Christian party loses 'censorship' case against BBC

LONDON - The Christian Choice Party has lost a case against the BBC in which it accused the broadcasting company of censoring its message concerning Muslims.

The party had filed the complaint "far too late," a high court judge said on Wednesday, BBC reported. Judge Justice Collins rejected the group's request for a judicial review and said the Christian Choice should have filed the case before the campaign ad was broadcast on April 23, rather than afterwards.

But Judge Collins also said he did not think the party election broadcast (PEB) by the Christian Choice was libellous, which was a concern of BBC advisers who requested changes to the original broadcast.

In the original film, the Christian Choice criticised a Muslim group for its plan to build a 12,000-capacity mosque in East London.

Alan Craig, the Christian Choice's London mayoral candidate, had originally described the group behind the mega mosque plan, Tablighi Jamaat, as "separatist," but then agreed to change the wording to "controversial" after BBC pressed him to change the description to a more moderate view.

Craig accused the BBC and fellow broadcaster ITV of "political censorship," and argued that the companies violated the European Convention on Human Rights which guarantees his right to freedom of expression.

"Nationally and locally, leading Muslims share my objections to the mega-mosque, yet two national broadcasters have attempted to close down the democratic debate, through misplaced concern," Craig said.

The judge said the BBC had indicated that if the case was brought to court before the broadcast it would have "backed down and let them publish as they wished."

"Unfortunately that was not done," Collins said.

The prosecution lawyer, Paul Diamond, said the case raises issues of the constitutional right of political parties to raise topics of concern.

"There is a serious hindrance of free speech taking place on this," Diamond said to the judge.

Craig was ordered to pay the BBC $23,428 for legal fees.

The unedited version of the PEB is showing on YouTube.