BBC report about Hamas “Mickey Mouse” who teaches hate to Palestinian children
BBC reports on Hamas' version of Mickey Mouse, Farfur, and the violent messages of hate that he disseminates to children. Palestinian Media Watch's exposure of the Hamas TV show's incitement to hatred resulted in Farfur being taken off the air after capturing international media attention.
Reporter: “At first glance it looks and sounds like any other children’s television show, but Tomorrow’s Pioneers, as opposed to bearing a striking resemblance to Mickey Mouse, has a much different message. Farfur, as he’s known, talks of liberating Iraq, and world Islamic domination. Screened on Hamas’ affiliated network Al-Aqsa TV, Farfur and his on-screen propaganda has been pulled off the air.”
Mustafa Barghouti: “The things that are said there are very severe but it’s wrong. You cannot do political propaganda with children in this manner. This is something we don’t accept. And…as soon as I knew about it, I communicated [it to] the station, which promised to stop the program immediately, and revise it totally.”
Reporter: “Israel has long complained that the Palestinian airwave is filled with incitement and the show made no secret of its intent. Along with Farfur’s cries against Jews and the West, it encouraged children to phone in and sing Hamas anthems about fighting Israel.”
Barghouti: “They are definitely reflecting a mistaken approach. They’re primitive completely and wrong. There is no doubt about that.”
Reporter: “Hamas official says the show’s makers are considering changing the program’s form.”
Reporter: “At first glance it looks and sounds like any other children’s television show, but Tomorrow’s Pioneers, as opposed to bearing a striking resemblance to Mickey Mouse, has a much different message. Farfur, as he’s known, talks of liberating Iraq, and world Islamic domination. Screened on Hamas’ affiliated network Al-Aqsa TV, Farfur and his on-screen propaganda has been pulled off the air.”
Mustafa Barghouti: “The things that are said there are very severe but it’s wrong. You cannot do political propaganda with children in this manner. This is something we don’t accept. And…as soon as I knew about it, I communicated [it to] the station, which promised to stop the program immediately, and revise it totally.”
Reporter: “Israel has long complained that the Palestinian airwave is filled with incitement and the show made no secret of its intent. Along with Farfur’s cries against Jews and the West, it encouraged children to phone in and sing Hamas anthems about fighting Israel.”
Barghouti: “They are definitely reflecting a mistaken approach. They’re primitive completely and wrong. There is no doubt about that.”
Reporter: “Hamas official says the show’s makers are considering changing the program’s form.”
[BBC, May 8, 2007]