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In 2018, according to two data analyst outfits, Beeley was among the most influential figures in spreading content online about the White Helmets, a humanitarian organisation made up of volunteer rescue workers.<ref name=":2"/><ref name="Keate"/> She has said White Helmets volunteers, described by Beeley as terrorists, are a legitimate military target.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0"/><ref name="webster"/><ref name="Dominic">Kennedy, Dominic (28 April 2018). [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/guests-rebelled-at-syria-trip-lunacy-6hcpgmkdg "Guests rebelled at Syria trip ‘lunacy’"] ''The Times''.</ref> In 2017, Russia submitted a report to the [[United Nations Security Council]] that tried to link the White Helmets to [[al-Qaeda]]; the report was based on a presentation about the subject given by Beeley earlier that year.<ref name=":4" /> Eight countries on the Security Council said the White Helmets were an "impartial, neutral group" and rejected Russia's submission.<ref name=":4" /> In response, UN Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights [[Andrew Gilmour (UN official)|Andrew Gilmour]] said that Beeley's activism was part of a Russian attempt to "neutralize the White Helmets because they are potential witnesses to war crimes."<ref name=":4" /> Middle East experts have dismissed Beeley's allegations that the White Helmets are linked to al-Qaeda and engage in [[organ harvesting]].<ref name="PBS">{{Cite web|date=24 December 2019|title=Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/mysterious-death-of-white-helmets-co-founder-spotlights-toxic-propaganda|access-date=17 March 2020|website=PBS NewsHour|language=en-us}}</ref> [[Snopes]] gave a rating of "false" for Beeley's claim that the White Helmets were linked to terrorists.<ref name="snopes2">Palma, Bethania (December 15, 2016). [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/syrian-rescue-organization-the-white-helmets-are-terrorists/ "Are the Syrian ‘White Helmets’ Rescue Organization Terrorists?"] Snopes.</ref>
In 2018, according to two data analyst outfits, Beeley was among the most influential figures in spreading content online about the White Helmets, a humanitarian organisation made up of volunteer rescue workers.<ref name=":2"/><ref name="Keate"/> She has said White Helmets volunteers, described by Beeley as terrorists, are a legitimate military target.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0"/><ref name="webster"/><ref name="Dominic">Kennedy, Dominic (28 April 2018). [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/guests-rebelled-at-syria-trip-lunacy-6hcpgmkdg "Guests rebelled at Syria trip ‘lunacy’"] ''The Times''.</ref> In 2017, Russia submitted a report to the [[United Nations Security Council]] that tried to link the White Helmets to [[al-Qaeda]]; the report was based on a presentation about the subject given by Beeley earlier that year.<ref name=":4" /> Eight countries on the Security Council said the White Helmets were an "impartial, neutral group" and rejected Russia's submission.<ref name=":4" /> In response, UN Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights [[Andrew Gilmour (UN official)|Andrew Gilmour]] said that Beeley's activism was part of a Russian attempt to "neutralize the White Helmets because they are potential witnesses to war crimes."<ref name=":4" /> Middle East experts have dismissed Beeley's allegations that the White Helmets are linked to al-Qaeda and engage in [[organ harvesting]].<ref name="PBS">{{Cite web|date=24 December 2019|title=Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/mysterious-death-of-white-helmets-co-founder-spotlights-toxic-propaganda|access-date=17 March 2020|website=PBS NewsHour|language=en-us}}</ref> [[Snopes]] gave a rating of "false" for Beeley's claim that the White Helmets were linked to terrorists.<ref name="snopes2">Palma, Bethania (December 15, 2016). [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/syrian-rescue-organization-the-white-helmets-are-terrorists/ "Are the Syrian ‘White Helmets’ Rescue Organization Terrorists?"] Snopes.</ref>


In leaked private chats, Beeley admitted that the Syrian government uses torture, but said in those chats that she would never publicly state so.<ref name=":4" /> In February 2018, Beeley encouraged her followers to report a list of news outlets and journalists critical of Assad for violating the UK Terrorism Act.<ref>Mackey, Robert (21 February 2020). [https://theintercept.com/2020/02/20/homeland-security-algorithm-revokes-u-s-visa-war-crimes-investigator-eyal-weizman/ "Homeland Security Algorithm Revokes U.S. Visa of War Crimes Investigator Eyal Weizman"] ''The Intercept''.</ref> In May 2018, she was a scheduled speaker at an event which intended to lobby for bringing terrorism charges against [[BBC]] and [[Channel 4]] journalists who covered Libya in 2011 and the Syrian civil war in 2016.<ref name="snopes2"/> This event was cancelled.<ref name="snopes2"/> In 2019, two of Beeley's planned talks at universities in Canada, organised by the [[Hamilton, Ontario]] chapter of the Stop the War Coalition, were also cancelled.<ref name=":0"/>
In leaked private chats, Beeley admitted that the Syrian government uses torture, but said in those chats that she would never publicly state so.<ref name=":4" /> After French presidential candidate [[François Fillon]] denounced Assad, Beeley tweeted "Zionists rule France".<ref name="Bachner"/> In February 2018, Beeley encouraged her followers to report a list of news outlets and journalists critical of Assad for violating the UK Terrorism Act.<ref>Mackey, Robert (21 February 2020). [https://theintercept.com/2020/02/20/homeland-security-algorithm-revokes-u-s-visa-war-crimes-investigator-eyal-weizman/ "Homeland Security Algorithm Revokes U.S. Visa of War Crimes Investigator Eyal Weizman"] ''The Intercept''.</ref> In May 2018, she was a scheduled speaker at an event which intended to lobby for bringing terrorism charges against [[BBC]] and [[Channel 4]] journalists who covered Libya in 2011 and the Syrian civil war in 2016.<ref name="snopes2"/> This event was cancelled.<ref name="snopes2"/> In 2019, two of Beeley's planned talks at universities in Canada, organised by the [[Hamilton, Ontario]] chapter of the Stop the War Coalition, were also cancelled.<ref name=":0"/>


In 2017, Beeley called murdered British MP [[Jo Cox]] an "al Qaeda advocate"<ref name="Bachner"/> and "warmongering Blairite".<ref name="BBC2"/> In August 2018, due to Beeley's defence of Assad and comments about Jo Cox, media reports criticised [[Labour Party (UK)|UK Labour Party]] MP [[Chris Williamson (politician)|Chris Williamson]] for tweeting that it was a "privilege" to have met Beeley.<ref name="Bachner"/><ref name="BBC2">[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45258341 "Labour MP Chris Williamson's 'democracy roadshow' criticised"]. BBC News. 21 August 2018.</ref> Beeley's other views include that [[Human Rights Watch]] is a "fake" group,<ref name="Bachner"/> the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|''Charlie Hebdo'' shooting]] was a [[false flag]] operation, and al-Qaeda was not behind the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="Bachner"/><ref name=":0"/><ref name="thenational"/> According to an article in ''[[The Times of Israel]]'', Beeley has shared platforms with [[Holocaust deniers]].<ref name="Bachner"/>
In 2017, Beeley called murdered British MP [[Jo Cox]] an "al Qaeda advocate"<ref name="Bachner"/> and "warmongering Blairite".<ref name="BBC2"/> In August 2018, due to Beeley's defence of Assad and comments about Jo Cox, media reports criticised [[Labour Party (UK)|UK Labour Party]] MP [[Chris Williamson (politician)|Chris Williamson]] for tweeting that it was a "privilege" to have met Beeley.<ref name="Bachner"/><ref name="BBC2">[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45258341 "Labour MP Chris Williamson's 'democracy roadshow' criticised"]. BBC News. 21 August 2018.</ref> Beeley's other views include that [[Human Rights Watch]] is a "fake" group,<ref name="Bachner"/> the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|''Charlie Hebdo'' shooting]] was a [[false flag]] operation, and al-Qaeda was not behind the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="Bachner"/><ref name=":0"/><ref name="thenational"/> According to an article in ''[[The Times of Israel]]'', Beeley has shared platforms with [[Holocaust deniers]].<ref name="Bachner"/>

Revision as of 11:01, 28 November 2020

Vanessa Beeley (born 1963/1964[1]) is a British activist and blogger.[2][3][4] She is known for sharing conspiracy theories[5] and disinformation[2][6] about the Syrian civil war and Syrian volunteer organisation the White Helmets.[3][5][7][6][8]

Career

Beeley initially worked as a consultant to a waste management company in the Middle East.[2] She is an editor and writer for conspiracy website 21st Century Wire.[3][9][10][11] She describes herself as an "independent researcher, writer and photographer."[12]

Beeley has said she travelled to Palestine where she lived through Israeli bombardments.[13] In 2014, she started her blog titled The Wall Will Fall in which she supported the Palestinian cause.[12] Since 2015 she has focused her activism on the Syrian Civil War. According to Bellingcat, Beeley was on the steering committee for the Syria Solidarity Movement.[14] Beeley first visited Syria in July 2016.[9] That year, she met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, describing it as her "proudest moment".[2][9] Beeley has frequently appeared on the Russian government-owned networks RT and Sputnik commenting on the Syrian war.[4][6][2] She has been a frequent guest on InfoWars.[10]

Beeley believes the Syrian government has not carried out chemical attacks.[15] Experts from the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism were confident that the Syrian Air Force was responsible for the 2017 Khan Shaykhun chemical attack.[7] Beeley said this attack had been "debunked".[7] She is a member of the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media which alleged that the 2018 Douma chemical attack was faked by the White Helmets, a rescue organisation.[16] Beeley supported a conspiracy theory which accused George Soros of paying the United Nations to invent evidence that Assad used chemical weapons.[10]

In 2018, according to two data analyst outfits, Beeley was among the most influential figures in spreading content online about the White Helmets, a humanitarian organisation made up of volunteer rescue workers.[9][15] She has said White Helmets volunteers, described by Beeley as terrorists, are a legitimate military target.[2][6][11][17] In 2017, Russia submitted a report to the United Nations Security Council that tried to link the White Helmets to al-Qaeda; the report was based on a presentation about the subject given by Beeley earlier that year.[2] Eight countries on the Security Council said the White Helmets were an "impartial, neutral group" and rejected Russia's submission.[2] In response, UN Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour said that Beeley's activism was part of a Russian attempt to "neutralize the White Helmets because they are potential witnesses to war crimes."[2] Middle East experts have dismissed Beeley's allegations that the White Helmets are linked to al-Qaeda and engage in organ harvesting.[16] Snopes gave a rating of "false" for Beeley's claim that the White Helmets were linked to terrorists.[18]

In leaked private chats, Beeley admitted that the Syrian government uses torture, but said in those chats that she would never publicly state so.[2] After French presidential candidate François Fillon denounced Assad, Beeley tweeted "Zionists rule France".[1] In February 2018, Beeley encouraged her followers to report a list of news outlets and journalists critical of Assad for violating the UK Terrorism Act.[19] In May 2018, she was a scheduled speaker at an event which intended to lobby for bringing terrorism charges against BBC and Channel 4 journalists who covered Libya in 2011 and the Syrian civil war in 2016.[18] This event was cancelled.[18] In 2019, two of Beeley's planned talks at universities in Canada, organised by the Hamilton, Ontario chapter of the Stop the War Coalition, were also cancelled.[6]

In 2017, Beeley called murdered British MP Jo Cox an "al Qaeda advocate"[1] and "warmongering Blairite".[20] In August 2018, due to Beeley's defence of Assad and comments about Jo Cox, media reports criticised UK Labour Party MP Chris Williamson for tweeting that it was a "privilege" to have met Beeley.[1][20] Beeley's other views include that Human Rights Watch is a "fake" group,[1] the Charlie Hebdo shooting was a false flag operation, and al-Qaeda was not behind the September 11 attacks.[1][6][8] According to an article in The Times of Israel, Beeley has shared platforms with Holocaust deniers.[1]

Australian journalist John Pilger, who has cited Beeley's writing, oversaw the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism for which Beeley was a runner-up.[2] According to Bellingcat, Beeley received the "Serena Shim Award for Uncompromised Integrity in Journalism" from a pro-Assad lobby group due to her "regime-friendly commentary".[14]

In December 2017, The Guardian published an article by Olivia Solon about Beeley’s work.[9] It said it had contacted Beeley prior to publication but she "declined to respond to specific queries, saying that the questions put to her were "a disgrace" containing "no relevant facts and are reminiscent of a McCarthyite interrogation"". After being contacted by The Guardian, Beeley discussed the questions it had put to her and criticised its reporting on Syria in a YouTube video. She described the White Helmets as "a fraudulent terrorist organisation".[9]

Personal life

Beeley is the daughter of former British diplomat Harold Beeley.[9][15][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bachner, Michael (August 22, 2018) "UK Labour MP slammed for praising anti-Semitic pro-Assad conspiracist". The Times of Israel.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Giovanni, Janine di (16 October 2018). "Why Assad and Russia Target the White Helmets". The New York Review of Books. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Assad Supporters Plan to Put the 'Media on Trial' for Doing Journalism in Syria". Snopes.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b Wilson, Tom; Starbird, Kate (14 January 2020). "Cross-platform disinformation campaigns: lessons learned and next steps". Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review. 1 (1). doi:10.37016/mr-2020-002.
  5. ^ a b "White Helmets 'staging fake attacks' in Syria? We sort fact from fiction". The France 24 Observers. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f York, Chris (7 December 2019). "'Conspiracy Theorist' Vanessa Beeley Faces Backlash As Universities Cancel Her 'Journalism' Talks". uk.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "The online activists pushing Syria conspiracy theories". BBC News. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b "The 'crazy club': Inside the British propaganda trips that seek to legitimise Assad's barbarism". The National. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Solon, Olivia (18 December 2017). "How Syria's White Helmets became victims of an online propaganda machine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Berlatsky, Noah. "Dear Leftists: Going on Tucker Carlson Is Not Going to Stop Imperialism". Pacific Standard. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Webster, Ben (16 April 2018). "Academics accused of speaking for Assad condemn Syria raids" The Times.
  12. ^ a b "About". The Wall Will Fall. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Britisk journalist svarer Khader igen: »Jeg er hverken støttet af Assad eller Putin«". jyllands-posten.dk (in Danish). 2 January 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ a b Davis, Charles (30 September 2019). "Pro-Assad Lobby Group Rewards Bloggers On Both The Left And The Right". Bellingcat.
  15. ^ a b c Keate, Georgie; Blanchard, Sam (14 April 2018). "'To say Douma attack was staged is to enter an Orwellian world'". The Times. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda". PBS NewsHour. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  17. ^ Kennedy, Dominic (28 April 2018). "Guests rebelled at Syria trip ‘lunacy’" The Times.
  18. ^ a b c Palma, Bethania (December 15, 2016). "Are the Syrian ‘White Helmets’ Rescue Organization Terrorists?" Snopes.
  19. ^ Mackey, Robert (21 February 2020). "Homeland Security Algorithm Revokes U.S. Visa of War Crimes Investigator Eyal Weizman" The Intercept.
  20. ^ a b "Labour MP Chris Williamson's 'democracy roadshow' criticised". BBC News. 21 August 2018.
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