[Media-watch] No charges over Kilroy's remarks - BBC - 1/7/2004

[Julie-ann Davies]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3857721.stm

No charges over Kilroy's remarks

Mr Kilroy-Silk was elected an MEP in June elections
Former BBC talkshow host Robert Kilroy-Silk will not face criminal charges
over his attack on Arabs, the Crown Prosecution Service says.

 Mr Kilroy-Silk called Arabs "suicide bombers" and "limb-amputators" in an
article in the Sunday Express.

 He resigned after the BBC suspended his show, Kilroy, when the remarks
appeared on 4 January.

 He had hosted the BBC One morning chat show for 17 years and was recently
elected a MEP.

 Police investigated Mr Kilroy-Silk's comments after a complaint by the
Commission for Racial Equality.

 However, the CPS said on Thursday that it had advised the Metropolitan
Police the article did not constitute an offence under the Public Order Act.

 The comments sparked heated debate, and although Mr Kilroy-Silk said he
"regretted" the piece, the Muslim Council of Britain demanded a full
apology.

 Mr Kilroy-Silk had argued that he had a right to say "there are Arab states
that are evil, despotic and treat women abominably".

 Throughout the furore, he insisted he was not racist and that his talkshow
had done a lot to promote equality.