Biased BBC Says Muslim Brotherhood Are No Jihadis: Well, Not All Of Them Are

EGYPT In Chaos (Photos): The BBC has 50 journalists in Egypt. They also have Simpson and Bowen talking to other BBC journalists while the cameras roll. All agree that the Muslim Brotherhood is a conservative organisation. (Many Egyptians disagree.)

Says Jeremy Bowen on the BBC – and this the same Bowen who said of the Islamists that want to annihilate Israel and every Jew in it: “Hamas is a less conventional organisation”:

The country’s only properly organised mass political movement outside the ruling party is the Muslim Brotherhood, and it would do very well in any free election.

Unlike the jihadis, it does not believe it is at war with the West. It is conservative, moderate and non-violent. But it is highly critical of Western policy in the Middle East.

There is more from the biased BBC. On the BBC website, readers can learn a raft of fact about the Muslim Brotherhood (the section has now been removed) :

Egypt’s oldest and largest Islamist organisation

Founded by Hassan al-Banna in 1928

Has influenced Islamist movements worldwide

Mixes political activism with charity work

Banned from open political activity

Rejects use of violence and supports democratic principles

Wants to see the country governed according to Islamic law

Slogan: “Islam is the Solution”

What you are less likely to learn from the BBC is this:

“A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt told the Arabic-language Iranian news network Al-Alam on Monday that he would like to see the Egyptian people prepare for war against Israel.”

And the new Muslim Brotherhood General Guide, Muhammad Badi has more:

“Today the Muslims desperately need a mentality of honor and means of power [that will enable them] to confront global Zionism. [This movement] knows nothing but the language of force, so [the Muslims] must meet iron with iron, and winds with [even more powerful] storms. They crucially need to understand that the improvement and change that the [Muslim] nation seeks can only be attained through jihad and sacrifice and by raising a jihadi generation that pursues death just as the enemies pursue life.”

And then there are the pictures of the news. Many Egyptians are pious and spiritual. They break for prayers. The BBC films the congregation bowed in prayer. The screen is dilled with the image of supplicants. But pan back and you will see the faithful surrounded by people not at prayer. Why not show the entire tableau (see above)? Why crop the news..?

Is it because even when militant Islam is not the driving force for the events in Egypt, the BBC wants it to be?

Update: Do not begin to talk about women – when the BBC sees one in the sea of men it locks on like Jamie Redknapp on a lover (allegedly).