On The Pulse: Is The Sun’s front page today too controversial?

By Hardeep Matharu

Colonel Gaddafi’s capture and death yesterday at the hands of rebels in Libya brought to an end the dictator’s forty-year rule of tyranny. 

Uprisings against Gaddafi’s regime began in Libya’s main cities in February, with a UN-sanctioned ‘no fly zone’ being enforced by countries including Britain, France, and the US since March.

Yesterday’s key development in the Libyan people’s quest for freedom is dominating the news today with The Sun’s front page carrying a picture of the bloodied leader lying dead and the headline ‘That’s For Lockerbie’. 

Has Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper gone too far with this controversial front page?

SW Londoner took to the streets of Wimbledon to find out what people had to say.

Is The Sun’s front page too controversial?

Debbie, 45

“I think it’s going too far as there’s no need for a ten-year-old to walk past and see that.  It’s too graphic. The photo is emotive enough without needing to link the story to Lockerbie.”

John, 68

“The man’s been a horror but at the same time there’s no need for this. It’s a bit outrageous.  We all know what he did, it doesn’t need to be written all over the front pages.”

Michael, 30

“It’s not over-the-top.  People need to see what’s happening.”

David, 51

“In one sense it’s not going far enough as Gaddafi was guilty for a whole number of other things.  But pouring over the violent death and suffering of someone is inappropriate and I didn’t think that’s something we still did.”

Michaela, 24

“It’s just horrific.  Lockerbie was a horrible tragedy and I find pictures of Gaddafi dead unnecessary.  We can be informed that he’s been killed from the written word alone, we don’t need these graphic photos and putting them on the front page is sensationalising the whole thing.  From the headline you wouldn’t even necessarily understand what’s happened and mentioning Lockerbie is immediately taking you back to another tragedy which has happened in the past.” 

Craig, 25

“It’s an awful picture.  There are certain boundaries you don’t cross.  Whatever has gone on, I just think that’s too much.”

Tom, 46

“I don’t want to see upsetting images like that on the front page of a newspaper.  You see it straight away and you can’t avoid it.”

Dorothy, 74

“I don’t think the issue of Lockerbie was as simple as that.  I think The Sun’s gone too far really.  I don’t like the idea of revenge – it is still a tragedy that it’s come to this.”   

John, 74

“The photo is not necessary.  Although, some of the other newspapers today have larger, more graphic images which show Gaddafi after his death and they stand out more.” 

Simon, 65

“I think it’s justified because of the years of suffering which happened under Gaddafi.  I’m quite happy with it, it doesn’t shock me at all.”