The BBC view is an odd one

The story of Naseebah Bibi's forced imprisonment of her three daughters-in-law and the use of one as her slave for 13 years has received much coverage, even on the BBC, but their coverage is somewhat odd. Their latest piece entitled "Slavery mother-in-law divides town" is a masterpiece of BBC multiculturalist speak. No opinion is more valid than any other, all are equal and moral judgements are bad; here are some examples:

"On the surface Naseebah Bibi did not appear to be an out-of-the-ordinary figure."

Seems fair? Here's the picture of the ordinary Naseebah Bibi
So this is not "out-of-the-ordinary" in BBC land?

"Since the details of the 63-year-old's "enslavement" of the three emerged her actions have been described as "inhumane", "horrific" and "outdated".

But to some women she is held in awe and, instead of anger, they pity her. "

There are two sides to every such story and the BBC will put them in some instances.

"Blackburn, with a population of 105,000 - of which nearly a quarter are Muslim Asian - is greatly divided when it comes to Bibi."

Interesting, so in this city of 25% Asian Muslims and 75% not, who do the BBC quote? There are quotes from four people -

"One woman said: "I feel sorry for the elderly lady [Bibi], she has not been treated well and I think it is a clear case of revenge."

Nas, a local community worker, said: "As a first generation Asian we have experienced these things first hand and I don't think it's enslavement."

Shop owner Jamil, who knows the family, said he was shocked that this could happen to "such a nice family".

Musharrat Zia is the director of Practical Solutions, an organisation which works to challenge stereotypes and negative myths about different cultures. "

Religions and backgrounds are not documented but on the surface the last three would seem to be Muslims so at least 75% of the quoted people are from the 25% minority in Blackburn.


Now the moral equivocation:

1. "Nas, a local community worker, said: "As a first generation Asian we have experienced these things first hand and I don't think it's enslavement.""

That's the sort of community worker we need isn't it? One who thinks imprisoning people and using one as a personal slave is not enslavement; how open-minded, how modern, how multicultural.

2. Shop owner Jamil... condemned Bibi's abusive actions, saying: "It's acceptable to treat women like this in other countries but not in our country, in England no, it's not acceptable.""

Oh marvelous, so enslavement is fine in other countries, just not here. How does this fit in with the BBC's obsession with the UK apologising for slavery over 100 years ago? Slavery in the British past is evil but slavery in the Muslim present is culturally acceptable?

3. "Musharrat Zia is the director of Practical Solutions, an organisation which works to challenge stereotypes and negative myths about different cultures.
... "This practice is quite outmoded, its outdated.... It may have been perceived as the norm in her generation in other countries, but that should make her set a precedent by not doing it."

See above, I really don't see why I should dignify such remarks with anything extra.


Britain in 2009 and slavery makes a comeback - isn't multiculturalism just grand?