UK establishment covering up scandals: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Camilia Shambayati, commentator and analyst from Tehran, to discuss the resignation of the head of a major British child sex abuse inquiry, marking the third time an official has left this role in the past two years.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: We have had reports of child sex abuse scandals and cover-ups involving numerous MPs and celebrities in the UK. Why do you think this inquiry has been dragged out this long and its head changed so many times?

Shambayati: Well, it’s clearly a very convenient situation for the British establishment to be in. You just have to look at the Chilcot report for example which was dragged on for years and years and was only released last month. What that does is it lessens the impacts, softens the blow of the results. And meanwhile, the perpetrators roam free and they’re given sort of respite.

Now, having said that this is also a disaster for the British establishment, because it just shows that lack of management they have and power and they have no handle on the situation. Now, this is the third time this resignation has occurred in just two years, the report was launched two years ago in 2014 and it was spearheaded by former Home Secretary Theresa May.

Now, Dame Goddard gave no reason for her resignation and she was only on the job for 16 months. And what that shows is there is enormous pressure in  this position and perhaps because they’re trying to delay the cover-ups and this is an inquiry that’s stretching back decades and it’s an enormous task and it’s going to be a lot of pressure on the next chairman to take this role.

Press TV: This shocking percentage of people having suffered sex abuse in the UK. Why do you think that something this serious in the UK has only come to light recently and has been under-reported to law enforcement in the past? What is it about UK culture or I don’t know, what’s your take on that?

Shambayati: Well, the issue of child sex abuse in the UK is something that the UK clearly wants swept under the rug and to be put away. I mean the country champions itself around the world as a beacon of democracy and human rights. And of course, something this big coming up, which tarnished their image especially something so disgusting. And it seems as if there are Peter Fuerbringer at the very top of important establishments and institutions in the UK.

You just have to look after Jimmy Savile’s scandal, it was only came to light after his death. And he died as a very old man; so, it takes a lot of years of cover-up and a lot of people involved to be involved in kind of operation. And the BBC, which is the state-run media channel was under much condemnation and scrutiny because they were housing so many presenters who have been charged with sexual abuse specially to minus.

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