The National Post is a National Disgrace

Canada's right-wing newspaper, the National Post, ran a front page story today titled "Iran Eyes Badges for Jews" which, as Canadian Cynic points out, had originally appeared at this web address which now leads to a "This story is no longer available" message. The story has been disappeared. (see update below)

As I mentioned in my previous post, that story has now been debunked by various sources, including several inside Iran itself.

Just look at the picture they ran with this story:




The National Post is now going with this story, "Experts say report of badges for Jews in Iran is untrue" by the reporter who wrote the original piece, Chris Wattie. Wattie refuses to officially retract his article on the basis that it was false and still tries to justify it by attempting to muddy the waters.

Absolutely disgraceful.

The Anti-Defamation League has released the following statement:

While it is factual that the Iranian parliament is considering some kind of dress code, there is no evidence of any discussion or legislation concerning badges or the like for Jews and others. Clearly, dress codes imposed by a government on a people are one more example of the backwardness of the regime, and would be unhealthy for all groups, including minorities. How this could affect Jews, Christians and other minorities is not immediately known.

We will continue to monitor the situation in Iran as this story develops and will make further comment when more information about the proposed Iranian law comes to light.

This story spread like wildfire throughout the blogosphere today amid fears that the world might have another Nazi Germany situation on its hands and it was all the work of one reporter who failed to get any official confirmation of its veracity.

Now that Rush Limbaugh, who has millions of radio listeners, has also picked it up, it's going to require a tremendous amount of effort to get the real truth out there that this has been debunked.

It certainly didn't help that Canada's Conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, commented on the story without verifying it with his official sources as well. Instead, he only added fuel to the fire. That was extremely irresponsible and is definitely not what you'd expect from a world leader.

The National Post owes Canada and the world an apology and Chris Wattie should be fired.

UPDATE: Commenter Don informed me that the National Post has moved their original story to a different address. It can now be found here.

Yet another update: I have contacted and received a reply from an Iranian journalist (in Iran) who is also a blogger. She assured me that the National Post's story is "not true". I appreciate her prompt response and willingness to offer her take on the story.

And another update: 22.5.2006
Amid Taheri, author of the NP story, 'Colour Coded Badges for Infidels' has issued a problematic press release.