14 March 2014

BBC3's Free Speech denies censoring debate about being gay and Muslim

The makers of BBC3's Free Speech have denied censoring a debate about being gay and Muslim, saying the topic was pulled because of security concerns after threats were received by the mosque where the programme was filmed.

The live show on Wednesday night prompted accusations of censorship after it postponed discussion of a question put by Muslim drag queen Asifa Lahore, who asked: "One question I would like to ask the Muslim community is, when will it be right to be Muslim and gay?"

Presenter Rick Edwards told viewers and the studio audience that the question would not be tackled until a later edition of the programme because Birmingham Central Mosque, where the programme was filmed, had "expressed deep concerns with having this discussion here". [The Guardian] Read more