CAABU :: Information and Press Library :: CAABU Press Releases :: CAABU condemns Maureen Lipman's comment on the BBC

For Immediate Release

14 Jul, 2006

CAABU condemns Maureen Lipman's comment on the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_week/about_the_show/default.stm
(you can hear the comments on the website if you listen to the programme again- 30 minutes into it)
CAABU Director, Chris Doyle has written to the BBC to condemn the comments on the BBC television programme, This Week, by leading British columnist, Maureen Lipman.
Unchallenged by the presenter, Andrew Neil, Lipman commented on the situation in the Middle East and denied that the Israeli actions were disproportionate "What's proportion got to do with it. It's not about proportion, is it? Human life is not cheap to the Israelis. And human life on the other side is quite cheap actually because they strap bombs to people and send them to blow themselves up."
The idea that somehow Arabs, whether Palestinians or Lebanese, do not value human life as much as anyone else is disgraceful.
In the letter Doyle wrote, "Is it acceptable that what most people would consider a racist comment is merely allowed to pass like this? It is simply outrageous. The comments were made in the context of discussing proportionality, and that therefore implicitly she is saying that you could not measure proportion because there was no equivalence between an Israeli of an Arab life. All Arabs like all peoples value human life.
I ask, if an Arab had stated on this programme that Jews did not value life as much as Arabs, and therefore disproportionate killings were acceptable, what would have been the reaction?"
N.B. When CAABU receives a response from the BBC, we shall post it on the website (click here)
For comment and further information please contact the CAABU information office 0207 832 1323 - doylec@caabu.org

About CAABU
The Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding (CAABU) promotes an enlightened and positive approach to Arab-British relations in Government, parliament, the media, education and amongst the wider public.

In the light of September 11th, crisis in the Middle East and the continuing conflict in palestine, CAABU's role is more important than ever.

CAABU is the oldest and largest organisation of its type in Europe having been set up in 1967. We strive hard to build on the historical, political and cultural links between the Arab world and Britain which are being eroded by misunderstanding and negative stereotyping.