The BBC complaints process

I rarely post items sent to me from third parties but this detailing of  a complaint to the BBC piqued my interest.

It seems that a reader of this blog saw my post about Hugh Sykes from 10 February and decided to make a complaint to the BBC.

'Complaint Summary: Factually inaccurate comment/quotation

Full Complaint: In feedback from around 6:30 to 6:38 Hugh Sykes said that he's heard many Muslim leaders say that these (terrorists) aren't true Muslims. Hugh Sykes then said: 'If you kill an innocent person it's like killing the whole of humanity, which is roughly speaking a quote from the Koran.' The problem is that the full quotation is somewhat longer than Hugh Sykes makes out, and in full means something somewhat different. The quotation is from Sura 5:32 which in full says: 'On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.' Clearly 5:32 is a commandment to the Children of Israel, the Jews, not Muslims. However even if you ignore the first part of the Sura that specifically refers to the Jews, the commandment goes on "unless it be for murder or spreading mischief in the land." If someone is "spreading mischief", he can still be killed. Islamist terrorists believe that Americans, British, French etc. are spreading mischief in Palestine and around the world, so even if this verse were to apply to non Jews, they would still be justified in slaughtering those "spreading mischief". Since Hugh Sykes's quotation completely misrepresents what the Koran says in this regard, I think that a correction should be broadcast.'

Ignoring the automated reply, the first substantive reply from the BBC came on 22 February:

'Dear Mr ...

Reference .....

Many thanks for getting in touch about BBC Radio Four’s 'Feedback# broadcast 10 February.

I understand you feel a quotation from the Koran made by Hugh Sykes was inaccurate and misrepresented the full passage.

Speaking about a report conducted for the PM programme discussing Donald Trump's proposed travel ban and Islamic extremism, Hugh Sykes states that: "I've heard lots of Muslim leaders saying that these people are not true Muslims because if you kill innocent people it's like killing the whole of humanity, which is roughly speaking a quote from the Koran".

As Hugh notes in qualifying his quotation, it is not intended to be an exact quotation of the text in the Koran, but instead a paraphrased reflection of statements and sentiments Hugh has heard expressed by Muslim leaders in opposition to violence.

It is never our intention to misrepresent or mislead, however I hope this helps to clarify the context behind Hugh’s paraphrasing of the Koran.

I do appreciate that you may continue to disagree, however, and you can rest assured that your feedback has been forwarded to the relevant production teams on our overnight report. This report is also seen by senior management and helps to shape current and future broadcasting decisions.

Thank you once again for taking the time to get in touch.

Kind regards
Hugh Dignan
BBC Complaints Team
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

NB This is sent from an outgoing account only which is not monitored. You cannot reply to this email address but if necessary please contact us via our webform quoting any case number we provided.'

My correspondent followed up on 1 April (not sure why the long delay) to the BBC Trust:

'I am writing to you because my complaint (CAS-....) via the standard BBC complaints procedure was answered with a typical BBC brush-off. The only step left to me is to take this to the BBC Trust.

My complaint, in short, is that the BBC's Hugh Sykes incorrectly quoted the Koran and by so doing changed the meaning of a Koranic verse, thus misleading the listening public.

In more detail: In BBC Radio Four’s 'Feedback' broadcast on 10 February.from around 6:30 to 6:38 Hugh Sykes said that he's heard many Muslim leaders say that these (terrorists) aren't true Muslims.

Hugh Sykes then said: 'If you kill an innocent person it's like killing the whole of humanity, which is roughly speaking a quote from the Koran.'

The trouble problem is that the full quotation is somewhat longer than Hugh Sykes makes out, and in full means something somewhat different.

The quotation is from Sura 5:32 which in full says: 'On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.'

Clearly 5:32 is a commandment to the Children of Israel, the Jews, not Muslims.

However even if you ignore the first part of the Sura that specifically refers to the Jews, the commandment goes on "unless it be for murder or spreading mischief in the land." If someone is "spreading mischief", he can still be killed. Islamist terrorists believe that Americans, British, French etc. are spreading mischief in Palestine and around the world, so even if this verse were to apply to non Jews, they would still be justified in slaughtering those "spreading mischief".

Since Hugh Sykes's quotation completely misrepresents what the Koran says in this regard, I think that a correction should be broadcast.

Please do actually address this matter rather than give me another BBC brush-off.

Regards'

Two days later the BBC Trust responded:

'I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your appeal to the BBC Trust.

You may be aware that under the arrangements of the BBC’s new Charter, which commenced on 1 January 2017, a new system of governance and regulation for the BBC has taken effect. As of 2 April 2017, the BBC Trust ceased to exist and a new BBC Board is now responsible for the proper, effective and independent exercise of all the functions of the BBC and regulatory powers have been transferred to Ofcom.

Please contact the BBC’s Editorial Complaints Unit (ECU) at ecu@bbc.co.uk or Editorial Complaints Unit, Broadcast Centre, BC2 B4, 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP to progress your complaint.

Yours sincerely

Ruby

My correspondent did as requested and complained to the EBU and this was the reply:

'Thank you for your email of 27 April to the Executive Complaints Unit. I’m sorry you’ve had to come to us by such a circuitous route, and that you were referred to the BBC Trust at a point where it was hardly likely to be able to reach a conclusion on the matter. In any event, it now falls to us to consider whether the decision of the BBC Complaints Team that your complaint didn’t justify further investigation, put to you in their response of 28 April, was correct.

I can see why you regard Sura 5:2, taken as a whole, as bearing a sense very different from “if you kill innocent people it’s like killing the whole of humanity”. However, I think the essential point made in Hugh Dignan’s response of 22 February is that this wasn’t a case of Hugh Sykes quoting from the Koran (however roughly), but of him reporting what he had “heard lots of Muslim leaders saying” and the basis on which they had been saying it.

Whether Sura 5:2 provides a sound basis for the view he reported is another matter, but Muslim scholars certainly have the hermeneutic resources to construe it in that sense if so minded (an example can be seen at http://www.islamicperspectives.com/TafsirOfSurah5_32.html).

I therefore agree with the Complaints Team that your complaint didn’t raise an issue which would have justified more investigation. There’s is no provision for further appeal against this decision within the BBC.

However, it’s open to you to approach Ofcom if you believe your complaint has identified a breach of the Ofcom Code (which can be seen at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code), though of course it would be for Ofcom itself to decide whether to consider your complaint. '

So it would seem that the new EBU cares as much about complaints about the BBC as the BBC Trust ever did. Why am I not surprised?

Better luck next time Mr Correspondent, and thanks for trying.