Great Britain: BBC causes a storm of indignation by inviting a far-right politician
By inviting a far-right politician onto its flagship talk show, the British broadcaster BBC has sparked a storm of outrage. Hundreds of people protested in London against the planned appearance of the leader of the British National Party (BNP). Clashes with police also broke out on Thursday.
Numerous politicians and activists called on the renowned public
legal institution to disinvite the right-wing extremist from the show "Question Time" again. According to its statutes, the Nationalist Party only accepts white members. It won two seats in the Strasbourg parliament in the European elections in June, making Griffin an elected MEP. Cabinet Minister Peter Hain criticized: "If you treat them (racist parties) in the same way as others, then they gain ground. We saw that in Nazi Germany."
Up to 30 protesters stormed the BBC building in West London to prevent the appearance of far-right politician Nick Griffin. Dozens of police officers were deployed. Numerous protesters gathered hours before the broadcast and the organizers expected thousands of participants. The police seized demonstrators who had entered the BBC center and took them out of the building. According to Scotland Yard, no arrests were initially made.
BBC director Mark Thompson defended the invitation. He referred to the "principle of independence". The aim was to "listen to the full range of political perspectives". Only the government could impose censorship on the broadcasters. However, Prime Minister Gordon Brown rejected this. It was a matter for the BBC, in which he did not want to interfere. Griffin was given a suspended sentence for racial hatred in 1998 and has also been repeatedly linked to Holocaust denial.
legal institution to disinvite the right-wing extremist from the show "Question Time" again. According to its statutes, the Nationalist Party only accepts white members. It won two seats in the Strasbourg parliament in the European elections in June, making Griffin an elected MEP. Cabinet Minister Peter Hain criticized: "If you treat them (racist parties) in the same way as others, then they gain ground. We saw that in Nazi Germany."
Up to 30 protesters stormed the BBC building in West London to prevent the appearance of far-right politician Nick Griffin. Dozens of police officers were deployed. Numerous protesters gathered hours before the broadcast and the organizers expected thousands of participants. The police seized demonstrators who had entered the BBC center and took them out of the building. According to Scotland Yard, no arrests were initially made.
BBC director Mark Thompson defended the invitation. He referred to the "principle of independence". The aim was to "listen to the full range of political perspectives". Only the government could impose censorship on the broadcasters. However, Prime Minister Gordon Brown rejected this. It was a matter for the BBC, in which he did not want to interfere. Griffin was given a suspended sentence for racial hatred in 1998 and has also been repeatedly linked to Holocaust denial.
