I'd rather die than be treated by Muslim doctor: BBC's Nolan says Northern Ireland woman's 'prejudice is scary'

Stephen Nolan said he was "deeply shocked" after a caller to his show said she would rather go home and die than be treated by a Muslim doctor, with the BBC broadcaster telling the woman her "prejudice scares me".

During a debate on Donald Trump's immigration ban caller Janice from Belfast rang in to ask why "so many Muslims wanted to come to our country when there are so many Muslim countries they could go to?"
Saying Donald Trump was "absolutely right in his actions," she also said she would not like to be treated by a Muslim doctor in hospital and would rather "go home and die".

"Let the Muslim countries look after them," she said on the "biggest radio show in the country".
"Why should we the majority non-Muslim countries have to look after them?
"They obviously don't want to integrate, they want to turn us all into Muslims."
It was at this point Stephen Nolan intervened.
"Janice that is an outrageous statement to make, isn't it?" he told her.
"It is outrageous. You live in Belfast and there are many decent Muslims living, working, breathing contributing to the economy. They are as much a Northern Irish citizen as you are."

Janice continued stating Muslims "were not integrating and they want mosques, they want to take over the UK".
"And a lot of people agree with me."
Mr Nolan hit back: "You need to get out more Janice.
"What type of people do you talk to that say they are not integrating? Do you understand there are doctors, teachers, and all different types of people here in Northern Ireland - They are we.
"Do you understand Muslims are born here? They are we."
Janice responded: "They will never be we."
Mr Nolan added: "Janice your prejudice is scary, it is absolutely freightening. I wonder if we would get more sense from a primary school child, who would not want to tar every single Muslim living in Northern Ireland, elsewhere in the UK and indeed in the world using your logic that every single one are of a particular mindset.
"Your prejudice is scary."
Asked what age she was and if she had any children, the woman said it was none of anyone's business.

 Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump and his administration's ban of travelers from 7 countries by Executive Order, during a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2017./ AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images


Mr Nolan then asked if she would receive treatment from a Muslim doctor.
"I wouldn't like to be treated... I would rather go home and die."
She added: "I am a decent person."
Janice said she got her information from the media.
Mr Nolan said the views showed how a lack of knowledge was dangerous "when you have a powerful man like Donal Trump issuing statements before the election on a total ban on Muslims entering America".
"That is why it is so dangerous," he said.
"To say you would rather die than be treated by a Muslim doctor is a disgusting - without any basis of fact - comment to make.
When Janice questioned where Mr Nolan's neutrality was in the debate, the broadcaster responded: "There is a particular base level about which all people in society would agree. To label any human being just because of their religion is something I am very comfortable challenging.
Later Mr Nolan said he knew there would be many criticising him for giving the woman airtime.
He said the comments "deeply shocked him" and he was rarely shocked.
Mr Nolan told his listeners: "When I hear an extreme view like that aired I immediately then think 'can I continue to allow this person on air?'
"That's an extremely deeply offensive view and the judgement is you have got to hear it.
"It leads me to ask where does that view come from, where does that lack of knowledge and awareness come from?
"How many Janices are there in Northern Ireland?"

Online Editors