Al Jazeera Media Network suspended two journalists over a video that downplayed and misrepresented the Holocaust. The network announced the disciplinary action in a statement issued on Sunday.
The video, published on Al Jazeera’s online Arabic news platform, AJ+, “contravened its editorial standards”, said the network, the parent company of aljazeera.com. The content was deleted from AJ+ web pages and social media accounts.
Yaser Bishr, Executive Director, Al Jazeera Digital Division, said the network “completely disowns the offensive content in question” and would not tolerate such material on any of the network’s platforms. He also announced a mandatory bias and sensitivity training programme in an email.
The video report claimed the Zionist movement had misrepresented the extent of the Holocaust, and “adopted the narrative” that Nazis killed six million Jews. Dima Khatib, Managing Director, AJ+, said in a statement that the video was produced without due oversight. Announcing a review of at AJ+ to ensure all content goes through proper editorial channels, Khatib also called on all AJ+ editors and journalists to comply with the network’s editorial values.
“Al Jazeera continues to adhere to the journalistic values of honesty, courage, fairness, balance, independence, credibility and diversity. In addition, the network recognises the diversity in societies with all races, cultures, beliefs and their values and intrinsic individualities,” the statement said.