how to complain before you see the programme!

now, i haven’t seen the “dispatches” programme yet, it’s on my sky+ box waiting to be viewed. however, i was quite amused to be warned by one naeem darr, who i understand is some sort of spokesman for our old friends the muslim safety forum, to have my complaint ready. helpfully, he then went on to provide me with a set of points to complain about to channel 4 and jim kirkpatrick mp. i reproduce his email in full – and include in bold the bits which he appears to know before broadcast:

Dispatches Islamophobic documentary

Channel 4’s Dispatches is due to broadcast a damaging and misleading programme on Monday 1st March at 8pm. For nearly a year the programme had undercover reporters attending events (including private meetings) of Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) and passing themselves off as Muslims and friends, but acting as agents provocateurs to solicit replies to use against IFE.

IFE is a mainstream community organisation with members hailing from different walks of life. Its activities and events are open to the public and publicised widely. No request was made by Dispatches to gain access to IFE’s activities or projects. Instead by using undercover reporters and ‘covert filming’, Dispatches has portrayed IFE as a secretive organisation, arousing much suspicion.

The Dispatches programme on 1st March is set to falsely portray IFE as an extremist and sinister organisation, and undo the years of good work in the community. The programme wrote to IFE few days ago asking for their response/comment on around 23 different issues and allegations, including links to Al-Qaeda  and engaging in “entryism” in an attempt to bring about an Islamic ‘coup’ within mainstream British politics, or achieve political domination.

As concerned citizens of this country, we strongly condemn this demonization of an organisation with a track record of transparency, integration and engagement. Moreover this programme is not only politically-motivated due to the upcoming elections, it is also Islamophobic in nature – preying on public fears about extremism.

Please protest against this divisive programme by registering your complaints to the producers of Dispatches, Channel 4, Ofcom (regulatory body) and John Fitzptrick MP who has been feeding drivel to Dispatches.

following the links to register complaints appears the template letter to register a complaint:

TEMPLATE LETTER AND POINTS

Please use the letter below as a template to register your complaint to Channel 4’s Dispatches:                                     

Date…

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write to express my utter disgust and disappointment at Channel 4’s Dispatches “Britain’s Islamic Republic”, which levels wholly inaccurate and defamatory accusations on the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE).

The documentary is not only Islamophobic in nature but it preys on public fears about extremism. The programme utilises emotive and provocative language and misleading information to create an impression that IFE is a sinister, secretive and anti-democratic organisation which condones and promotes violent extremism.

At a time of rising far right activism and an increased reporting of Islamophobic and racist attacks on Muslims, Channel 4 has acted wholly irresponsibly. The IFE is a mainstream Muslim organisation which has for many years worked to encourage active citizenship and community development. It is reprehensible that the Dispatches programme has made such a crude attempt at defaming the IFE. It appears that Dispatches has joined those in society who are hell bent on creating division, paranoia and distrust amongst communities.

Yours faithfully

[insert here your name and city]

even more helpfully, the following are also included:

Additional Points for Individualised Letters and Points to Raise When Making Telephone Complaints.

You may also choose to incorporate some of the following in your letter of complaint If you are able to, please consider using the following points in your letter of complaint:

1. Coming so close to a general election, the documentary is politically motivated.  
2. The programme will undoubtedly increase community tension and harm genuine attempts at community cohesion.
3. The documentary is a dishonest attempt at scaremongering and vilifying Muslim communities and religious institutions.
4. The documentary panders to the BNP and the Far Right
5. It begs the question; what is wrong with Muslims being politically engaged and active in civic society and the politics of the common good?
6. This dishonest portrayal of a mainstream Muslim organisation like the IFE will only contribute to further alienating young Muslims and draw them towards extremism.
7. Similar claims were made in the not so distant past against the Irish and Jewish communities.
8. This is part of a series of organised, vindictive and orchestrated witch hunts against Muslim personalities, institutions and organisations which aims at undoing the excellent work done by these.
9. This is irresponsible and reprehensible journalism by Channel 4, which makes a mockery of its stated aim of representing and celebrating Britain’s diversity and multi-culturalism.
10. The picture painted of IFE is contrary to our knowledge and experience of the organisation and indeed its track record.

but not, i fear to ours. jolly well organised, though – i’m sure this is an excellent way to strike back against jewish zionist control of the media and, y’know, how islamists muslims are denied a voice and that. anyway, i’d like to thank naeem for showing me how to complain about this programme, which i’ll undoubtedly want to do, of course.