Friday 27 February 2009

How Committed are Journalists?

It has often been argued that the press has a right to freely disseminate information. This is also supported by the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966, Article 19, which maintains:

"everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media"

One may presume that such a right also enshrines the right to freely omit from having to express, share or publish information. However, when there are reporters who can readily and freely access certain stories, such as the upside-down system of the Islamic Government of Iran, and the Iranian people's protests and civil disobedience, then it is the press' duty to report on such. When one fights for the right to channel events to the world, which I dare argue in honour of truth, then they must uphold that responsibility with utmost integrity.

The BBC, as well as other bodies of the media have time and again refrained from reporting or broadcasting the Iranian people's plight. Every time there is a mass protest against the Iranian Government, or when Government officials brutally attack and arbitrarily arrest Iranian students for protesting at the Government (in this case for using their university premises as a burial grounds for 'martyrs' in order to further the Government's own hidden agenda), the press in the West remain silent. In order for humanity to be served, and for the people of Iran to gain strength and morale they need to know that the outside world is aware and supports them. For as long as the press choose to turn a blind eye to the gross violations of human rights in Iran, the Islamic Government of Iran will maintain their power, unchallenged and undeterred; and the cries of the Iranian people will be muffled by press censorship both in Iran and in the West.

The BBC has a correspondent in Iran, who has failed to report on the events surrounding the brutal treatment of AKU students in their protests against their university premises being used as a burial grounds for 'martyrs' to further the Islamic Government's propaganda. It has been brought to my attention that there is a demonstration in protest of the BBC's illustrated lack of commitment to honouring their own precepts. This protest is due to take place on Sunday 1 March, 2009 at 1300hrs-1400hrs outside the BBC studios in Wood Lane. Some people may disagree with the basis of such a protest. For those of you who agree, please show your support and attend, in honour of the free flow of truth so that justice can be upheld.

1 comment:

  1. About time someone protested against BBC's biased coverage.

    ReplyDelete