Fox's “Terrorism expert” Steve Emerson had to do some major apologizing and backtracking today after falsely alleging that Birmingham, England is so “totally Muslim” that “non-Muslims just simply don’t go in.” Unfortunately for Emerson and Fox News, the apology has not stopped the hilarious #FoxNewsFacts twitter backlash from going viral. UPDATED
On Fox News' Justice with Judge Jeanine show last night, Emerson elaborated on his previous fear mongering about Europe’s “no go zones” and his contention that “Europe is finished” because it has become too accommodating to Muslims.
EMERSON: In Britain, it’s not just no go zones, there are actually cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim, where non-Muslims just simply don’t go in. And parts of London, there are actually Muslim religious police that actually beat and actually wound seriously anyone who doesn’t dress according to Muslim, religious Muslim attire. So there is a situation which western Europe is not dealing with.
As Britain’s Mirror reported, “Birmingham’s one million plus population is actually 57% white and 26% Asian, 8% black and 4% mixed race. In the 2011 census, only 21% of the population identified themselves as muslim.” (my emphasis)
Huffington Post UK notes that Emerson has since made an apology. To give credit where it’s due, Emerson’s apology is far more remorseful and apparently heartfelt than most:
…I will be posting this and taking out an ad in a Birmingham paper I have clearly made a terrible error for which I am deeply sorry. My comments about Birmingham were totally in error. And I am issuing an apology and correction on my website immediately for having made this comment about the beautiful city of Birmingham. I do not intend to justify or mitigate my mistake by stating that I had relied on other sources because I should have been much more careful. There was no excuse for making this mistake and I owe an apology to every resident of Birmingham. I am not going to make any excuses. I made an excusable error. And I am obligated to openly acknowledge that mistake.
Steve
PS I intend to make a donation to a Birmingham charity
I’d love to know how he made such an error, wouldn’t you? I’d also love to know why host Jeanine Pirro never challenged the statement. Even though Emerson has a record of hawking misinformation.
Meanwhile, the very entertaining #FoxNewsFacts tweets are still coming fast and strong. Some of my favorites:
Watch Emerson below, from last night’s Justice with Judge Jeanine.
UPDATE: Pirro did not make a correction on her show tonight.
