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50,000 protest at BBC hostâs suspension
Fifty thousand people have voiced opposition to the BBCâs suspension of a popular television show after its host Robert Kilroy-Silk made inflammatory remarks against Arabs, a British tabloid newspaper said. As a row over the comments simmered on, the Daily Express said 50,000 had responded in a phone poll to back Kilroy-Silkâs reinstatement. "Thousands" more had protested to the BBC, added the Express, which accused the public broadcaster of "gagging" Kilroy-Silk, a former Labour party lawmaker. The BBC suspended the veteran hostâs morning show "Kilroy", on which guests discuss topical and personal issues, pending an investigation after the presenter lambasted Arabs as "suicide bombers, limb amputators, women repressors" in an article published in the Sunday Express on January 4."You canât handle the truth!" "Weâre sick and tired of being gagged" was the front-page response of the Daily Express Tuesday, which said there was "growing anger over what is being seen as a test case for the very principle of freedom of speech in this country." The rightwing paper claimed the support of Michael Howard, leader of Britainâs main opposition Conservative Party. Howard told the Express: "While it is absolutely wrong to talk about people in categories, I also think that our tradition of free speech is precious and that is something we should never lose sight of." In an editorial, the paper accused the BBC of political correctness. "The corporation, once synonymous with truth around the world, is guilty of censorship," it blasted. Oh, I think we passed censorship a long time ago. Kilroy-Silk told the paper: "People are getting sick of debate being stifled while at the same time you have (Islamic) militants on the streets of London shouting "Kill the infidel!â" Guess a lot of British noticed that. Posted by: Steve 2004-01-13 |
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