Russians claim BBC Arabic TV 'bows to tyrants'

[Teddy Bear]

Russian dissidents who have given much of their lives to fighting an oppressive regime comment on how the BBC sucks up to the worst amongst the Islamic world.

Russians claim BBC 'bows to tyrants'
By Andrew Pierce
Last Updated: 1:56am GMT 22/03/2008

A group of Russian dissidents has accused the BBC World Service of "kowtowing" to tyrannical regimes with the blessing of the Government.

Oleg Gordievsky, who defected from the Soviet Union, and Vladimir Bukovsky, who was a prisoner of the regime for more than 12 years, claimed the BBC Arabic TV news service was favouring despotic regimes.

In a letter in today's Daily Telegraph, they argue that the service will not "challenge the view of the world propagated by the official Arab media". "Nowadays the World Service kowtows to tyrannical regimes, with the Government looking on, unmoved," they say.

The service is regarded by the BBC as an important tool in the battle to win hearts and minds in the region. The letter says: "Its coverage has generally been hostile to the policies of the British Government aimed at bringing peace to the Middle East, and has favoured despotic regimes."

[Teddy Bear]

Richard Sambrook, the BBC Director comments on the above article in The Telegraph.

Notice his statement: According to independent surveys, BBC Arabic is regarded as the most trusted international broadcaster in the region. You do not win that hard-earned reputation without providing detailed, accurate and impartial coverage of news - without fear or favour - whatever the story.

It's the fact that the Arabs TRUST the BBC to put any story coming out of that region into their favour. Any truly impartial media coverage receives short shrift.

Impartial World Service

SIR - A letter (March 22) from a group of long-standing BBC critics, which includes some prominent Russian exiles, may give the misleading impression that BBC World Service has been pulling its punches to appease governments in Russia, China and the Middle East. This claim is not supported by reality.

The Chinese government routinely blocks BBC Chinese radio signals and its companion internet news site. Attempts to broadcast BBC Russian news programmes via local partner stations on FM frequencies have also come to abrupt ends.

We would suggest that these inhospitable actions were strong indications that the BBC has punched fairly heavily in terms of providing impartial and editorially independent news for audiences in those countries and beyond.

According to independent surveys, BBC Arabic is regarded as the most trusted international broadcaster in the region. You do not win that hard-earned reputation without providing detailed, accurate and impartial coverage of news - without fear or favour - whatever the story.

Richard Sambrook, Director, BBC Global News Room, London WC2