The media storm has forced the BBC to do an abrupt u-turn over its ‘should homosexuals face execution’ poll.

Yesterday David Stead posted on the BBC Editor’s blog, saying:

We agree that it is a stark and challenging question, but think that it accurately focuses on and illustrates the real issue at stake.

If Uganda’s democratically elected MPs vote to proceed with the Anti-Homosexuality Bill this week they will bring onto the statute book legislation that could condemn people to death for some homosexual activities.

We published it alongside clear explanatory text which gave the context of the bill itself (see above). And as we said at the top of our debate page, we accept it is a stark and disturbing question. But this is the reality behind the bill.

But today Peter Horrocks, director of BBC World Service, posted another blog on the BBC Editor’s blog, accepting they had gotten it wrong:

The original headline on our website was, in hindsight, too stark. We apologise for any offence it caused. But it’s important that this does not detract from what is a crucial debate for Africans and the international community.

Today the NUJ also issued a statement attacking the BBC for posing the question in such an inflammatory way.

The story was originally broken on Twitter by @thedancingflea

Reader comments

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