Charity Commission . There appears to be one rule for some favoured charities and another for those who are labelled as irritants – there are no prizes for guessing which category Muslim charities fall into.” CC image courtesy of Elekes Andor on Wikimedia Commons
<b></b><em>London</em> - The Charity Commission must act against the Henry Jackson Society, after the BBC <strong><a href="https://www.thecanary.co/2017/05/30/bbc-one-worse-katie-hopkins-giving-one-mans-hate-speech-entire-platform/">gave a platform</a> </strong>to extreme right ideologue Douglas Murray during their Sunday Politics programme on 28 May, allowing him to spread anti-Muslim vitriol at a time of heightened sensitivity.
The BBC must also be held to account for airing a programme which has been considered incitement to hate by many.
During the segment, Murray, an associate director at the controversial Henry Jackson Society, advocated that “less Islam leads to less terrorism”, clearly implying that eradicating Islam from Europe was a solution.
Murray has made similar comments in the past which encourage intolerance. He has said that <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlOHOqyBIFo">“tolerating Islam is suicide”</a> </strong>and penned<strong> <a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/10/extreme-measures-2/">articles in support</a></strong> of far-right-winger and former EDL leader Tommy Robinson, while also expressing <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyrtTfyERMw">support for the EDL</a></strong>.
Despite his extreme and intolerant views, the mainstream media continues to give him unchallenged platforms. Moreover the Charity Commission refuses to intervene perhaps due to the fact that such opinions of William Shawcross, a former board member of the HJS, and current-head of the Charity Commission. Shawcross once infamously opined: “Europe and Islam is one of the greatest most terrifying problems of our future.”
This is not the first time that the Charity Commission has practiced double standards. Over the last four years, the Commission has regularly monitored and investigated many Muslim charities for even minor “controversial” comments of speakers and trustees. The Commission has claimed such comments put a charity’s public reputation at risk and promote extremism. Such reasoning must therefore be applied particularly to the HJS.
<h3> Cerie Bullivant, spokesperson for CAGE, said:</h3>
“Murray’s latest tirade on the BBC shows him up to be particularly hateful towards Islam, and the Charity Commission should take action against him and the Henry Jackson Society. It is shocking that no action is taken against HJS and no conflict of interest given links with board members . In addition we have been given the run around by various parliamentary committees who allegedly oversee the work of the Charity Commission . There appears to be one rule for some favoured charities and another for those who are labelled as irritants – there are no prizes for guessing which category Muslim charities fall into.”
<em>CC image courtesy of <a title="User:Elekes Andor" href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Douglas_Murray.png">Elekes Andor</a> on Wikimedia Commons</em>
