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BBC Panorama documentary ‘deeply irresponsible’, says Mazher Mahmood BBC Panorama documentary deeply irresponsible, says Mazher Mahmood
(35 minutes later)
The Sun on Sunday reporter Mazher Mahmood has accused the BBC of being deeply irresponsible for pledging to broadcast an already delayed Panorama documentary about his career as an investigative journalist.The Sun on Sunday reporter Mazher Mahmood has accused the BBC of being deeply irresponsible for pledging to broadcast an already delayed Panorama documentary about his career as an investigative journalist.
In an astonishing letter sent from his lawyers, Kingsley Napley, Mahmood calls on future viewers of the programme, Fake Sheikh: Exposed, to “keep an open mind on any allegations”, which he claims are based on sources that lack credibility.In an astonishing letter sent from his lawyers, Kingsley Napley, Mahmood calls on future viewers of the programme, Fake Sheikh: Exposed, to “keep an open mind on any allegations”, which he claims are based on sources that lack credibility.
Mahmood’s statement comes after James Harding, the BBC’s director of news, called the documentary “extremely revealing” and “squarely in the public interest”.Mahmood’s statement comes after James Harding, the BBC’s director of news, called the documentary “extremely revealing” and “squarely in the public interest”.
The BBC pulled the scheduled documentary with minutes to go on Monday night, citing new information from Mahmood’s lawyers delivered just 90 minutes before transmission. Mahmood’s letter denies this, accusing the BBC of issuing “misleading” statements.The BBC pulled the scheduled documentary with minutes to go on Monday night, citing new information from Mahmood’s lawyers delivered just 90 minutes before transmission. Mahmood’s letter denies this, accusing the BBC of issuing “misleading” statements.
He also criticised the BBC’s behaviour since Panorama’s allegations were put to him in October, saying that its executives “publicised the fact that their programme will condemn me, called me a ‘crook’ and tweeted mocking messages”.He also criticised the BBC’s behaviour since Panorama’s allegations were put to him in October, saying that its executives “publicised the fact that their programme will condemn me, called me a ‘crook’ and tweeted mocking messages”.
The allegations made, he says in the statement, are “unsustainable and wrong”.The allegations made, he says in the statement, are “unsustainable and wrong”.
Mahmood was suspended by the Sun on Sunday in July following the collapse of a trial involving the singer and former X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos.Mahmood was suspended by the Sun on Sunday in July following the collapse of a trial involving the singer and former X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos.
The BBC’s publicity material for Panorama said its reporter, John Sweeney, had spoken to some of Mahmood’s highest-profile targets and the men who helped him expose them.The BBC’s publicity material for Panorama said its reporter, John Sweeney, had spoken to some of Mahmood’s highest-profile targets and the men who helped him expose them.
First on Friday and then on Monday, high court judges rejected Mahmood’s appeal to keep his identity a secret. The irony of the journalist responsible for exposing the behaviour of celebrities seeking injunctions to keep his own identity a secret was not lost of many commentators.First on Friday and then on Monday, high court judges rejected Mahmood’s appeal to keep his identity a secret. The irony of the journalist responsible for exposing the behaviour of celebrities seeking injunctions to keep his own identity a secret was not lost of many commentators.
In his statement on Tuesday, Mahmood, said: “I am an investigative journalist and am as happy as anyone for the media to investigate”, before going on to name and also criticise two people he claims are Panorama’s sources.In his statement on Tuesday, Mahmood, said: “I am an investigative journalist and am as happy as anyone for the media to investigate”, before going on to name and also criticise two people he claims are Panorama’s sources.
His central complaint is that he is currently helping police with their inquiries into the Contostavlos trial. “The BBC proposes to broadcast, it would appear whatever the evidence shows, a programme designed to condemn my career as an investigatory journalist. They are doing so while there is an active investigation being carried out by the Metropolitan police into the collapse of the Contostavlos trial.His central complaint is that he is currently helping police with their inquiries into the Contostavlos trial. “The BBC proposes to broadcast, it would appear whatever the evidence shows, a programme designed to condemn my career as an investigatory journalist. They are doing so while there is an active investigation being carried out by the Metropolitan police into the collapse of the Contostavlos trial.
“I am cooperating fully with the police inquiry and have not been arrested. However because a decision will be taken shortly on whether any proceeding should be brought, the BBC has been asked by the attorney-general of England and Wales to consider delaying the broadcast to wait on any decision to prosecute, so as not to prejudice any proceedings should they be brought.“I am cooperating fully with the police inquiry and have not been arrested. However because a decision will be taken shortly on whether any proceeding should be brought, the BBC has been asked by the attorney-general of England and Wales to consider delaying the broadcast to wait on any decision to prosecute, so as not to prejudice any proceedings should they be brought.
“They are ignoring this and seem hell bent on broadcasting, whatever effect it may have. This is deeply irresponsible and not in the public interest or in the interests of justice, but unfortunately in line with the attitude they are taking around their programme in general.”“They are ignoring this and seem hell bent on broadcasting, whatever effect it may have. This is deeply irresponsible and not in the public interest or in the interests of justice, but unfortunately in line with the attitude they are taking around their programme in general.”
The legal information given to the BBC on Monday night he said, was “at their request” and “was not new information”.The legal information given to the BBC on Monday night he said, was “at their request” and “was not new information”.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Shortly before transmission Mr Mahmood’s lawyers submitted new information relating to one of the cases in the programme which, as a responsible broadcaster, the BBC needs to evaluate. Once this has been done we will broadcast Fake Sheikh: Exposed, including recent footage of Mr Mahmood, as planned.
“We have nothing further to say. We will let our programme speak for itself when we broadcast it.”
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