From The Mail on Sunday
The BBC has launched an investigation after complaints from staff of anti-Muslim discrimination by a ‘mafia of executives’ at the Corporation’s own Asian radio station.
At least 20 past and present BBC employees, all Asian Muslims, have lodged complaints that its digital radio station, Asian Network, is operating with an anti-Muslim policy.
They claim Muslim presenters and reporters are sidelined or sacked from the station, which began 12 years ago, in favour of Asians from other backgrounds – mainly Hindus and Sikhs.
They also complain that attempts to persuade the station’s upper ranks to play Pakistani or Bengali music for its 500,000 listeners are ignored in favour of a strict diet of Bollywood and bhangra tunes, which are more popular among the Hindu and Sikh communities.
Their case has been taken up by Labour peer Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, (a professional stirrer of colossal proportions, as I know) who campaigns on discrimination issues. (hem!)  He wrote to BBC director-general Mark Thompson last month.
Now the BBC has taken the unusual step of having the inquiry conducted by an external expert, Stephen Whittle, chairman of the Ofcom-linked Broadcast Training & Skills Regulator.
Lord Ahmed said ‘. . . There seems to be a small mafia that is promoting their version of a culture which is contrary to the diversity within the Asian community.’
One former employee said: ‘There used to be a much higher representation of Muslims on staff.  Now there are seven daytime presenters and only one is Muslim. There are about eight reporters and half were Muslims – now only two are.’
The inquiry is also expected to focus on complaints that listeners who want to hear Muslim-influenced music are short-changed because of a bias towards music from Hindu and Sikh cultures such as bhangra, Bollywood films or black artists.
Another former employee said: ‘This is a deliberate policy but people are too scared to speak out because they are worried they will be victimised if they do.’
The “hideously white” sneer won’t work with this one. I thought Muslims were not supposed to listen to music, if they were truly devout. And that the sin and depravity of music and dance were to be discouraged. Shame on Lord FishandChip for encouraging good Muslims into sin!