The Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) has cleared radio presenter Gareth Cliff of a complaint that he made derogatory remarks about Muslims during his radio show, The Star reported on Tuesday.

The BCC received a complaint in September last year from Zaheer Ismail that Cliff had made the comments about a suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, in which eight South Africans were killed.

“There is nothing good in Afghanistan, nor is there anyone with common sense. Westerners should leave the 13th century barbarians to blow themselves up,” Cliff said during the broadcast, according to Ismail.

The BCC’s Kim Erentzen told the newspaper the commission found Cliff had not contravened the broadcasting code.

Cliff’s publicist Rina Broomberg said he had not referred to Muslims, but that Ismail quoted him out of context, she told The Star.

“There was no mention of Muslim people. He has a lot of opinions, which everyone is entitled to.”

She said Cliff was condemning the behaviour of the suicide bombers.

Broomberg admitted Cliff often had “a go at a lot of people”.

“He has a go at fat people, but people often quote him out of context, and that is why the complaints are dismissed.”

By Sapa