BBC Persian censors comments on Prince Philip, provokes immediate backlash online

The BBC Persian has provoked a furious backlash on social media after shutting down the comment sections of all of its many Instagram posts about Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Friday morning.

Social media users protested the network’s censoring of people’s voices when it comes to British royalty while at the same time championing free speech to unleash constant attacks against top independent world leaders, including those of Iran.

“BBC Persian has closed the comment sections of all these 6 posts because Iranian peasants should not be allowed to speak on British Royalty,” wrote a Twitter user.

Sina Motalebi, BBC Persian’s digital editor, reportedly claimed in a Clubhouse discussion on Friday night that the network deletes obscene comments, but if there are too many of them, it would close down the entire comment section.

Motalebi, however, ditched questions on why the network did not close its Instagram page’s comment sections – which were chock-full of vulgarity – in the aftermath of the US assassination of Iran’s top anti-terror general Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020.

“Disable the comments on @bbcpersian Instagram for all posts on #PrincePhilip death while celebrating his fond memories with the Iranian Shah the notorious dictator,” Iraq Live Update said, posting pictures of BBC Persian’s coverage of Prince Philip’s visits to Tehran during the Shah’s rule.

Another user noted that the BBC Persian regularly gives negative coverage of Iran while keeping the comment section open for the insults to pour in.

“Next time, do not say that the money you receive from [Britain’s] Foreign Ministry does not affect your media ethics,” the user added, addressing the network’s presenters.

Iranian officials have strongly criticized the state-funded BBC Persian, accusing it of being a propaganda tool in the hands of the British government with the aim of undermining the Islamic Republic’s security.

BBC criticized over endless coverage of Prince Philip’s death

Since Prince Philip’s death, the BBC has received numerous complaints about its endless coverage of the event, as it suspended many of its programs to cover the news. Some on social media likened the BBC to a “state propaganda channel.”

In response, the BBC set up a complaints page, saying in a statement that “We’re receiving complaints about too much TV coverage of the death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” inviting viewers to submit an email address to register a complaint.

The network also drew attention after its news reader Martine Croxall changed into black clothes in the middle of announcing Prince Philip’s death on Friday while the title screen went black for several seconds.

The BBC Persian’s presenters have also been wearing black clothes since Friday.

Some users asked whether the BBC Persian’s employees, who often claim to stand up for freedom of the press, are able to cover any serious critical news report about Prince Philip, for instance, his racist outbursts, his support for colonialism and his offensive remarks toward minorities.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir