βI went to meet with Assad to see what kind of access we might get.β James is accused of a horrific crime.
βI went to meet with Assad to see what kind of access we might get.β James is accused of a horrific crime.
When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets β rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria β and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier β his detractors say β was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions.
AMENDMENT: Sean Penn has confirmed that it was Eva Bartlett not Vanessa Beeley he met in Los Angeles. This does not change the story materially.
Produced, written and presented by: Chloe Hadjimatheou
Editor: Emma Rippon
Researcher: Tom Wright
Mixed by: Neil Churchill
Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak
Turkish researcher: Nevin Sungur
Narrative Consultant: John Yorke
Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum
Production Coordinator - Gemma Ashman
REFERENCES
ββThe White Helmetsβ wins Best Documentary Short.β Oscars YouTube Channel, 03 April 2017
βPresident Bashar al-Assad's opinion on White Helmet's Oscarβ from Egy Ember YouTube channel, 11 Mar 2017, source listed as Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
βKEEP TALKING - Vanessa Beeley on The White Helmets & the billionaires funding Regime Changeβ Ian Fantom YouTube channel, 17 July 2019
βVanessa Beeley -The tale of the White Helmets in the Western media, on the ground in Syria and beyondβ Mot Dag TV, 13 February 2019
βPanel Discussion on White Helmets Organization in Syriaβ UN Audiovisual Library video, 20 December 2018
βUK Column Newsβ Brian Gerrish, Mike Robinson are joined by Alex Thomson and Vanessa Beeley for today's UK Column News. 14th October 2020
βInterview with Vanessa Beeleyβ HPU Al-Hawash Private University, 21 November 2018
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Intrigue
A tragic kidnapping that shook Britain and launched a tabloid war.
