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December 27, 2008updated 29 Dec 2008 9:02am

Channel 4 criticised for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad address

By PA Mediapoint

The Government has criticised Channel 4’s decision to broadcast an alternative Christmas message by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the broadcaster’s decision would cause international offence.

An FCO spokeswoman said: “President Ahmadinejad has during his time in office made a series of appalling anti-Semitic statements.

“The British media are rightly free to make their own editorial choices, but this invitation will cause offence and bemusement not just at home but amongst friendly countries abroad.”

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague described this year’s choice of Christmas message as “bizarre and ill-judged”.

“He is known internationally for his defiance of the international community over Iran’s nuclear programme, and his government at home presides over repeated human rights abuses.

“To choose him for a Christmas Day message gives the false impression he has a ready audience for his views and is insulting to the people of Britain.”

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President Ahmadinejad’s anti-Western rhetoric and views on Israel and homosexuality have strained international relations between Iran and the West.

The message was not broadcast at same time as the Queen’s Speech on BBC and ITV as in previous years, but went out on Christmas Day at 7.15pm.

Campaign groups attacked the broadcaster’s decision to air the speech as “sick” and motivated by ratings.

However, the president used the message to express his wish for a peaceful New Year and greater spirituality among governments, leaders and society as a whole.

Speaking in Farsi with English subtitles, he said: “Jesus, the Son of Mary, is the standard bearer of justice, of love for our fellow human beings, of the fight against tyranny, discrimination and injustice.

“If Christ were on earth today, undoubtedly He would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers.”

But the Israeli Embassy branded the Christmas message a “sick and twisted irony”.

Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor said: “In Iran, converts to Christianity face the death penalty. It is perverse that this despot is allowed to speculate on the views of Jesus, while his government leads Christ’s followers to the gallows.”

He said Channel 4’s decision to broadcast the message was a “scandal and a national embarrassment” and in “its search for ratings and shock factor, Channel 4 has lost its ethical way”.

Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside and chairwoman of the Labour Jewish Movement, said: “I condemn Channel 4’s decision to give an unchallenged platform to a dangerous fanatic who denies the holocaust while preparing for another and claims homosexuality does not exist while his regime hangs gay young men from cranes in the street.

“Who will deliver next year’s alternative Christmas message? Will it be David Irving or Robert Mugabe?”

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, of Liberal Judaism, said: “I have no trouble with Channel 4 dealing with difficult issues. The Queen’s speech is so benign that it is worthwhile having something thought-provoking.

“But doing a sort of lucky dip to pick out a controversial character, then allowing him to make a lovey-dovey speech, that this character is being allowed to dress himself up as a kind of Father Christmas, that is problematic.”

This is not the first time the channel has courted controversy with its choice of speaker. In 2006 a fully-veiled British-born Muslim woman used the message to attack Jack Straw for his criticism of the niqab (face veil) earlier the same year.

It was the broadcaster’s 16th alternative message since Quentin Crisp delivered the first in 1993.

Channel 4 head of news and current affairs Dorothy Byrne defended the decision to broadcast the message.

She said: “As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle East, President Ahmadinejad’s views are enormously influential.

“As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative world view.

“Channel 4 has devoted more airtime to examining Iran than any other broadcaster and this message continues a long tradition of offering a different perspective on the world around us.”

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