Join Our Campaign: Hold the BBC Accountable for Distorted Reporting
At We Believe in Israel, we are launching a campaign to address recent BBC reporting that distorts historical truth and misrepresents the realities of Syria’s Jewish community and Israel’s actions. We need your support to ensure the BBC is held to account and that it upholds its commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and fairness.
What Happened?
Recent comments made by BBC journalists Lyse Doucet and Jeremy Bowen have raised serious concerns:
-
Misrepresentation of Jewish History in Syria:
Lyse Doucet claimed that Jews “want to believe they have a space” in Syria’s supposed “new chapter.” This statement erases decades of persecution and expulsion that reduced Syria’s once-thriving Jewish community of 40,000 to just three individuals today. This revisionist narrative trivialises the suffering of Syria’s Jews and misleads the public about the realities of the country’s antisemitic past. -
Distorted Reporting on Israel:
Jeremy Bowen suggested that Israel preferred Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship and framed Israel’s actions against Assad’s chemical weapons as a hindrance to peace. By omitting the atrocities committed by Assad’s regime and the destabilising influence of Iran and Hezbollah, this reporting unfairly portrays Israel’s legitimate security measures in a negative light.
Why This Matters
These inaccuracies and distortions violate the BBC’s obligation to provide accurate, impartial, and fair reporting. They also risk perpetuating harmful narratives against Jews and Israel while undermining public trust in Britain’s most prominent public broadcaster.
What We Are Doing
Before this issue can be escalated to Ofcom, the BBC must be given the opportunity to respond to formal complaints. That’s why we’re asking you to join us in submitting complaints directly to the BBC.
We have prepared a model letter to make this process simple and effective. Submitting a complaint will ensure that your voice is heard and that the BBC understands the gravity of this issue.
Our Model Letter
To Whom It May Concern,
I wish to submit a formal complaint regarding recent BBC reporting on Syria, which I believe breaches the principles of impartiality, accuracy, and fairness.
Lyse Doucet’s statement that Jews “want to believe they have a space” in Syria fundamentally misrepresents historical truth. Syria’s Jewish population, once numbering 40,000, was eradicated through systematic persecution and violence, leaving just three individuals today. Such a claim trivialises the suffering of this community and misleads viewers.
Additionally, Jeremy Bowen’s reporting framed Israel’s defensive actions as obstructive to peace while omitting critical context about Assad’s war crimes and the destabilising role of Iran and Hezbollah. This narrative lacks the balance and fairness expected of BBC reporting.
These comments appear to breach the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines regarding accuracy, impartiality, and the avoidance of harm and offence.
I respectfully urge the BBC to address these inaccuracies and ensure future reporting reflects the facts with fairness and balance.
Yours faithfully,
How You Can Help
-
Submit a Complaint to the BBC:
Use our model letter as a guide to craft your complaint. We’ll provide instructions on how to file it with the BBC. -
Spread the Word:
Share this campaign with your networks. The more complaints the BBC receives, the stronger our collective voice. -
Stay Engaged:
If the BBC’s response is inadequate, we will escalate the issue to Ofcom. Your involvement is crucial in ensuring accountability.
Context: Why This Campaign is Essential
The BBC is a public broadcaster with a global reputation for journalistic integrity. However, when its reporting fails to meet the standards of accuracy, impartiality, and fairness, it risks misleading the public and causing real harm.
Misrepresenting the history of Jewish persecution in Syria trivialises their suffering and erases decades of oppression. Similarly, distorting Israel’s defensive actions undermines an honest understanding of the challenges it faces in a volatile region. These narratives fuel harmful biases and do a disservice to viewers who rely on the BBC for truthful reporting.
By taking part in this campaign, you are standing up for truth, fairness, and the rights of the Jewish community to have their history represented accurately.
Take Action Now
Join us in demanding better from the BBC. Together, we can hold them accountable and ensure they deliver the truthful, impartial journalism they promise to the public.
