Stephen Whittle
Controller, Editorial Policy
BBC

9th October 2003

Dear Stephen,

The Today programme just after 7.30am today carried an interview with the former head of the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad. This gentleman explained why he thought Iran's alleged nuclear weapons procurement programme was a threat to the world and needed to be 'dealt with'. At no time during the interview did John Humphrys pose the one question that all Muslims (and I am sure a lot of non-Muslims too) must have been asking themselves at that moment: why are not Israel's KNOWN possession of nuclear weapons regarded as a threat to the region's stability? Surely, if Israel has developed nuclear weapons then other states in the region may want to do the same to act as a deterrent?

Also, earlier this week, Israel carried out a military strike against a sovereign neighbouring country, Syria. Imagine, if the reverse scenario had occured and a Syrian official was being questioned - can we imagine the Today programme not asking him about his country's illegal actions?

Kind regards,

Inayat Bunglawala,
Secretary,
Media Committee,
The Muslim Council of Britain