The upcoming investigation into Iraq’s 'paedophile' Shia Clerics is a curiosity.
Working with an undercover reporter, BBC Arabic's Nawal Al Maghafi investigates Shia clerics at some of Iraq's holiest shrines.
We’ve seen and heard a few trailers for this unusual documentary already. It looks like a welcome breakthrough after the BBC’s longstanding fatwa against offending the Muslims, but sadly the BBC’s credibility has been undermined by the aborted ‘Tommy Takedown’ fiasco. It’s quite possible that Nawal Al Maghafi is BBC Arabic’s ‘John Sweeney’!! Can the BBC ever be trusted again?
How much progress?
ReplyDeleteMy comment from the Open Thread yesterday:
"Here's the BBC website version of that second story.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/iuKTEGjKgS/teenage_iraq_brides
The headline and introduction refer to "teenagers" being exploited by "clerics" and reference is made to "religious figures" and "religious practice".
So, BBC are we talking Methodists or Roman Catholics? Come on, don't be shy...tell us. "
Also, I noted on the BBC TV News item they referred to the scandal implicating "some" Shia clerics - were the BBC ever so solicitous about the Roman Catholic clergy in abuse cases? Er no. Another thing - they tried to imply the Shia Clerics were ignorant and misinterpreting the Koran, whereas this is the orthodox Shia interpretation. Finally the claim was made that the practice originated in "pre-Islamic times"...hmmm, how very convenient letting Mo off the hook like that.