Complaint
During coverage of the death of President Raisi of Iran, a number of references were made to the relatively low level of electoral support he enjoyed on his election in 2021.
A viewer complained this showed bias, in particular on the part of the BBC’s Caroline Hawley who had observed that Mr Raisi was hated by “many, many Iranians”.
The ECU considered whether these remarks met the test for due accuracy and impartiality set out in the Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
Ms Hawley’s judgement on the feelings of many Iranians was based on the views of demonstrators objecting to a crackdown on women’s rights protestors supported by President Raisi. The estimate of his electoral support in 2021 drew on a comparison with the previous President, Hassan Rouhani, whose re-election in 2017 was secured with around 5 million more votes than Mr Raisi achieved. The ECU considered it was a BBC correspondent’s’ duty to supply informed analysis and that the remarks were duly accurate and impartial.
Not Upheld