BBC Faces Backlash Over Use of Term ‘Revert’ in Islam Coverage

[Social Media]

 

BBC Faces Backlash Over Use of Term ‘Revert’ in Islam Coverage

 

The BBC has come under fire for using the term “reverts” to describe Muslim converts in a recent news article, sparking accusations that the national broadcaster was echoing “Islamist propaganda.” The contentious term appeared throughout a piece published on BBC News about Eid, the Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan, before the article was later edited in response to growing criticism.

 

 

The term “revert” is rooted in the belief held by some Muslims that every human is born into Islam and that conversion later in life is, in fact, a return to that original faith. This notion is not universally accepted within the Muslim community and is often associated with more hardline or fundamentalist interpretations of the religion.

 

Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative MP and former security minister, condemned the language used, stating, “Calling converts ‘reverts’ is ideology, not fact. It’s claiming we’re all ‘originally’ Muslim and those who convert are rediscovering their faith. That’s Islamist propaganda and has no place on the BBC.” Tugendhat, who holds a master’s degree in Islamic studies from the University of Cambridge, further argued that, “Mainstream Islam is clear on conversion as a route to salvation in keeping with other faiths. This is not the same. I don’t object to theological language, I object to the BBC claiming it is the appropriate term.”

 

Following the backlash, the article was edited on Saturday to remove most instances of the word “revert.” Initially, it remained in the headline and in quotes, but a second round of edits later replaced “reverts” with “converts” in the headline as well. An explanatory note was also added to clarify the context: “Some Muslims refer to ‘revert’ when talking about people who have converted to the Muslim faith. This is based on the belief that everyone is born as a Muslim and those who embrace Islam are returning to their ‘natural state’.”

 

The original article had focused on the experience of new Muslims during Eid, emphasizing the sense of isolation some converts may feel during a holiday typically spent with family. It also highlighted the work of New Muslim Circle, a charity in Peterborough that supports people who have embraced Islam by teaching them how to pray and organizing community gatherings.

 

However, criticism of the terminology continued from various experts and public figures. Dr Taj Hargey of the Oxford Institute for British Islam was especially blunt in his assessment. “It is used by Islamic fundamentalists in their propaganda that everyone is born Muslim,” he said. “It is utter tosh and the correct term to use is ‘convert’. It is concerning that the BBC has chosen to use this divisive term that most Muslims would not use, only extremists and supremacists.”

 

Dr Paul Stott, head of security and extremism at the Policy Exchange think tank, questioned the editorial judgment behind the original wording. “Why is the national broadcaster using such a loaded term without quote, qualification or detailed explanation?” he asked. “The position that Islam is the natural state of all humans, and that converts to the faith are reverting to it, may be something some or even most Muslims accept. But believers in other faiths do not think that. Nor do atheists. So why is the BBC giving it currency?”

 

Steve Baker, the former Conservative MP, also weighed in, expressing concern over the implications. “This kind of excess does Muslims a grave disservice and surely is among the reasons a worrying anti-Muslim hatred is rising. Moderation is the key. This from the BBC is not it.”

 

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the BBC said: “This piece has been edited, and the headline changed, to make it clearer for readers.” According to internal sources, BBC editors later concluded that the use of the term “revert” should have been clearly attributed to interviewees and explained in full in the original publication.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-04-07

 

 

[Gsxrnz]

So, when I changed to drinking San Mig instead of Heineken, and changed back again, did I convert then revert - or vicki-versa.

 

Very confusing for me, probably because in my dotery I've become lapsed atheist. 

[thaibeachlovers]

Something has gone very wrong in the BBC that it would make such a blunder.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

It is concerning that the BBC has chosen to use this divisive term that most Muslims would not use, only extremists and supremacists.”

 

Concerning, but not surprising.

 

Time to defund the BBC and let the people decide whether they wish to pay for this propaganda. 

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

That’s Islamist propaganda and has no place on the BBC.”

 

Is anyone actually surprised by this?

[Jingthing]

I don't think it's so wrong as that's how Islam describes it but I would put in the style sheet to explain that belief when starting to use that term in an article. Unless an item is targeted to a Muslim audience only, then no point in explaining. From the Muslim POV not using revert can be seen as insulting and clueless. Not trying to be PC here. I'm not a big fan of religious people in general but they are a big part of the world regardless.

 

To add, those who argue calling a convert a revert is irrational, well, yes it certainly is. But so what? Consider all religions in the world are based on stories divorced from rationality. Some perhaps more than others such as Mormonism but at least Mormons can laugh at themselves based on their response to the Book of Mormon broadway musical. 

[Chelseafan]

I don't particuarly have any love for the BBC but I do find they, more than any other news organisation get it in the neck for the simplest 'slight' and do more than most others outlets to TRY to be neutral, whether this is misguided or not is of course open to debate. On the other hand, it's time to remove the stupid license fee particuarly in this era of digital entertainment.

 

[Rampant Rabbit]

as children are born with no belief then reverts to that should be the norm, the BBC is  full of Muslims, theyll peddle their prehistoric agenda relentlessly

[faraday]

P'raps the BBC made this 'error' on purpose, just to stir people up?

 

It's not offensive, a blunder, maybe, but there's really far more important things to worry about.

[nauseus]

22 minutes ago, faraday said:

P'raps the BBC made this 'error' on purpose, just to stir people up?

 

It's not offensive, a blunder, maybe, but there's really far more important things to worry about.

 

Looks like it was deliberate. The revert word was used more than once, it seems.

 

The BBC knows better but it doesn't care. I think that is a worry.

[proton]

Pandering to Islamic nonsense again, we are NOT all born muslims. If you take up this nasty cult you are converting, not reverting.

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

This was a deliberate act of echoing Islamic propaganda, by some left wing seat-sniffer at the BBC; what amazes me more, is that anyone, particularly a woman that had not been indoctrinated as a foetus, would want to embrace this religo-cult.

 

Islam is a religion that subjugates women, allowing them to become one of multiple wives, subjects some of the unfortunate ones to female genital mutilation when they are still children, forces some of them to marry old uncles while they are still prepubescent, and demands that they walk around wearing a black hiking tent all day. Why any woman would want to convert to this tyranny of oppression is a most perplexing mystery ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

3 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

I don't particuarly have any love for the BBC but I do find they, more than any other news organisation get it in the neck for the simplest 'slight' and do more than most others outlets to TRY to be neutral, whether this is misguided or not is of course open to debate. On the other hand, it's time to remove the stupid license fee particuarly in this era of digital entertainment.

 

 

They don't try to BE neutral, they try to APPEAR neutral and they can't even do that any more.

 

They deserve to be held to a higher standard to other outlets due to the way they are funded. Cut off the public funding and they will be free to trot out their left wing propaganda like CNN all they like. 

 

They created their "fact checking" service to try to be the "arbiters of truth" but they hired staff to run it who had lied on their CV and the fact checking service constantly gets their facts wrong.

 

They are like a microcosm of Britian itself, flailing around in a pit of misguided Woke ideology. 

 

 

[Dionigi]

On 4/7/2025 at 7:19 AM, Gsxrnz said:

So, when I changed to drinking San Mig instead of Heineken, and changed back again, did I convert then revert - or vicki-versa.

 

Very confusing for me, probably because in my dotery I've become lapsed atheist. 

You mean revert atheist, everyone is born an atheist.

[charmonman]

They probably used the word because the silly woman they were interviewing used the word. They should have explained it, that’s all. 

I had no idea about the use of this word by Muslims and it is just one more example of the utter arrogance at the heart of the religion.

 

You can of course say that about any religion claiming to be the one true religion but Islam often seems to take it to a whole new level.

[charmonman]

1 hour ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

This was a deliberate act of echoing Islamic propaganda, by some left wing seat-sniffer at the BBC; what amazes me more, is that anyone, particularly a woman that had not been indoctrinated as a foetus, would want to embrace this religo-cult.

 

Islam is a religion that subjugates women, allowing them to become one of multiple wives, subjects some of the unfortunate ones to female genital mutilation when they are still children, forces some of them to marry old uncles while they are still prepubescent, and demands that they walk around wearing a black hiking tent all day. Why any woman would want to convert to this tyranny of oppression is a most perplexing mystery ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

 

 

It is indeed perplexing but people get dragged into all kinds of irrational cults, Islam, Scientology, Q-anon, MAGA.

It seems many people have trouble thinking for themselves and just want to follow a simplistic ideology or a charismatic leader who relieves them of the difficult task of thinking about reality.

[Jeff the Chef]

3 minutes ago, charmonman said:

It is indeed perplexing but people get dragged into all kinds of irrational cults, Islam, Scientology, Q-anon, MAGA.

It seems many people have trouble thinking for themselves and just want to follow a simplistic ideology or a charismatic leader who relieves them of the difficult task of thinking about reality.

 

There all a bunch of cults'

[portisaacozzy]

On 4/7/2025 at 7:19 AM, Gsxrnz said:

So, when I changed to drinking San Mig instead of Heineken, and changed back again, did I convert then revert - or vicki-versa.

 

Very confusing for me, probably because in my dotery I've become lapsed atheist. 

im confused to,im a lapsed Heineken drinker

[Evil Penevil]

More sad evidence the BBC has fallen far from its former status.  Prior to the new millennium, a strong case could be made for the BBC as the world's leading news organization, but not any longer.  In the past 25 years, the BBC's standards regarding objectivity, factuality and neutrality in news coverage have slipped considerably.   

 

"Revert" is not a widely used term in mainstream Islam, which still favors "convert." 

https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/living-islam/convert-or-revert-how-does-it-matter/

In fact, revert is almost exclusively used by politicized Islamist groups.  It's on the same narrow level as calling a suicide bomber a "martyr."   For the BBC to use revert in an article aimed at a broad audience is disturbing to say the least.

 

The senior leadership of the BBC is in need of major shakeup to stop the downward slide.