’Free Palestine’ Lyrics censored by BBC - Big names join PSC campaign

Film director Ken Loach, Comedian Mark Thomas and Massive Attack frontman Robert del Naja have all added their names to a PSC letter which has been sent to Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, condemning its actions in censoring the word ’Palestine’ from a song broadcast on Radio 1Xtra. The letter is printed here:

Mark Thompson
Director General
BBC Television Centre
Wood Lane
London W12 7RJ

19 May 2011

Dear Mr Thompson

We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the BBC’s censorship of the word ‘Palestine’ from a song played on the Hip Hop M1X with Charlie Sloth on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

The edit was made three minutes into a recording by the artist, Mic Righteous, with the word ‘Palestine’ being blanked out of the lyrics ‘I can say “Free Palestine”’.

As artists, academics, lawyers and Parliamentarians we oppose this attack on the principles of free speech and on the freedom of artists to express political viewpoints through art.

We ask the BBC to issue a guarantee that censorship of this kind will not occur again across its programming.

Yours sincerely

Mark Thomas

Jeremy Hardy

Mark Steel

Alexei Sayle

Miriam Margolyes

Benjamin Zephaniah

Ken Loach

Robert del Naja

Lowkey

Bella Freud

Bernadine Freud

Ahdaf Souief

Jeremy Corbyn MP

Andy Slaughter MP

Dr Karma Nabulsi

Professor Ilan Pappe

Karen Mitchell (Thompsons Solicitors)

Sarah Colborne (Director, Palestine Solidarity Campaign)

PSC’s campaign has taken off on Facebook and Twitter.

PSC sent this press release to the media this week:

BBC’s ‘censorship’ condemned by artists and lawyers

Film director Ken Loach, Comedian Mark Thomas and Massive Attack frontman Robert del Naja have written to the BBC Director General condemning the broadcaster’s decision to edit the word ‘Palestine’ from a song.

They are among 18 artists, academics, lawyers and Parliamentarians who signed a letter to Mark Thompson in protest at the edit made on The Hip Hop M1X with Charlie Sloth on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

They wrote: “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the BBC’s censorship of the word ‘Palestine’ from a song played on the Hip Hop M1X with Charlie Sloth on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

“As artists, academics, lawyers and Parliamentarians we oppose this attack on the principles of free speech and on the freedom of artists to express political viewpoints through art.”

The letter added: “We ask the BBC to issue a guarantee that censorship of this kind will not occur again across its programming.

The edit was made to a recording by the artist Mic Righteous as he sang the lyrics, ‘I can say Free Palestine’.

A campaign has sprung up on Facebook in recent days, with groups such as ‘BBC – Don’t Censor Palestine’ attracting more than 2,000 followers.

Sarah Colborne, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK, said: ‘The BBC’s decision to ban the word ‘Palestine’ from its musical airwaves is beyond absurd. It’s a biased political decision that should have no place in public service broadcasting. This is reflected in the depth of the outrage felt by people across the country, and Mark Thompson should issue an immediate apology on behalf of the BBC.

What to do next:

1. Email Charlie Sloth, the DJ whose show censored ’Palestine’and ’Gaza strip’, and Radio 1 to ask why that decision was taken. Ask for the songs to be played in full.

Charlie Sloth: charliesloth@bbc.co.uk

Radio 1: radio1.enquiries@bbc.co.uk

2. If you’ve made two complaints to the BBC, keep chasing for a reply. Once a reply has been received, the complaint can be taken to the second stage of the complaints process. If the complaint reaches the third stage (the appeals stage), and the BBC Trust upholds the complaint, the BBC will have to apologise for censoring the song. Email amena.saleem@palestinecampaign.org to become involved.

Listen to Mic Righteous here, with the edit coming three minutes into the song:

The second song can be heard here, with BIgz silenced 2.13 minutes in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23hVI_nJZiQ

http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=24&Content_ID=1968