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Wednesday 28 July 2010

Will the BBC update their news report and the MCB make another comment?

The BBC reported as fact the claims that
'Two Muslim women have claimed they were refused a bus ride because one had her face covered by a veil.'
The article goes into great detail of the allegations and includes the following passages:
'The students, both 22 and from Slough, Berkshire, boarded a Metroline bus from Russell Square to Paddington, London.

But they said when they presented their tickets on Monday, the driver told them they were a "threat" to passengers and ordered them off the bus.

...

Yasmin said at first she boarded the bus by mistake when it was not in service to ask where it was going, but was told by the driver to get off.

"About 10 minutes later... the passengers started getting on. When I went forward to show my ticket he said, 'Get off the bus'. I presumed he was still angry because I got on the bus before.

"He said, 'I am not going to take you on the bus because you two are a threat.'

"I realised it wasn't due to me getting on the bus, this may be a racist attack."'
Of course the Muslim Council of Britain had to get involved and stir the pot:
'A spokesperson from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it could not comment on individual cases, but added it was "deeply concerned".

"Such incidents are sadly becoming more common," the spokesperson said.

"They have been fuelled against the climate of increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric and hostility, in particular on the part of sensationalised stories by the media, demonising Muslims in the eyes of the wider public."

It advised all victims to report incidents to the police.'


This Is London has some updated information for us:
'A bus driver accused by two students of banning them because of their Islamic dress has been cleared after CCTV showed he had actually barred them for their abusive behaviour.

An investigation by Metroline - which operates the No7 bus - found the driver, who could have faced the sack over the allegation, was justified in not allowing the women on his vehicle.

The 22-year-olds, Yasmin and Atoofa, from Slough, told the BBC that they had been refused access to the bus at Russell Square because of their dress. Yasmin was wearing a hijab and her face was uncovered while Atoofa was wearing a niqab, which covers the face.

But the Standard has learned that the students, who asked for their full names not to be revealed, were denied entry "due to abusive behaviour towards bus driver and other passengers".

On-board CCTV of the incident, on Monday last week, showed the women banging on the front doors and attempting to board the bus when it had come to the end of its run. They then get on through the rear doors and begin arguing with the driver. They get off and wait for the bus to start its journey back to Paddington - but another exchange follows, and the driver refuses to set off unless they disembark.

Metroline said: "We have now reviewed the CCTV and interviewed the bus driver. The circumstances of this incident are not as represented by the bus passengers."'


Now that the CCTV has been examined and the truth revealed will the BBC be updating their 'news' report? Will the Muslim Council of Britain express their disapproval of Muslims making false allegations of Islamophobia against non-Muslims? I won't hold my breath...


Thanks for 'Pounce' on the Biased-BBC comments board for spotting this update to a news story that the BBC just loved to report the allegations of but not to update with the truth.

1 comment:

alf stone said...

They did they just hid it away a bit:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-10763227