BBC covers Embargoed!s ‘Bloody Map’ complaint – the UK’s 9th most controversial advert in 2006 - 02 July 2007

2 July 2007: An advert in the Haringey Advertiser by the National Federation of [Greek] Cypriots (NFC), which featured a map of Cyprus with blood dripping from the North, was named by the BBC as one of the UK’s ten most controversial adverts in 2006. In an action initiated by human rights group Embargoed!, the advert generated 93 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority over claims that the use of the ‘Bloody Map’ logo incites the racial hatred of Turks. Over 400 local people in North London also signed a petition asking the ASA to ban the advert.

The BBC story ‘Top 10 most controversial ads’, which was first published in May 2007, highlights the complaint against the NFC. The BBC reported, “This was an advertising feature in the regional press. It drew complaints from a human rights organisation which was concerned it was offensive to the Turkish community and likely to incite racial hatred. Complaints were not upheld, except for a challenge that it was not sufficiently clear that it was advertising material.”

Ergin Balli, Embargoed!’s External Relations Officer, said, “While it was not the result we wanted, the fact that the BBC and the ASA’s 2006 Annual Report both capture this story means the issue has received much wider prominence. It is a strong message to the National Federation of [Greek] Cypriots that we will not tolerate this hateful symbol. If they choose to use the logo again this year, our protests will be far more vociferous.”

Embargoed!’s complaint against the ‘Bloody Map’ advert in the Haringey Advertiser was the first received, although the advert has been running annually for five years. The group alerted its members and the wider Turkish Cypriot community about the advert and called for action, which resulted in multiple letters being sent to the ASA and a local petition being organised.

Source - http://www.embargoed.org/press_releases.php?id=104