BBC Chair Denies Plea from 200 Jewish Staffers Calling for Formal Probe into Antisemitism at the Newsroom
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has reportedly denied an internal request to formally investigate allegations of “systemic problems of antisemitism and bias” at the company.
A group of 200 Jewish employees, contributors, and suppliers requested the company launch a formal probe into persisting antisemitism in a letter sent to BBC Board members and Chairman Samir Shah on July 19, American media reported.
The group detailed their “anguish and disbelief because we fear we have now exhausted the process of raising our very serious concerns about anti-Jewish racism with BBC Management,” according to the report.
The group provided the board with a list of “impartiality breaches in matters of public controversy relating to Israel and Gaza,” broadcast errors that they say “suggest bias” and personal details “of the fear and mental health toll on Jewish BBC staff, their feelings of isolation and alienation from their bosses and experiences of prejudice and racism at work,” according to the American news outlet.
Shah turned down their request for a formal investigation on Thursday, August 1, stating that the board “holds the [BBC] Executive to account through the assurances we seek and the questions we ask of the decision-making process.” (FN / VFI News)
“Our Heavenly Father, we pray that You protect our Jewish brothers and sisters around the world from antisemitism at their workplaces. We pray in Yeshua’s name that You shield all Jewish people from bullying, work-related trauma, and mental health problems that stem from antisemitism. We hope that discrimination against Jews will soon be regarded as vile as any other type of discrimination and racism. May You open the eyes of the people of the world according to Your Will and bring repentance into their hearts.”