2y ago

BBC Confirm Policy Change On Describing Hamas In Meeting With Jewish Leaders

www.mediaite.com

Following weeks of backlash the BBC will reportedly no longer refer to Hamas as “militants” opting instead to describe them as "a proscribed terrorist organisation" or simply "Hamas." This shift in policy by the public service broadcaster was announced by the Board of Deputies of British Jews in a press release on Friday, after the

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Pretty sure they've been calling them a proscribed terrorist organisation for a while now.
Also, is the Baord of Deputies of British Jews willing to admit Israel's acts are war crimes, per the definition?
- They were put under pressure because Israel pressures everyone to support them, usually with some form of threat.
  
  "We're not calling them terrorists; we're just saying others call them terrorists."
BBC being the only outlet to avoid using the loaded term 'terrorist' was solid journalism, so of course that had to go.
That said, Hamas certainly is a terrorist group by any sane definition, and so's the Israel Defense Forces.
- Help me see if I'm missing something, but I don't think they generally were avoiding using a loaded term.
  I linked below a handful of examples of them describing, in their own words, acts as terror acts and even people and organizations as terrorists.
  https://lemmy.world/comment/4719039
  It seems to me like they've probably made sure to only use the term when a conviction or official designation has been made, but, as I understand from BBC's own words, Hamas is already in that boat, too.
It's really repulsive that a news organization trying to be factual and relatively neutral is badgered into changing its speech.
- I agree with the sentiment, but I don't see the facts aligning with BBC's claim of abstaining from using the label.
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60322508
  The level was raised to severe ... after two terror attacks late last year.
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55861305
  At the High Court, listening to evidence about a notorious terrorist organisation, you don't expect to hear about Legoland.
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-58281243
  A terror attack might have been stopped ...
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57274312
  Three men who assisted the perpetrators of jihadist terrorist attacks in and around Barcelona that killed 16 people in 2017 have been jailed in Spain.
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/14854818
  The attacks were carried out by the terrorist group al-Qaeda.
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33253598
  It was the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil.
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zy7nqhv/revision/9
  Terrorists are people who use violent methods, or violent threats, to achieve their demands. (Followed by a list of terrorist organizations.)
  
  The Beeb is a big operation, with genuine humans reporting and editing 24/7/365. Things will always slip by. I appreciated the policy, is all.
Hamas kidnapped US citizens, tell me again how they aren't a terrorist group?

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