Support for Somaye Zadeh
From Somaye Zadeh
BBC News Studio Manager (World Service)
On Friday 22nd April I was preparing to work on the lunchtime Newshour when I discovered that they were planning to broadcast a clip of the BNP's party political broadcast, which had gone out on national TV the day before. Needless to say I was outraged. This was a piece of music that was inciting racial hatred against people from my background; It specifically attacked Iraqis and Afghans and as an Iranian I felt sick to my stomach.
I promptly contacted BECTU head office and was advised by them that I should inform my manager that I didn t wish to work on this segment of the programme. This is exactly what I did and asked them to send a replacement Studio Manager to take my place. They had over half an hour to find a replacement and the programme was in no way jeapordised. Just after the 13:30 news summary my managers came into the studio and took me off the rest of the programme. My immediate manager took my place for the remainder of the programme. I was then told by the head of our department that I was an embarassment to the department and a liability. He told me that I could not be trusted to work on any other programme and pulled me off all programmes pending a formal meeting. I have since been told that Human Resources are minded to take me to disciplinary unless I apologise. BECTU have been very supportive and Gerry Morrissey BECTU's Assistant General Secretary is speaking to senior management and has advised them against taking any action against me. However I am still not working on programmes and have the threat of a disciplinary hanging over my head.
I believe that the BNP should not be allowed a platform and I am pleased that BECTU has taken a strong position on the issue and are supporting me. The BNP are a racist party whose leader was convicted of incitement to racial hatred. In areas where they have an elected representative racial violence has mushroomed. Bradford and Burnley are the obvious examples and here in London racist attacks have increased by 61.5% in the last year in Dagenham where they have a councillor. Allowing them a platform only increases their chance of electoral success which in turn fuels racist attacks. As a trade unionist and a second generation immigrant (whose parents came here as asylum seekers) I should not have to participate in broadcasting such racist filth. Would BBC management make a jew broadcast anti-semitic material? Postal workers who choose not to deliver BNP election material are not forced to do so, why should we?
It is for these reasons that I will not be apologising and I am writing to ask for your support, as friends, activists and trade unionists. I would appreciate messages expressing support for the stand I have taken to be sent to Huw Jones of BBC Human Resources at huw.jones.02@bbc.co.uk
Thank you
Somaye Zadeh
BBC News Studio Manager (World Service)
BBC News Studio Manager (World Service)
On Friday 22nd April I was preparing to work on the lunchtime Newshour when I discovered that they were planning to broadcast a clip of the BNP's party political broadcast, which had gone out on national TV the day before. Needless to say I was outraged. This was a piece of music that was inciting racial hatred against people from my background; It specifically attacked Iraqis and Afghans and as an Iranian I felt sick to my stomach.
I promptly contacted BECTU head office and was advised by them that I should inform my manager that I didn t wish to work on this segment of the programme. This is exactly what I did and asked them to send a replacement Studio Manager to take my place. They had over half an hour to find a replacement and the programme was in no way jeapordised. Just after the 13:30 news summary my managers came into the studio and took me off the rest of the programme. My immediate manager took my place for the remainder of the programme. I was then told by the head of our department that I was an embarassment to the department and a liability. He told me that I could not be trusted to work on any other programme and pulled me off all programmes pending a formal meeting. I have since been told that Human Resources are minded to take me to disciplinary unless I apologise. BECTU have been very supportive and Gerry Morrissey BECTU's Assistant General Secretary is speaking to senior management and has advised them against taking any action against me. However I am still not working on programmes and have the threat of a disciplinary hanging over my head.
I believe that the BNP should not be allowed a platform and I am pleased that BECTU has taken a strong position on the issue and are supporting me. The BNP are a racist party whose leader was convicted of incitement to racial hatred. In areas where they have an elected representative racial violence has mushroomed. Bradford and Burnley are the obvious examples and here in London racist attacks have increased by 61.5% in the last year in Dagenham where they have a councillor. Allowing them a platform only increases their chance of electoral success which in turn fuels racist attacks. As a trade unionist and a second generation immigrant (whose parents came here as asylum seekers) I should not have to participate in broadcasting such racist filth. Would BBC management make a jew broadcast anti-semitic material? Postal workers who choose not to deliver BNP election material are not forced to do so, why should we?
It is for these reasons that I will not be apologising and I am writing to ask for your support, as friends, activists and trade unionists. I would appreciate messages expressing support for the stand I have taken to be sent to Huw Jones of BBC Human Resources at huw.jones.02@bbc.co.uk
Thank you
Somaye Zadeh
BBC News Studio Manager (World Service)
posted by The Cat's Dream at 12:38 AM
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