The Melanie maze Sir: It's a pity Melanie Phillips didn't
do the basic journalistic checks with us before going into print with her highly speculative article about Alan Johnston's kidnap (A major defeat in the war to defend the free world', 4 August).
Alan lived and worked as a reporter in Gaza for three years. He was the only Westerner to be permanently based there and, as any good reporter would, he had close working contacts with all shades of political life in Gaza — including Hamas and Fatah representatives. He wouldn't have been doing his job properly if he hadn't had such contacts.
Yes, our Jerusalem Bureau Chief did contact Hamas leaders in Gaza and Damascus as we tried to get Alan released. We also had extensive contact with the Fatah leadership including Mohamed Dahlan and Prime Minister Abbas. As Mark Thompson said when Alan disappeared, the BBC would talk to anyone in our efforts to get Alan released.
Melanie's allegations about Fayed abu Shamala recycle an incorrect Jerusalem Post story which used a Hamas website as a source for Fayed's remarks. He has never attended a Hamas rally nor spoken at one. He did attend a Hamas press briefing in 2001 — not a rally — attended by 139 journalists. None of them reported on a BBC man supporting Hamas — which would surely have occurred to a room full of journalists had it happened. Melanie's repetition of false allegations does not make them true.
As for giving Alastair Crooke airtime, as a leading light on The Moral Maze, Melanie should appreciate that the BBC tries to reflect and test all shades of opinion on its airwaves, however uncomfortable those opinions might be.
We are not promoting 'engagement' with Hamas nor are we turning ourselves into a vehicle for Hamas propaganda. The BBC is reporting from the region fairly and impartially and in greater depth than any other broadcaster.
Francesca Unsworth Head of Newsgathering, BBC News
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