I have respect for the BBC news website, and I usually use it as my main source of news, but today, an article was published on their website strongly implying that all anti-war and CND protesters are actually pro-taliban demonstrators.

The headline is 'Protesters march to support Bin Laden' yet the article conflates in alternating paragraphs CND and other peace protesters along with pro-taliban marches and statements, without mentioning that most peace campaigners are also anti-taliban.

Furthermore, every photo used in the story is of peace/CND protesters, with the paragraph under the top photo suggesting that it is a pro-taliban march. The overall article reads like an attempt to reinforce the idea that anyone who is anti-war is also neccesarily pro-taliban. Another hidden message is to discourage people from attending peace demonstrations by implying that their attendance will be reported as a pro-taliban statement.

Hasty reading of the article, especially the end part could also give the impression that the world's Muslims would also prefer that you didn't attend peace marches, thank you very much.

Shame on you BBC for publishing this article containing many of the old black propaganda tricks to smear and di-inform about the peace movement.

-Tomato

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_1648000/1648479.stm

Protesters march to support Bin Laden



About 200 protesters marched through York

Up to 1,000 protesters are expected to take to the streets of Blackburn in Lancashire on Saturday to show support for the Taleban and Osama Bin Laden.

The demonstration in Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's constituency will coincide with an anti-war protest in London. Members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) will gather at Downing Street to protest at the bombing of Afghanistan.

An anti-war demonstration in York attracted about 200 protesters calling for a halt in the bombing of Afghanistan.

'Osama Bin Laden and the Taleban are the true representatives of the Muslim world'
Demonstration organiser Tasaddiq Rehman

During the two-hour demonstration, protesters chanted anti-war slogans and held aloft banners. Demonstrators paused for a minute's silence in St Helen's Square in honour of the victims of the 11 September atrocities before progressing to St Sampson's Square where a People's Parliament was held.

Becky Chamberlain, 21, a history student at the York University said: "I'm not a pacifist but after weeks of bombing with an unknown number of innocent victims I feel enough is enough."

Those taking part in the Blackburn demonstration, which police expect to pass off peacefully, say there is no evidence to prove Osama Bin Laden was behind the 11 September attacks.

One of the organisers, Tasaddiq Rehman, said the war against the Taleban and bin Laden was a war against the whole Muslim world.

'Crusader war'

"Osama Bin Laden and the Taleban are the true representatives of the Muslim world," he said. "The Christian crusader war that's being declared against the Taleban and people of Afghanistan by Tony Blair and George Bush is a Christian war against the Muslim world, so therefore that war involves the Muslims of Britain. "

On that basis, the Muslims of Britain are at this very moment at war against the British and American Governments."

The demonstration follows a rally in Blackburn last month, when hundreds of Muslims gathered to protest against terrorism and the international response to it.

Quiet vigil

Anti-war protesters gathering for the CND vigil in London on Saturday afternoon have been told by organisers not to chant or bring banners or placards.

A CND spokeswoman said: "Our vigil will be in remembrance of those who died in the US on 11 September and those who are dying now as a result of the bombing of Afghanistan. "It is not intended to rile people's anger but rather to stir their emotions and thoughts."

In north-west London, the World Ahul Bayt Islamic League (Wabil), which has members in 87 countries, is holding a conference to sign an Islamic declaration against terrorism.

Wabil secretary general Sayyed Mohammed Musawi said: "It has been a matter of deep regret that a tiny minority of misguided Muslims have made statements which appear to justify the terrorist acts of 11 September.

"These remarks fuel anger against the rest of the Muslims in the world who number about 1.5 million. "All terrorism is a crime against humanity and totally un-Islamic."