[Opinionated]

West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service are to apologise for accusing the makers of a Channel 4 documentary of distortion.

The broadcaster says the apology and the promise of £100,000 will be made at the High Court on Thursday.

It follows comments made about a Dispatches programme, Undercover Mosque, which tackled claims of Islamic extremism in the West Midlands.

A police spokeswoman confirmed an apology would be read out in court.

A press release issued by the police and the CPS in August 2007 claimed the Dispatches programme, broadcast in January of that year, misrepresented the views of Muslim preachers and clerics with misleading editing.

One preacher was shown saying a homosexual should be thrown off a mountain, another that women were born deficient.

Police also reported Channel 4 to television watchdog Ofcom for "heavily editing" the words of Islamic imams.

But in November, Ofcom rejected the police and CPS claims, and Channel 4 said it was going to sue the CPS and police for libel.

Kevin Sutcliffe, deputy head of current affairs at Channel 4, said the apology was a vindication of the programme team in exposing extreme views.

"Channel 4 was fully aware of the sensitivities surrounding the subject matter but recognised the programme's findings were clearly a matter of important public interest.

"The authorities should be doing all they can to encourage investigations like this, not attempting to publicly rubbish them for reasons they have never properly explained," he said.

[Opinionated]

Looks like the police were having a go at the wrong people yet again

[KillerK]

That preacher doesnt seem to know f all about islam. Women deficient? ffs arguable you could say that in islam, women are considered much more important than men.

[KillerK]

"The gates of heaven are at your mother's feet"

[Opinionated]

so why do they let him preach here, and why didn't the mosques worshipper's tell him to do one

[KillerK]

Interesting point. Maybe some of them do want him to do one? Maybe some dont?

you havent covered that point in your post, you havent discussed what the people have said about it.

[Opinionated]

[KillerK]

[Opinionated]

David Henshaw, executive producer of Hardcash Productions, who made the documentary, said it was a thorough and detailed programme, made over nine months and at personal risk to the undercover reporter.

Bigotry and extremism

Channel 4 boss Julian Bellamy said they had had no choice but to pursue action when the police and CPS refused to withdraw their remarks.

The programme infiltrated a number of mosques, one of which was Green Lane Mosque in Small Heath, Birmingham.

An undercover reporter claimed to provide evidence that certain speakers preached messages of religious bigotry and extremism.

West Midlands Police said: "An apology is being read out in open court and a sum has been agreed to programme makers for a charity of their choice."

Police initially investigated whether three of the people shown in the programme could be prosecuted for inciting terrorism or racial hatred.

But they later switched their attention to the documentary makers, suggesting they may have been guilty of stirring up racial hatred.

Channel 4 said £50,000 would be donated to the Rory Peck Trust for freelance journalists and their families.

The broadcaster will also receive £50,000 to cover legal costs.

that's the rest of it

[ticcan]

So who exactly is pandering to who here?

[Opinionated]

[ticcan]

So all libel actions are now pandering to someone and being PC? haha

[Opinionated]

[ticcan]

[Leftwing Leonard]

Get ird of all the preachers. We never had any problems in England before all the immigrants did we.

[Opinionated]

[ticcan]

So whats the problem? CPS thought that it was an unfair representation, they were found against and so have been sued for defamation

[Opinionated]

[ticcan]

[Opinionated]

[Laugh Out Loud]

[ticcan]

[Ceejayo]

Let these people speak and highlight their own stupidity and ignorance. Anyone swayed by the opinions of such fucking idiots, is going to be easily influenced anyway. Just try and minimise the platform they are allowed to do it from.

[Opinionated]

[Orwellian_Logic]