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ITV News has apologized after giving over airtime to an Iranian state TV journalist who described Hamas‘ attack on Israel as a “moment of triumph.”
ITV News London interviewed Latifa Abouchakra on Monday, describing her as a “British Palestinian woman living in London” and quoting her views on the discrimination faced by Muslim people in the UK.
The ITN-produced news show did not disclose that Abouchakra works as a reporter for Press TV, the Iranian propaganda machine that has been banned from broadcasting in the UK.
In an Instagram post on October 7, Abouchakra hailed Hamas’ attack on Israel, during which more than 1,400 people were killed.
“Nothing will ever be able to take back this moment, this moment of triumph, this moment of resistance, this moment of surprise, this moment of humiliation on behalf of the Zionist entity,” she said.
Abouchakra has also used her platform on Press TV show Palestine Declassified to celebrate the attack as a “homecoming,” adding that the “Zionist entity is shaking with fear.”
Marie van der Zyl, president of The Board of Deputies of British Jews, wrote to ITV CEO Carolyn McCall this week, calling the interview a “catastrophic breach” of journalistic standards.
“We condemn any Islamophobic comments which Ms Abouchakra has received, but you must surely realise that while there are many British Muslims you could have invited on who could have justifiably complained about being wrongly associated with terrorists, Ms Abouchakra, due to her own actions, is not among them,” van der Zyl said.
In a reply to The Board of Deputies of British Jews, ITV News editor Andrew Dagnell apologized, according to the Jewish Chronicle and Daily Mail. Deadline has contacted ITV and ITN for comment.
“Please be reassured that we would not have included the contributor you refer to had we been aware of her previous comments,” Dagnell reportedly wrote.
“We recognise that better due diligence should have taken place before she was featured. We apologise for this. ITV News London will tighten up the procedures around booking interviewees.
“ITV News has a responsibility to accuracy and due impartiality. We take these responsibilities particularly seriously while reporting on the situation in Israel and Gaza.”
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