http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/nov/11/mazher-mahmood-accuses-bbc-panorama-irresponsible
The Sun on Sunday reporter Mazher Mahmood has accused the BBC of being deeply irresponsible for pledging to broadcast an already delayed Panorama documentary about his career as an investigative journalist. The BBC pulled the scheduled documentary with minutes to go on Monday night, citing new information from Mahmood’s lawyers delivered just 90 minutes before transmission. Mahmood’s letter denies this, accusing the BBC of issuing “misleading” statements. In an astonishing letter sent from his lawyers, Kingsley Napley, Mahmood calls on future viewers of the programme, Fake Sheikh: Exposed, to “keep an open mind on any allegations”, which he claims are based on sources that lack credibility. The allegations made, he says in the statement, are “unsustainable and wrong”.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Shortly before transmission Mr Mahmood’s lawyers submitted new information relating to one of the cases in the programme which, as a responsible broadcaster, the BBC needs to evaluate. Once this has been done we will broadcast Fake Sheikh: Exposed, including recent footage of Mr Mahmood, as planned. “We have nothing further to say. We will let our programme speak for itself when we broadcast it.”
In my opinion, BBC's Panorama is to educate audiences and make them aware of what is currently happening in the world. As this particular episode was based on Mazheer Mahmood, it is to no surprise that he has retaliated and involved his lawyers after the episode was aired. However, Panorama did make a documentary on his career, therefore some form of consent should have been given before the episode was aired on TV. In contrast to this, the purpose of the episode was to expose the 'fake sheikh'.
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