BBC Slammed For Debating Whether Uganda Should Execute Gays
 

LONDON " The British Broadcasting Corp. suffered criticism from lawmakers Wednesday for inviting debate on whether homosexuals should face execution in Uganda.

The broadcaster launched an on-line debate over a proposed Ugandan law that would punish some homosexual acts by life imprisonment or death. Legislation being considered in the African country would impose the death penalty on some gay Ugandans, and their family and friends could face up to seven years in jail if they fail to report their homosexuality to authorities.

BBC's "Africa Have Your Say" Web site asked for people's views on whether Uganda has gone too far and whether there should be any laws against gays.

The page's title was originally "Should homosexuals face execution?" but was later changed to "Should Uganda debate gay execution?" Several British politicians said the taxpayer-funded broadcaster should not treat the execution of gays as a legitimate topic for discussion.

"We should be looking at what is going on in Uganda with abhorrence," said lawmaker Eric Joyce of the ruling Labour Party. "We should be condemning it, and the BBC should be condemning it. ... Instead it seems to have thought it appropriate to come up with something that suggests it's a subject for discussion."

Lynne Featherstone, a lawmaker from the opposition Liberal Democrats, said she has written to BBC executives seeking an apology and an end to the Web discussion.

"Suggesting that the state-sponsored murder of gay people is OK as a legitimate topic for debate is deeply offensive," she said.

The forum attracted more than 600 comments and triggered a lively Twitter discussion.

The BBC's World Service Africa program editor, David Stead, defended the debate. In a blog posted on the BBC Web site, he said editors had "thought long and hard about using this question" and sought to reflect the diverse views about homosexuality in Africa.

"We agree that it is a stark and challenging question, but think that it accurately focuses on and illustrates the real issue at stake," he said.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/1..._n_394894.html

Well don't debate it, put a stop to it, is it any wonder Uganda is a 3rd world country?

It seems ridiculous in this day and age. It should not be an option full stop. Sometimes I think the world is going backwards instead of forwards.

Yes the BBC
has gone stupid on this.

lol at Uganda full stop

What right have we to criticise the judicial affairs of another sovereign state

None that I can think of

This is a debate purely for the citizens of Uganda and nobody else.

who needs a "right"?

:conf:

I have to strongly disagree with that sticks, people are people and this is a human rights issue that other countries should step and stop as they are murdering people.

Oh right ,so there should have been no sanctions imposed against South Africa .Apartheid was our business and we should have been allowed to carry on ??

I love these folks with bible in hand and blindfold tied securely to eyes :rolleyes:

Absolutely, these are innocent people being murdered so it should be the worlds business to put a stop to it!!

Unfortunetly ,I don't believe it will be stopped .it will carry on and we will all probably forget about it very soon,sadly.It's not likely to make news here in Europe for awhile again.Shame.!!!

Yes it is a shame, we're all too wrapped up in our lives to think about other peoples hardships

Have the gays done anything wrong or are we just going to kill them for bumming?

Being Gay is what they have done Gonzo!

Wow, seems kinda harsh. O well, at least they had fun.

can they not just take away their mobiles or disconnect their internet for a year?

I don't think that would stop them putting their penises in each other though. Better plans must be designed before the gayness spreads!

On a serious note... this is completely nutty, although it is everyone's right to debate what they wish to debate - it is through debate and discussion that we learn.

What sort of arguement is that! So if the rest of the world are aware that mass murder is going on by a government in some country - they are supposed to ignore it - under the guise that it is none of their business. Human rights are everyone's business - that is just a cop-out - just an excuse for turning a blind eye when it suits you!

witness nazi Germany for example

I have to totally disagree with that. We should not just stand by and let them get on with it. Why, maybe they could go further and persecute people for the colour of their skin or possibly their religious persuasion? Would you find this acceptable in the UK if such a law was passed? Would you not expect others to intervene to stop such abhorrent victimisation? Many people have strived to educate people on such matters and have lost their freedom, or lives along the way fighting such injustices. In your eyes should we stop and just let governments do as they please? That seems pretty backward to me.

They should not have the right to execute Homosexuals, but i don't see a way in which the UK or EU can stop this.

What do you suggest we do? Send our troops to yet another hole of a country and tell another bunch of animals how to bury their ****? It hasn't worked out well in the past. We should keep our noses out and let them deal with things how they want. Troops went to Vietnam; troops went to Afghanistan... and it never ends well. We are a small but great nation, and we should be happy with that. Let others do as they will. Judge not, lest ye be judged.

Wars are fought and there are casualties along the way, but they are fought to combat injustices, and for the better of the people in most cases. If the world sat by and let things happen I would not like to comprehend where we might be today with such an attitude.

There are injustices in every country... we just don't have the troops to combat everything we as a nation do not agree with.

Bang on. The wars helped kids not to get raped and abused by the Paedo talibans and the treatment of woman there was ridiculous as in Iraq Saddam tortured civilians the way they would be treated 1000 years ago. Send troops in
show them how the big boys do it.

Yeh, then send troops home in rubber sacks. Show them how the undertakers do it.

They are being paid to do a job and they should be more then proud to do it.

You ask any corpse how easy it is to be proud. We should concentrate more on the **** that happens on our own soil before casting an eye elsewhere.

As I previously said, there are always casualties but it is a price that unfortunately has to be paid. I think that in this case there should be some involvement on a humanitarian basis. I doubt we would have the freedom we have today if people had not lost their lives for the better of their, and their future, generation.

This is a really difficult one - because although I do believe it is everyone's business - at the same time I agree with what you say and don't want our troops sent there as well! It is always easy for people who have no emotional involvement to shout 'send the troops in' - but those troops are someone's loved ones - and it just isn't good enough to say 'there are casualties along the way' - just as long as it isn't them or their loved ones hey!

Maybe other things such as very extreme international sanctions - restricting imports and exports into the country and such like - make life very difficult for those in the government. It would be a slower process - of course, but I don't see why people from other nations should die in order for people from that country to be allowed openness about their sexuality.

Excellent, Lives have to be sacrificed. Fathers,Husbands and boys become warriors. What's wrong in our soil? a bit of graffiti on the road? War is unfortunate but a price that has to be paid, we live under a one world government.

You pay it then - don't just expect someone else to do it!

My Uncle paid a price, and i would be more then happy to myself.

Quite presumptious of you.

I am sorry about your uncle - he was obviously a brave man. You are free to join up and fight if you want to - but no-one has the right to sit by and say that others should do so! Nine times out of ten - they have no idea what they are talking about!

I would if the need arose. I don't expect anything from anyone. I am grateful we have people who are willing to and not just ignore such matters.

This is absolutely abysmal. Anyone who agrees with this is an utter disgrace. This move can never be justified.

We do quite a bit of trade with certain regimes, some might not approve of, but this trade provides jobs in this country. If we go criticising other governments and "dipping our nibs where there is no ink" all we do is lose jobs here in Britain. The practices you may not like will continue anyway and all you have succeeded is putting people out of work here.

There is a fundamental rule, that we do not interfere in the internal affairs of another sovereign state, period.

So turning a blind eye to the murdering of innocent people is ok then if it saves jobs?

Too right the BBC are getting flack. I agree with the statements that Uganda's murdering it's citizens. I find it tragic that nothing is being done to stop it.