Channel 4 has issued a statement on Rachel Riley’s future after the Countdown presenter was accused of Islamophobia in a now-deleted tweet about the Sydney mall stabbings
A statement about the future of Countdown presenter, Rachel Riley, has been issued by Channel 4 following demands for her to be sacked.
Riley found herself in hot water after being accused of propagating Islamophobia, resulting from an incorrect claim that the recent Sydney mall stabbings were part of a “globalised Intifada”. The term ‘Intifada’ is Arabic in origin and translates into “uprising” or “shaking off”, historically referring to the armed resistance of Palestinians against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Contrary to Riley’s claim, the fatal incident at the Sydney mall, resulting in six fatalities on Saturday, was carried out by 40 year old Joel Cauchi from Queensland. According to police, Cauchi had ongoing mental health issues and was not inspired by the Palestinian cause.
Riley’s now-removed controversial tweet instigated significant backlash. In it, she wrote: “For 6 months now, people have been out on our streets proudly calling for the ‘Intifada Revolution. If you want to know what ‘Globalised Intifada’ looks like, see the Sydney Mall. 5 victims stabbed to death and 8 transferred to hospital, including a baby, due to one man and a knife.”
During the second intifada, over 1,000 Israelis were killed in restaurants, buses, and streets through suicide bombings, stabbings, stone throwing, lynchings, and shooting rockets. The youngest victim was merely 9 hours old. What they’ve been loudly advocating for, is a replication of the scenario at Sydney mall, multiple times over.”, reports the Mirror.
A Channel 4 spokesperson informed MailOnline: “We have reminded Rachel of her obligations as a contributor to Channel 4 programming.”
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