BBC sacks Arabic Service union activists on brink of war
National Union of Journalists | 21.02.2003 16:20
BBC Arabic Service union activists, one a member of the NUJ executive, sacked and marched off the Bush House premises.
The NUJ is accusing the BBC of betrayal and of making the World Service radio “a lackey of the Foreign Office” over the sacking of two union activists.
The two journalists -- Adli Hawwari and Abdul Hadi Jiad – work for the Arabic Service, the biggest language section of the World Service. They were sacked on the spot today. They were not allowed union representation or a right to appeal and were told to leave the building at once.
Adli Hawwari is a member of the BBC Forum, the representative body set up to consult the staff. He is a member of the NUJ National Executive Council and Deputy Father (and former Father) of the BBC Language Services Chapel. Abdul Hadi Jiad is an Arabic Service colleague who four years ago won a landmark Employment Tribunal case for racial discrimination against the BBC.
The BBC has accused them of making too many complaints about conditions in the Arabic Service. It has confirmed that the dismissals were ordered by Director-General Greg Dyke.
Deputy General Secretary John Fray said: “This is the ultimate betrayal of free speech by Greg Dyke in the name of the BBC.
“Two Arabic Journalists sacked for always being prepared to speak out against the World Service’s inherently discriminatory employment policy.
“When others gave up they were never prepared to stand by and let the unfair treatment of colleagues working in the language services go unchallenged.”
“Today they have not been given even the right of representation or appeal. The BBC has flouted all the laws of fairness and its agreements with the union and victimised these journalists.”
For more than 10 years there have been disputes at the Arabic Service over the discriminatory treatment of Arab staff, and over the coverage of Middle East conflicts. Arab journalists have felt sidelined by the BBC’s staffing and editorial decisions.
John Fray said: “The BBC has laid itself open to accusations of the World Service being the lackeys of the government.
“Is it a coincidence that two Arabic service journalists are sacked when a war over Iraq is on the horizon? Let us not forget that it is the British Government that pays, for the World Service through a Foreign Office grant.”
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: “Even the BBC have admitted this action is completely unprecedented. This is total victimisation.”
The two journalists -- Adli Hawwari and Abdul Hadi Jiad – work for the Arabic Service, the biggest language section of the World Service. They were sacked on the spot today. They were not allowed union representation or a right to appeal and were told to leave the building at once.
Adli Hawwari is a member of the BBC Forum, the representative body set up to consult the staff. He is a member of the NUJ National Executive Council and Deputy Father (and former Father) of the BBC Language Services Chapel. Abdul Hadi Jiad is an Arabic Service colleague who four years ago won a landmark Employment Tribunal case for racial discrimination against the BBC.
The BBC has accused them of making too many complaints about conditions in the Arabic Service. It has confirmed that the dismissals were ordered by Director-General Greg Dyke.
Deputy General Secretary John Fray said: “This is the ultimate betrayal of free speech by Greg Dyke in the name of the BBC.
“Two Arabic Journalists sacked for always being prepared to speak out against the World Service’s inherently discriminatory employment policy.
“When others gave up they were never prepared to stand by and let the unfair treatment of colleagues working in the language services go unchallenged.”
“Today they have not been given even the right of representation or appeal. The BBC has flouted all the laws of fairness and its agreements with the union and victimised these journalists.”
For more than 10 years there have been disputes at the Arabic Service over the discriminatory treatment of Arab staff, and over the coverage of Middle East conflicts. Arab journalists have felt sidelined by the BBC’s staffing and editorial decisions.
John Fray said: “The BBC has laid itself open to accusations of the World Service being the lackeys of the government.
“Is it a coincidence that two Arabic service journalists are sacked when a war over Iraq is on the horizon? Let us not forget that it is the British Government that pays, for the World Service through a Foreign Office grant.”
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: “Even the BBC have admitted this action is completely unprecedented. This is total victimisation.”
National Union of Journalists