By Eric King-
The UK’s press regulator’s(IPSO)dismissal of a complaint against Kavanagh’s Sun article raises questions of judgment.
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) ruled that Trevor Kavanagh’s column in which he referred to ”the Muslim Problem” was “capable of causing serious offence” but did not breach the Editors’ Code. The press regulator admitted that the comments made by Kavanah could be compared to comments used during the Holocaust. Mr Kavanagh had said it was “acceptable to say Muslims are a specific rather than a cultural problem”.
Whilst admitting the article to have been offensive, Ipso ruled that it did not breach the discrimination clause of IPSO’s guidelines (Clause 122) because no specific individual was targeted.
“The committee noted the complainant’s concern that the article discriminated against Muslims. Clause 12 of the Code protects identifiable individuals from discrimination; it does not relate to discrimination against groups or categories of people” the press regulator ruled.
OFFENSIVE
The press regulator’s judgement that the comment was offensive, and could be compared to language used at the time of the Holocaust poses some problems in failing to distinguish why the comparison should not automatically warrant disciplinary action. If Ipso believe the sentence was made with the same attitude and venom as when made during the Holocaust, Kavanagh should be punished. How can they punish him though, when he is a member of the Ipso board? There is an automatic conflict of interest here in expecting an organisation to issue fitting judgement against a member of their board. However, true professionalism should not prevent that, but it is usually difficult for organisations to punish influential people on their board.
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Firstly, considering how atrocious and evil the events of the Holocaust were, this is a matter to be looked at properly. The discrimination against the Jews led to the slaughter of over six million Jews during the second world war. However, in modern Britain, there is no chance of anything remotely close taking place against Muslims. It won’t happen, and the law won’t allow it. Any implication here that Muslims were being targeted and set up for a similar assault or genocide is rubbish, but the sentence was without question inappropriate, and deserving of some form of caution or punishment. It was an unnecessary and offensive comment, which Kavanagh himself should have known about..
DISCRIMINATION
Ipso added that the article had not discriminated against an individual and could not be mistaken for fact.
Mr Kavanagh’s column which raised the objection leading to the complaint, was in response to the conviction, in August, of 18 people in Newcastle for being involved in a child sex abuse network. He said there was “one unspoken fear, gagged by political correctness,” adding that “the common denominator, almost unsayable until last week’s furore over Pakistani sex gangs, is Islam”. That comment sparked fury in some Islamic circles, though Kavanagh was not wrong. However, the common factor among the men could also have been said to a culture of exploitation and abuse by some of the people who come from the various countries of the individuals. The men may all have been Muslims, but that should not really have been blamed for their actions. However Kavanagh made a statement that was factual, but offensive at the same time.
ASTONISHING
The Muslim Council of Britain’s Miqdaad Versi called the press regulator’s ruling “astonishing”, and pointed to the fact that Kavanagh sat as an IPSO board member. What is truly astonishing is that regardless of the specifics of the code, IPSO does not seem to have any concern that one of its board members used this Nazi-like phrase about Muslims,” Versi told BuzzFeed News.
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IPSO further said: “The board has no role in the consideration of individual complaints, which are adjudicated on by the complaints committee. Mr Kavanagh played no part in the consideration of this complaint.” Mr.Kavanagh may have played no part, but the fact he is a member of the board would have influenced the Sun’s judgement.
IPSO noted “it was inaccurate to refer to female genital mutilation and ‘honour’ killings as examples of ‘Muslim sex crimes’.
Ipso also said that despite many being offended by the article, there was no clause in the code which “prohibits publication of offensive content”. The article was condemned in an open letter signed by more than 100 MPs.
DISAPPOINTED
Miqdaad Versi, assistant general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain said the decision was “deeply disappointing, albeit not unexpected”.
“What is truly astonishing is that regardless of the specifics of the Code, IPSO does not seem to have any concern that one of its board members used this Nazi-like phrase about Muslims”. When this article was originally written yesterday, its publication was suspended until a few members of the team had discussed it properly, although I felt it was pretty obvious the stance we should take. Some other articles were also binned after proper scrutiny. Issues like these are very sensitive and require a thorough professional outlook on them.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews were appalled by the decision. The phrase of ”the Muslim problem” obviously reminded them of their horrifying history in the hands of the Germans under Hitler- the most notorious dictator in history. The Board said the decision suggested IPSO was “unfit for purpose” and called for a review of the code. The eye of media.com equally believe the code should be reviewed and will be contributing recommendations to the proposed review which is absolutely necessary.
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