The British press have been reporting heavily on a story about a British couple accused of having sex in public in Dubai, a crime with serious penalties—I'm sure you've heard about it. But the story that they're continuing to push has changed in significant ways. Instead of a story about a British couple committing a felony abroad that would barely merit a misdemeanor at home, in headlines and ledes papers like the Guardian broadcast that a British woman, singular, has been arrested for having sex. Vince Acors, the man who is associated with the accusation (that is, the other person having sex in that spot on the beach), is only ever introduced several grafs into the article—and in such a way that the reader would be forgiven for guessing that the woman will be convicted while the man will be vindicated by circumstances as a hapless accomplice. Acors, described as the "co-accused," appears only in the fourth graf of this Times story, which features a profile picture of the sultry Jezebel.
Of course, this whole thing is a crying shame—but the British press can hardly say so. By focusing on Palmer, by peddling the subtext that the real sensation here is that a slut had sex in public, British editors are basically knowingly toeing the Islamofascist line.
Posted by Kriston at September 9, 2008 3:09 PMThank you for noting that it takes 2 to Tango. I live in Dubai and friends of mine know the woman that's received all this bad press. Not one newspaper has reported that he is Defendant 1 and she gets what he gets... Every newspaper article was originally based on gossip. Being an ex-pat myself I can ensure you that it's a small place out here and the British Expats love a bit scandal to gossip about, unfortunately for her she was unfortunately working for a company that a well known red top UK newspaper didn't like... she has been in the middle of what started out as Media politics. Has no-one read all the stories fully to see how many FALSE allegations have been written, they change daily and I have been ensured that nothing that has been written is true about her and unfortunately been 'sold-out' by ex employees and I have been ensured she is definately not a slag/slut whatever anybody else wants to call her as rarely goes out oh and also rumors were her drink was spiked! The UK press has got a lot to answer for talk about sticking up for their own, I'm actually ashamed to be British if this is the way they treat somebody based on gossip... Oh and apparently a guy at the brunch works for News International too... obviously that's based on ex-pat gossip so who knows if true or not!
Posted by: john at September 27, 2008 12:33 PMThank you for noting that it takes 2 to Tango. I live in Dubai and friends of mine know the woman that's received all this bad press. Not one newspaper has reported that he is Defendant 1 and she gets what he gets... Every newspaper article was originally based on gossip. Being an ex-pat myself I can ensure you that it's a small place out here and the British Expats love a bit scandal to gossip about, unfortunately for her she was unfortunately working for a company that a well known red top UK newspaper didn't like... she has been in the middle of what started out as Media politics. Has no-one read all the stories fully to see how many FALSE allegations have been written, they change daily and I have been ensured that nothing that has been written is true about her and unfortunately been 'sold-out' by ex employees and I have been ensured she is definately not a slag/slut whatever anybody else wants to call her as rarely goes out oh and also rumors were her drink was spiked! The UK press has got a lot to answer for talk about sticking up for their own, I'm actually ashamed to be British if this is the way they treat somebody based on gossip... Oh and apparently a guy at the brunch works for News International too... obviously that's based on ex-pat gossip so who knows if true or not!
Posted by: john at September 27, 2008 12:34 PMThank you for noting that it takes 2 to Tango. I live in Dubai and friends of mine know the woman that's received all this bad press. Not one newspaper has reported that he is Defendant 1 and she gets what he gets... Every newspaper article was originally based on gossip. Being an ex-pat myself I can ensure you that it's a small place out here and the British Expats love a bit scandal to gossip about, unfortunately for her she was unfortunately working for a company that a well known red top UK newspaper didn't like... she has been in the middle of what started out as Media politics. Has no-one read all the stories fully to see how many FALSE allegations have been written, they change daily and I have been ensured that nothing that has been written is true about her and unfortunately been 'sold-out' by ex employees and I have been ensured she is definately not a slag/slut whatever anybody else wants to call her as rarely goes out oh and also rumors were her drink was spiked! The UK press has got a lot to answer for talk about sticking up for their own, I'm actually ashamed to be British if this is the way they treat somebody based on gossip... Oh and apparently a guy at the brunch works for News International too... obviously that's based on ex-pat gossip so who knows if true or not!
Posted by: john at September 27, 2008 12:35 PM