Complaint to Press Complaints Commission over incitement to murder journalist Gideon Levy

Below is the letter to the Press Compaints Commission over the Jewish Telegraph's publication of a letter inciting the killing of Israeli journalist Gideon Levy.  Levy recently spoke at meetings across Scotland. It is followed by the PCC's reply suggesting that SPSC may not be able to take this complaint further, though we are going to keep trying.

It is important for journalists or journalists' organisations, the NUJ etc, as well as publishers and others concerned with press censorship, to push this complaint against the publication of intimidation of journalists and public incitement to murder.
NB Brian Lux of Llandudno who urges the killing of a dissident writer is possibly, surreally, Brian Lux of Llandudno who writes children's books!






05/09/2010
Mr Mick Napier
Edinburgh
EH16
chair@scottishpsc.org.uk
 

Publication : Jewish Telegraph
Publication Date : 03/09/2010
Headline : Kick out this hideous author
http://www.jewishtelegraph.com/letter_8.html

The editor of the Jewish Telegraph has published a letter in the current issue which urges the killing of prominent Israeli journalist, Gideon Levy.  http://www.jewishtelegraph.com/letter_8.html

Mr. Levy spoke recently at meetings in Scotland, Manchester and London.

The Jewish Telegraph letter, from a Mr Brian Lux of Llandudno, describes Mr. Levy as the 'hideous' author of a 'vile speech' and asks "Why hasn't Mossad been ordered to eliminate him?" with the unmistakable meaning that this journalist should be killed.

The Jewish Telegraph's publication of an incitement to kill a journalist should be unreservedly condemned.

The question of the agency urged to carry out a clear act of murder, whether it be urged on a foreign state body or members of the public at large, is secondary to the nature of the incitement, i.e. an incitement to murder a journalist going about his legal business.

I ask you to uphold this complaint and make it clear to the editor that publishing such incitement to murder is unacceptable.

Clauses : Paragraph 4 on Harrassment states that "Journalists must not engage in intimidation." Publication of an incitement to kill a fellow-journalist going about his lawful business infringes this paragraph.

The Code of Practice final section on "The Public Interest" states that "There is a public interest in freedom of expression itself." Publication of an incitement to kill a journalist clearly violates this clause of the Code. 

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From: Simon Yip [mailto:simon.yip@pcc.org.uk]
Sent: 07 September 2010 14:43
To: chair@scottishpsc.org.uk
Subject: Press Complaints Commission - Our reference 104299

Dear Mr Napier
Thank you for your email about the letter published in the Jewish Telegraph.
I should make clear that the Commission has previously ruled that Clause 4 (Harassment) of the Editors’ Code relates to physical harassment on the part of a journalist during the newsgathering process, rather than through the publication of an item. Notwithstanding this point, we would generally require a complaint from the individual who is said to have been harassed in order to take any complaint forward.

This is because the PCC generally only considers complaints from people who are directly affected by the matters about which they are concerned. Indeed, only in exceptional circumstances will the Commission consider a complaint from someone not directly involved.

As such (unless it is the case that you are formally representing Gideon Levy with his consent) it would appear that we will not be able to take your complaint forward. However, if you believe our normal third party rules should be waived to allow us to take your case further we would be grateful to hear from you in the next ten days. We will then ask the Commission to make a further assessment of your case in order to decide whether to proceed.

Additional information about third party complaints can be found here: http://www.pcc.org.uk/faqs...html#faq4_7
You should contact the police if you consider that a criminal offence has taken place through the publication of the letter.

Yours sincerely

Simon Yip
simon.yip@pcc.org.uk

Press Complaints Commission
Halton House
20/23 Holborn
London EC1N 2JD

Tel: 020 7831 0022
Website: www.pcc.org.uk