Outrage as BBC asks: What is the right punishment for blasphemy?
THE BBC has been attacked as ‘disgraceful’ after one of its reporters posted a video online asking: ‘What is the right punishment for blasphemy?’
The clip, which was shared on the BBC Asian Network’s official Twitter account, showed presenter Shazia Awan challenging viewers to contact her about controversial blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
But critics took to Twitter to attack the Corporation for apparently suggesting that blasphemy – which can carry a death sentence in some Muslim countries – should be punishable at all and that there should be penalties for free speech.
Former Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith tweeted: ‘Next week on the BBC: “What is the correct punishment for being gay?”’ while human rights activist Maryam Namazie said: ‘Disgraceful that BBC Asian Network would ask what “punishment” should be for blasphemy. You know people get killed for it.’
The question was posed after Pakistan’s government called on Facebook to help it crack down on ‘blasphemous’ content that ‘badmouthed’ Islam.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘Asian Network’s Big Debate asks difficult and provocative questions every day.
‘This programme was an engaging discussion on the subject of blasphemy, but we admit that the question could have been phrased better, as we have since made clear.’