BBC instructs staff to avoid describing US Maduro abduction as kidnapping
Maduro was detained during a US military operation in Caracas over the weekend and transported to New York, where he faces drug trafficking and weapons-related charges. He rejected the accusations during his initial court appearance and stated that he had been “kidnapped.”
The leaked document indicates that newsroom management has effectively instructed reporters not to say the US “kidnapped” Maduro, instead recommending terms like “seized” or “captured” as acceptable alternatives.
Commenting on the guidance, a British media commentator described the word ‘seized’ as “at best, a euphemism,” criticizing the directive as “Orwellian stuff” and noting that US President Donald Trump himself has said that ‘kidnapped’ is “not a bad term.”
The disclosure follows remarks by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who avoided addressing whether the US operation violated international law, emphasizing instead that the UK’s focus is on a “peaceful transition to democracy.”
The memo has intensified scrutiny of the broadcaster’s editorial standards. In a previous controversy, the organization issued a formal apology after editing a Trump speech related to events on January 6, 2021, when his supporters entered the US Congress to block certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. The broadcaster later acknowledged that the edit created “the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.” The incident led to senior resignations and prompted a $10 billion defamation lawsuit by Trump, which the broadcaster has said it will challenge.
Separately, the outlet has faced ongoing criticism over its reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict, with detractors accusing it of exhibiting a strong pro-Israel bias and minimizing Palestinian suffering.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
