Sunday 4 'til 8 for Sunday 20 September 2015
4:07 The Sunday Feature: The Rape of Berlin (BBCWS)
As Europe was being liberated from Fascism at the end of World War Two, one of the most infamous incidents of mass rape in history was underway. Lucy Ash investigates a story that slipped under the official radar. Winston Churchill spoke for many when he saluted the Soviet army as heroes. Yet the widespread sexual violence – in part, revenge for the devastating Nazi invasion of the USSR – went unacknowledged. Some estimate there were 100,000 rapes in Berlin alone but, although no secret, social stigma, political repression, guilt and fear of revisionism ensured that for decades the subject was untouchable in Germany. Today it is still an explosive topic – virtually taboo in Putin's Russia. Renewed East-West divisions over the conflict in Ukraine are exposing to what extent the 'Great Patriotic War', as Russians call it, is unfinished business. Lucy travels first to Moscow and then to Berlin to meet a veteran and a rape survivor. She discovers letters, abortion records and two remarkably candid diaries from spring 1945: one by a young Red Army officer, and the other by a female German journalist, which caused outrage when it was first published in German in 1959, but rocketed to the bestseller lists in 2003. As well as German rape victims there were also the Soviet, Polish and Jewish women who had just been freed from Nazi camps. Sexual violence was committed in different ways on all sides, by the Wehrmacht, the Red Army and the Western Allies. And, that sexual encounters ranged from the most brutal gang rape to prostitution to romances across enemy lines.
5:00 The 5 O'Clock Report
A roundup of today's news and sport.
5:12 Spiritual Outlook: Young, British and Imam in Training (BBCWS)
Almost half of Britain's Muslim population is under 25 and born in the country. Yet many of the country's imams are foreign-born and elderly, leading to claims that they can be out of touch with their communities. After the bombings in London on 7th July 2005, the UK government decided an emphasis on 'homegrown' imams - born and trained in the UK - was seen as key in engaging young Muslims and curbing extremism. A decade on, Samira Ahmed explores the changing role of the imam in Britain. Under an increasing media spotlight, their job includes not just the traditional roles of teaching and leading prayers, but counselling and pastoral care, helping third and fourth generations understand their identity as British Muslims. It can be a 24/7 role and the pay can be terrible. At the same time they are finding themselves pulled between the demands of the government, media, their communities and more traditional, conservative mosque committees and trustees. Samira visits the seminaries and colleges where many of Britain's imams are trained, and meets graduates who have left behind mosques, instead providing spiritual guidance online or in their own homes. She asks whether the next generation of Britain's imams are equipped to provide the spiritual guidance and community engagement necessary to help young Muslims come to terms with their identity in increasingly challenging times.
5:40 Te Waonui a Te Manu Korihi
Maori news and interviews from throughout the motu (RNZ)
6:06 Te Ahi Kaa
Exploring issues and events from a tangata whenua perspective (RNZ)
7:06 One In Five
The issues and experience of disability (RNZ)
7:35 Voices
A weekly programme that highlights Asians, Africans, indigenous Americans and more in New Zealand, aimed at promoting a greater understanding of our ethnic minority communities (RNZ)
