BBC Shows Charlie Hebdo’s Muhammad

On Thursday night, BBC News broadcast an uncensored image of a Charlie Hebdo cover that depicted Muhammad in physical form. The news network’s editorial guidelines had previously specified that “the prophet Muhammad must not be represented in any shape or form.” But on Friday, the BBC issued an update, saying, “This guidance is old, out of date, and does not reflect the BBC’s longstanding position that program makers have freedom to exercise their editorial judgment with the Editorial Policy team available to provide advice around sensitive issues on a case by case basis. The guidance is currently being revised.”