Backlash over BBC’S terror bride publicity

THE BBC has been bombarded with complaints over its coverage of ISIS bride Shamima Begum, as the reporter behind the documentary said: “Not even the British Government had the same access to her.”

Begum, below, from east London, was 15 when she flew out to join the Islamic terrorists. She is currently at the centre of a legal row over whether she should be allowed to return to the UK despite being stripped of her citizenship.

And last night it was reported that Begum’s mother-in-law believes she should be allowed back into the UK.

The teenager married Yago Riedijk, an Islamic convert from the Netherlands, just ten minutes after meeting him.

His mother Ankie said although she believed both should face justice

for joining Islamic State, their home governments needed to take responsibilty. The BBC has devoted more than five hours of coverage to Begum.

The Shamima Begum Story is a 90-minute documentary available on iplayer. And there is also a two-anda-half

hour, multi-episode podcast called I’m Not A Monster, as well as numerous features on shows such as the Media Show andwoman’s Hour.

It has led to more than 100 complaints, with viewers fearing the coverage is giving a platform to Begum, now 23. Asked about the backlash, reporter Josh Baker replied: “I can understand people’s anger. Obviously going towards this I knew there would be a backlash.”

TV insiders estimate the cost of the documentary “was up to £450,000, not least because of the drivers and security involved”. Yet despite the investment, it received just one million viewers, seven per cent of the audience – beaten by Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad on ITV, and Channel 4’s 24 Hours In A&E.

Begum has fought to return to the UK but in February 2021 the Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeal ruling, preventing her return.

Andrew Allison, of The Freedom Association, said: “Shamima Begum happily left her home to join a death cult. The BBC ought to be ashamed for using licence fee payers’ money to allow her to tell her disgraceful story and for giving her the oxygen of publicity.”

The BBC said: “This important piece of journalism is the culmination of years of investigation by Josh Baker. This is not a platform for Shamima Begum to give her unchallenged story. This is a robust, public interest investigation into who she really is and what she really did.”