http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html en-gb 30 Fri 25 Dec 2009 12:30:37 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=18#comment12 Interesting follow-up. Whilst I think you are right to investigate whether some of the receipts in Policy Exchange's report were 'forgeries', one question is, does your focus on the 'dodgy receipts' detract from the issue of whether or not certain literature is for sale or not in mosque bookshops (and when is a 'mosque bookshop' not a mosque bookshop?!) and if so, what issues does this raise?It would appear that Policy Exchange have handled this issue badly.However, re-runs are boring and if you are going to cover this story again with an update, would you consider spending perhaps 50% of the piece focusing on the receipts and the research with vigour,then shed some light on the allegations as made. Along the lines of. "So, we believe that some of the receipts were forgeries. That said, we tried to purchase these books yesterday and this is what we found.......".If I remember correctly, there was one occassion when your reporter went into one of the 'mosque bookshops' and discovered that talthough he receipt was a fake, the book stated on the receipt was available on the bookshelf and for sale.This has always been a mystery to me - what could be the motive of the reserachers to forge the receipts? If the books were actually available, could it have been laziness on the part of the researchers, rather than a serious attempt to mislead? Mon 02 Jun 2008 15:58:42 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=16#comment11 Peter,This entire story has left me bemused, firstly we had the Policy Exchange 'sexing up their evidence', which was both deceitful and ironically very damaging to the report that they wished to highlight.Secondly, the BBC's incorrect (IMHO) strategy to attack the PE on this specific part of the evidence, rather than explore the real newsworthy story that some Mosques are selling extremist material, and therefore by extension also condoning extremist behaviour, this is a much more newsworthy story that should have been explored and should still be explored.In closing the Policy Exchange and the BBC are both guilty of behaving incorrectly, and both parties seem to show a certain bias in how they interpreted the report, I would suggest that this could be down to the BBC's refusal to discuss how extremist sections of the Muslim population are able to exert such terror on the world, and why reports such as that from the Policy Exchange deserve an impartial debate on their content and conclusions, rather than a politically correct judgement made in advance by some faceless BBC political commissar. Mon 02 Jun 2008 15:50:26 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=15#comment10 This post has been Removed Fri 30 May 2008 11:42:01 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=13#comment9 Who funds a particular "think-tank"?Who, if anyone, purchases its reports?What are the CVs of its associates?Some consulting firms became government contractors and others became fronts for special interests.It has become necessary to qualify and classify such sources when relaying their views.__________________________There are also various false web-sites that pretend to impartiality while disseminating disinformation._____________________My suggestion concerning the Mosques:give them lots of air-time with a trained moderator and someone to do do clearly articulated voice-overs or translations.What could be better for understanding, venting and cooperation? Fri 30 May 2008 11:28:48 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=12#comment8 I hope we are going to see this new statement on newsnight. I find it completely unbelievable that a previously respectable think-tank has fabricated these things. Good on newsnight for uncovering this, and it is now about time that the policy exchange admit they made mistakes. Fri 30 May 2008 09:40:55 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=10#comment7 I agree that by trying to 'stand-up' the Policy Exchange's allegations you have tried to avoid the old 'churnalism' of regurgitating allegations without checking the evidence on which they are based. But maybe it is also about time, now that 'Undercover Mosque' is about ready to be shown again to launch an investigation of your own into what is happening in the mosques which have been the subjects of such conflicting reports. As Nick Davies hints at in his book, telling both sides of the allegations without trying to get at the underlying truth doesn't really help us find out what is really going on. And I think finding out the truth of what is happening in these mosques is important as it has been clouded somewhat in the heat generated over past reports. Fri 30 May 2008 08:37:38 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=9#comment6 I was sent an e-mail yesterday urging me to complain because the holocaust had been dropped from the GCSE sylabus because it was 'offensive to muslims who don't believe it happened'This simply isn't true and GCSE history still teaches the holocaust (to the point where the rest of WW2 is a sideshow), most muslims do accept it happens, and using pictures of Jewish victims of the nazi's to hell 'sell' a nazi-style anti muslim propaganda campaign is sickening at all levels.I'm no fan of the 'muslim community' and its failures to tackle extemism but there is a huge wave of anti-muslim propaganda sweaping the UK that is just as dangerous as the bile coming from the mouths of extremist immans. Fri 30 May 2008 07:23:42 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=7#comment5 TheMaskedMarvel,I have to say that, while I am no fan of Godson - a genuine "Bushite" - your inference that self-confessed neocon Gove (staunch defender of gay rights; wrote extremely favourable biography of Conservative-left Portillo) is on the extreme right of UK politics is rather silly and totally baseless. Perhaps you occupy an extreme position on the other side of the political spectrum, yes? Or maybe you work for The Grauniad, to whom everyone right of Gordon Brown is a goose-stepping fascist? Thu 29 May 2008 21:42:04 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=6#comment4 A case of good-old-fashion journalism here, the truth has prevailed! The think tank has been shamed and describing them as 'right-leaning' is being very kind to them.Thanks for the update, I wonder what they'll say in reply. Thu 29 May 2008 20:41:00 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=4#comment3 When something smells like fraud-explore it!!If they try to intimidate you- go all out to and get the facts-and PUBLISH them.!!____________________-For general principles:there is too much fraud, spin and intimidation of media. Somebody in the tailspinning society has to fight it- why not the BBC?Always look for "cui bono"? Where is the payoff for the smelly condiuct?____________________My basic belief is that the majority of people, everywhere, and of all religions, just want to get on with a decent family life.Let us nail the trouble-makers who who disturb this human fact! Thu 29 May 2008 17:11:56 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=3#comment2 Well, given Policy Exchange's background, not a total surprise:The policy director, Dean Godson, with Paxman above, worked for the Reagan administration, was a signatory to the neocon Project for the New American Century, and was special assistant to the jailed former Telegraph owner Conrad Black.The 'Hijacking of British Islam' report was written byDenis MacEoin, a pro-Israel campaigner who says he has "very negative feelings" about Islam.The thinktank's founders were Nicholas Boles, now Tory candidate for Grantham, and Michael Gove, author of that British neocon rallying cry Celsius 7/7 and now the Tory education spokesman.When the BBC describes them as 'right-leaning', they are understating the case somewhat. Thu 29 May 2008 16:53:20 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=1#comment1 i believe that the few extremists that have carried attacks or have tried have left a stain on Islam as a whole, extremists have (maybe not deliberately) turned Islam into in quite few a peoples eyes an 'extremist religion' with terroism at the heart of its agenda. We all know this is not true but it certainly is a fear and belief that has appeared since the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks. Thu 29 May 2008 16:20:22 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2008/05/policy_exchange_dispute_update.html?page=0#comment0 This post has been Removed Thu 29 May 2008 15:57:20 GMT+1