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Aaj Tak rapped by Ofcom for graphic images

Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak

Indian news channel, Aaj Tak has been rapped by Ofcom for broadcasting a news item, which included graphic images during an afternoon broadcast in December last year.

A complainant alerted Ofcom to an item on ISIL, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation within the UK. The complainant objected to graphic images of beheadings and torture of prisoners being broadcast at a time of day when children could have been watching.

Ofcom noted that at approximately 13:00 a studio presenter introduced a report on ISIL that comprised three separate segments lasting approximately 16 minutes in total, which were interspersed with a mixture of commercial breaks and breaking news. The segments featured various video clips and images some of which were described as having been ���released… on to social media�۝.

Aaj Tak told Ofcom that it had made ���every effort to ensure that disturbing images [were] appropriately blurred�۝ but said it would ���exercise greater caution while reporting on
similar matters in the future�۝. The Licensee stated the purpose of this content was not to breach the Code but ���to bring to our viewers�۪ attention (including the attention of children who may be influenced in some way to join terrorist activities) of the barbaric nature of offences committed by…ISIS and the manner in which terrorism has no religion and all it does is spread hate and fear�۝. Therefore, in Aaj Tak’s the content was ���well within…Rule 2.3 of the Code�۝.

Aaj Tak stated that it was ���never our intention to hurt the sentiments of our viewers�۝, and that the report was ���intended to highlight only the inhuman face of ISIS terrorists�۝.

Ofcom noted that the news report was broadcast at 13:00 on a Friday during school term time. In addition, Aaj Tak is a rolling news Hindi channel which is not primarily
aimed at children, and we accept that the likely number of children would have been limited. Nevertheless, given the potentially distressing nature of this content, we were concerned that it was broadcast at a time of day when children could have been present and able to view this content.

Ofcom was particularly concerned about the video clip featuring the ISIL fighter trying to decapitate a Russian prisoner. As mentioned above in relation to Rule 1.3, it noted the Licensee�۪s comment that ���every effort was made to ensure that disturbing images are appropriately blurred�۝. However, although, some details of the content had been blurred, it considered that it would still have been apparent to viewers that, for example, the ISIL fighter was sawing at the neck of his Russian prisoner with a knife.

In reaching its Decision Ofcom took into account the Licensee�۪s stated intention for broadcasting this content was to portray the ���barbaric nature of offences committed by…ISIS and the manner in which terrorism has no religion and all it does is spread hate and fear�۝. Ofcom also noted that the Licensee ���will make sure to exercise greater caution while reporting on similar matters in the matter�۝.

Aaj Tak was found in breach of Rule 1.3 and 2.3.