BBC3's Free Speech denies censoring debate about being gay and Muslim

[CaféAuLait]

BBC3's Free Speech denies censoring debate about being gay and Muslim

The live show on Wednesday night prompted accusations of censorship after it postponed discussion of a question put by Muslim drag queen Asifa Lahore, who asked: "One question I would like to ask the Muslim community is, when will it be right to be Muslim and gay?".

As the clip ended, host Rick Edwards announced, "We were going to debate that question but today after speaking to the mosque they have expressed deep concerns with having this discussion here... so we'll move on to our next question..

Stephen Evans, campaigns manager at the National Secular Society said: "After agreeing to allow a programme on free speech to be filmed at the mosque, it is absurd and wholly counterproductive to then censor the topic being discussed.

"It is unfortunate that the BBC allowed itself to be censored on this occasion by reactionary imams, but this was a place of worship, and perhaps the BBC would do well to choose religiously neutral venues to hold such debates in future."

BBC3's Free Speech denies censoring debate about being gay and Muslim | Media | theguardian.com

National Secular Society - BBC drops homosexuality debate from 'Free Speech' show after objections from mosque


So did they censor free speech or stop the discussion because they were pressured to censor free speech ( on a show about free speech) through the threat of violence? Irony, at its best.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

BBC3's Free Speech denies censoring debate about being gay and Muslim

The live show on Wednesday night prompted accusations of censorship after it postponed discussion of a question put by Muslim drag queen Asifa Lahore, who asked: "One question I would like to ask the Muslim community is, when will it be right to be Muslim and gay?".

As the clip ended, host Rick Edwards announced, "We were going to debate that question but today after speaking to the mosque they have expressed deep concerns with having this discussion here... so we'll move on to our next question..

Stephen Evans, campaigns manager at the National Secular Society said: "After agreeing to allow a programme on free speech to be filmed at the mosque, it is absurd and wholly counterproductive to then censor the topic being discussed.

"It is unfortunate that the BBC allowed itself to be censored on this occasion by reactionary imams, but this was a place of worship, and perhaps the BBC would do well to choose religiously neutral venues to hold such debates in future."

BBC3's Free Speech denies censoring debate about being gay and Muslim | Media | theguardian.com

National Secular Society - BBC drops homosexuality debate from 'Free Speech' show after objections from mosque


So did they censor free speech or stop the discussion because they were pressured to censor free speech ( on a show about free speech) through the threat of violence? Irony, at its best.

No.

This doesn’t involve government seeking to restrict free speech, consequently this isn’t a ‘free speech’ issue, nor was there any ‘censorship.’