JK Rowling Rushes To The Defense Of Calais' Migrant Church

Many people in the U.K. were furious after the BBC decided to film a migrant church in Calais. JK Rowling set them straight.
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 JK Rowling has taken to Twitter to launch a stinging attack on the British newspaper Daily Express's front page, which features a critical story about the BBC filming an episode of Songs of Praise at the Calais migrant camp.

The Songs of Praise program has been broadcasting Christian hymns since October 1, 1961. it is produced by the BBC, it receives at least some of its public funding through an annual license fee that all British households and companies have to pay. The program drew criticism recently for deciding to broadcast hymns from a migrant camp in Calais, France, where desperate refugees have gathered, hoping to get to the U.K. in search of a better life. 

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Andrew Kelly / Reuters

The Harry Potter author criticized the Daily Express's owner, media mogul and Ukip donor Richard Desmond, for its outrage over news the BBC will air clips for this week's program.

In a post on Twitter, the writer said: "Newspaper owned by man who got rich peddling pornography condemns the BBC for filming migrants singing hymns."

She was quickly joined by other users who waded into the debate, some accusing the Express of using violent language against migrants.

Even the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, chipped in, quoting a famous passage from the book of Matthew, chapter 18 verse 20.

Calais' migrants have shown remarkable fortitude in the middle of a crisis situation. See images of people worshipping in Calais below.

A Church In Calais
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Migrants wash at a standpipe outside a makeshift church constructed at a site dubbed the 'new jungle', where migrants trying to cross the Channel to reach Britain have camped out around the northern French port of Calais, on July 29, 2015. One man died today as migrants made some 1,500 attempts to enter the Channel Tunnel terminal in a desperate bid to get to England, a situation the British prime minister warned was 'very concerning.' AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PHILIPPE HUGUEN via Getty Images)
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A migrant rides a bicycle next to a makeshift church in the 'New Jungle' in Calais on June 17, 2015 near the ferry port of Calais, northern France. Around 3000 migrants built makeshift shelters before to try to pass in England. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PHILIPPE HUGUEN via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Kibrom Kasta blesses worshippers praying outside a church during an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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A migrant offers prayers at a makeshift church constructed at a site dubbed the 'new jungle', where migrants trying to cross the Channel to reach Britain have camped out around the northern French port of Calais, on July 29, 2015. One man died today as migrants made some 1,500 attempts to enter the Channel Tunnel terminal in a desperate bid to get to England, a situation the British prime minister warned was 'very concerning.' AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PHILIPPE HUGUEN via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Kibrom Kasta leads an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: A man lights a candle during an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: A man prays during an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers attend an Orthodox serivce at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: A cross and a watch are seen during an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers attend an Orthodox serivce at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: A man sings during an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Kibrom Kasta leads an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: A man prays during an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Kibrom Kasta leads an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: People's shoes are seen as they gather outside a church during an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: A woman prays during an Orthodox service for Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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CALAIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Ethiopian and Eritrean worshippers attend an Orthodox serivce at a church in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)