Following the election of Donald Trump, there has been widespread condemnation of mainstream media platforms for their appeasement of or failure to condemn fascist elements in the United States.
Similarly, the growth of far right elements in the UK - and the rise of racist and xenophobic attacks - has been attributed in part to the platform provided to garden variety racists, under the pretext of balance.
https://twitter.com/opaIlynch/status/747569268783448064
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So you can understand the reaction to the announcement that the BBC's Marr Show is set to welcome Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right Front National, as a guest this weekend.
Le Pen was
found not guilty of inciting religious hatred after comparing Muslims praying on the street to the Nazi occupation of France, while she has also called for
bans on religious dress in public places and
called the burkini a "fundamentalist uniform".
The 48-year-old politician has embraced the US election result, seeing it as a potential precursor for the Front National's election in France, and has been invited onto this weekend's Marr Show.
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However, following the announcement from editor Rob Burley, people have been quick to speak out against the BBC for what is seen by many to be a legitimisation of fascism.
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Burley has since defended the move in a series of tweets, noting that Le Pen is 'a serious contender for the French Presidency whatever you think of her views'.
https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/796661453772259328
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