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Tuesday 6 August 2019

BBC is forced to apologise after Stacey Dooley calls a one fingered Muslim prayer gesture a 'ISIS salute' in documentary about British jihadi brides

The BBC has been forced to apologise after presenter Stacey Dooley called a prayer gesture an 'IS salute' when she met British ISIS brides at a refugee camp.
The TV personality, 32, went to the al-Hawl Camp in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria for her most recent documentary.
A trailer for the Panorama special, which has now been edited, originally showed the Strictly star talking to several women behind a fence.
After speaking with them for a while, the footage shows two of the women raising their fingers towards the sky as they walk away. The BBC has had to apologise after Stacey Dooley called a one finger gesture (pictured) an 'IS salute' after she spoke to British IS brides at the al-Hawl Camp in Syria
The BBC has had to apologise after Stacey Dooley called a one finger gesture (pictured) an 'IS salute' after she spoke to British IS brides at the al-Hawl Camp in Syria
The Panorama episode has now been edited to remove Stacey's voice over about the 'IS salute'. The presenter is pictured while filming in northern Syria
The Panorama episode has now been edited to remove Stacey's voice over about the 'IS salute'. The presenter is pictured while filming in northern Syria
Stacey's voice over then said: 'As we left the camp, we saw women raising their index finger in an IS salute.'
Several of people critisised Stacey's comment on Twitter and explained that Muslims often use the gesture while praying.
BBC journalist Anisa Subedar tweeted: ‘This issue raised by @OzKaterji and others needs to be addressed before tonight’s #Panorama is aired. Raising the finger is NOT an IS salute. 
‘Does #StaceyDooley know us Muslims raise it everytime we pray (that’s 5 times a day) to remind us of the oneness of God?'
The TV presenter, pictured speaking to the women, asked them about IS and what they thought should happen to them now
The TV presenter, pictured speaking to the women, asked them about IS and what they thought should happen to them now
British IS bride Shamima Begum used to live at the al-Hawl camp, Stacey Dooley pictured while filming there, and it is home to around 70,000 people
British IS bride Shamima Begum used to live at the al-Hawl camp, Stacey Dooley pictured while filming there, and it is home to around 70,000 people
Stacey Dooley meets British IS brides inside Syrian refugee camp
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Journalist Oz Katerji said he would be submitting a complaint to Ofcom over the incident and called it an 'ignorant blunder' in one of this tweets.
In another tweet he said: 'Problems like this would not arise if the BBC hired more diverse news producers.'

What does the one finger gesture mean? 

Raising an index finger is often used in Muslim prayer as a symbol of tawhid.
Tawhid is the belief in the oneness of God, a central concept of Islam.
The gesture can signify the oneness of Allah.
However in recent years the point has also been used by members of IS.
Historian Nathaniel Zelinsky has said it could refer to a fundamentalist interpretation of the tawhid which rejects any other views.

Writer Steve Rose said: 'Skip to 1:35 to see Stacey Dooley perpetuate this ignorant falsehood, referring to the raised finger of Tawhid as an "IS salute".'
The BBC told MailOnline that they have edited the clip online and the description will not appear on tonight's Panorama episode.
They said: 'We wrongly described a gesture made by women filmed in a Kurdish controlled detention camp in Northern Syria as an ‘IS salute’. 
'While IS have attempted to adopt this for their own propaganda purposes, for accuracy we should have been clear that many people of Muslim faith use this gesture to signify the oneness of Allah. 
'We apologise for this error and have removed this description from the footage.'
The index finger being raised is often used as a symbol of 'tawhid', the belief in the oneness of God.
Although it does have a religious connection it has been used in recent years by Islamic State supporters in propaganda.
Several people complained about the comment on Twitter and one writer said that the belief that the gesture has a link to IS is an 'ignorant falsehood'
Several people complained about the comment on Twitter and one writer said that the belief that the gesture has a link to IS is an 'ignorant falsehood'
Journalist Anisa Subedar asked whether Stacey Dooley knew Muslims raise their finger 'every time we pray'
Journalist Anisa Subedar asked whether Stacey Dooley knew Muslims raise their finger 'every time we pray'
During the documentary Stacey said ISIS still 'wields power' over the lives of the women and young girls are beaten for wearing the niqab headscarf. Pictured are people at the camp
During the documentary Stacey said ISIS still 'wields power' over the lives of the women and young girls are beaten for wearing the niqab headscarf. Pictured are people at the camp
Historian Nathaniel Zelinsky called the gesture 'ISIS’ index finger' and that it had become a sign of their cause in an article for Foreign Affairs
Stacey's newest documentary sees her visit the al-Hawl Camp in Syria where Shamima Begum once stayed.
During a conversation with the women Stacey asked them about their support for ISIS and what they think they 'deserve going forward.'
One of the women quickly replies asking Stacey why she thinks she 'deserves to live in Europe' to which the presenter said 'I didn't turn my back on democracy.'
Freelance journalist Oz Katerji said he had complained about Stacey Dooley's comment
Freelance journalist Oz Katerji said he had complained about Stacey Dooley's comment
He posted a series of tweets saying he might 'escalate the complaint to OFCOM' and said the BBC should hire 'more diverse news producers'
He posted a series of tweets saying he might 'escalate the complaint to OFCOM' and said the BBC should hire 'more diverse news producers'
Another clip in the trailer shows a women raising her arm before doing the one finger gesture
Another clip in the trailer shows a women raising her arm before doing the one finger gesture
Two of the women appear to become agitated with one replying 'who turned their back?' and another adding 'we haven't committed any beheadings or stuff like that.'
When Stacey said they had joined ISIS the women refused to denounce the group and told the cameras 'I support Islam.' 
Stacey also discusses how a female guard at the camp was stabbed to death before the film crews arrived.
In one clip she said that ISIS still 'wields power' over the lives of the women and young girls are beaten for wearing the niqab headscarf. 

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