United Kingdom

[GB] Five of Broadcaster’s Programmes Held in Breach

IRIS 2011-1:1/30

David Goldberg

deeJgee Research/Consultancy

Ofcom has found that five programmes broadcast by the Islam Channel, originally shown in 2008 and 2009, were in breach of the Broadcast Code, Sections 2.3 (Harm and Offence) and 5.5 (Due Impartiality). The Channel had previously been found to have breached provisions of the Code relating to due impartiality in 2007 and was fined GBP 30,000.

Four other programmes investigated were found to be Code compliant. Ofcom launched the investigation into the channel following a report monitoring its output, Re-Programming British Muslims, published by the Quilliam Foundation.

Three of the programmes (two issues of IslamiQa and Muslimah Dilemma) broadcast material which were found to have condoned marital rape and domestic violence and labelled women who wore perfume outside their homes "prostitutes"; separately, two programmes (Ummah Talk and Politics and Beyond) were found to have breached impartiality guidelines in relation to coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The finding concludes that “We consider that the breaches...are not so serious or repeated to merit being considered for imposition of a statutory sanction....However, Ofcom remains concerned about Islam Channel’s understanding and compliance processes in relation to the Code...Therefore, the Islam Channel is being requested to attend a meeting with the regulator to explain and discuss its compliance processes further in relation to Sections Two and Five of the Code.

The Islam Channel is reported to be planning to appeal against the rulings.