Topic: Muslim group: C4 should axe 'Britz'

[Toon's Taylor]

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a78669/muslim-group-c4-should-axe-britz.html

A Muslim group has called on Channel 4 not to show new drama Britz.

The British Muslim Forum said the two-parter, whose story features Britain's first woman suicide bomber, could reinforce negative stereotypes.

It was made by Peter Kosminsky and is scheduled to air on Wednesday and Thursday night. The drama is billed as showing brother and sister Sohail and Nasima "pulled in different directions by their conflicting personal experiences in post-9/11 Britain".

Sohail joins MI5 while his sister becomes a suicide bomber.

Forum chairman Khurshid Ahmed said: "Channel 4 should be working with us to defeat terrorism and extremism, not sowing hate and division in our communities, and reinforcing negative stereotypes."

The Home Office has viewed pre-release copy of the film and said views of "moderate Muslims" could be used to complement it.

A spokesman said: "Having seen extracts from the film and heard Mr Kosminsky's comments, we can understand the British Muslim Forum's concerns.

"Given Channel 4's remit as a public service broadcaster, they should listen to the views of moderate Muslims who reject violence and extremism, and they should air those views alongside this film."

[Toon's Taylor]

Muslim group "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  "

[alex]

Free speech at stake tbh.

[Colo's Short and Curlies]

Purely going off the blurb for the programme...

A programme like this should be shown alongside other short documentaries showing the 'other side' as it were - these moderate views that the protestor mentions. Its an area which desrerves decent airtime and debate imo

I can see his point though, a lot of people will see this being advertised, not watch it (because they are too dumb to watch anything on channel 4 without Homer Simpson) and just take the 'first British Suicide Bomber' bit without looking into the context or aims of the programme. Freedom of speech is great, but with great power comes great responsibility - programme makers need to be aware of this

[Keefaz]

I thought the purpose of it was to show how two family members chose different paths: one joined MI5 and the other became a terrorist. Surely that is showing both sides, isn't it?

[Toon's Taylor]

Same lass that was in the 'Bradford Riots' that Ch4 did.

[alex]

Purely going off the blurb for the programme...

A programme like this should be shown alongside other short documentaries showing the 'other side' as it were - these moderate views that the protestor mentions. Its an area which desrerves decent airtime and debate imo

I can see his point though, a lot of people will see this being advertised, not watch it (because they are too dumb to watch anything on channel 4 without Homer Simpson) and just take the 'first British Suicide Bomber' bit without looking into the context or aims of the programme. Freedom of speech is great, but with great power comes great responsibility - programme makers need to be aware of this

Why should art be balanced on the basis it may offend some people? I don't remember seeing a little disclaimer at the end of 'The Crying Game' reminding us not all Irish people are in the IRA.

[Colo's Short and Curlies]

Purely going off the blurb for the programme...

A programme like this should be shown alongside other short documentaries showing the 'other side' as it were - these moderate views that the protestor mentions. Its an area which desrerves decent airtime and debate imo

I can see his point though, a lot of people will see this being advertised, not watch it (because they are too dumb to watch anything on channel 4 without Homer Simpson) and just take the 'first British Suicide Bomber' bit without looking into the context or aims of the programme. Freedom of speech is great, but with great power comes great responsibility - programme makers need to be aware of this

Why should art be balanced on the basis it may offend some people? I don't remember seeing a little disclaimer at the end of 'The Crying Game' reminding us not all Irish people are in the IRA.

I don't care if it offends or not, I care about the fact that there is a significant number of people who will see a programme about muslim terroists in Britain and react against the Muslim community. Nothing about offending folk, if you are offended don't watch it is my view, but there has to be a duty to not provoke issues, or does there?

I guess there is no right or wrong answer to it - I agree that in a land of free speech a direcotr/writer should be able to present whatever view he/she wishes and to hell with the consequences.

I also agree however that people with the power to push a story into the 'mainstream' has to be aware (and possibly accountable for) of potential reprecussions in society.

Its tough to know whats right!

[Parky]

Purely going off the blurb for the programme...

A programme like this should be shown alongside other short documentaries showing the 'other side' as it were - these moderate views that the protestor mentions. Its an area which desrerves decent airtime and debate imo

I can see his point though, a lot of people will see this being advertised, not watch it (because they are too dumb to watch anything on channel 4 without Homer Simpson) and just take the 'first British Suicide Bomber' bit without looking into the context or aims of the programme. Freedom of speech is great, but with great power comes great responsibility - programme makers need to be aware of this

Why should art be balanced on the basis it may offend some people? I don't remember seeing a little disclaimer at the end of 'The Crying Game' reminding us not all Irish people are in the IRA.

 

[alex]

Purely going off the blurb for the programme...

A programme like this should be shown alongside other short documentaries showing the 'other side' as it were - these moderate views that the protestor mentions. Its an area which desrerves decent airtime and debate imo

I can see his point though, a lot of people will see this being advertised, not watch it (because they are too dumb to watch anything on channel 4 without Homer Simpson) and just take the 'first British Suicide Bomber' bit without looking into the context or aims of the programme. Freedom of speech is great, but with great power comes great responsibility - programme makers need to be aware of this

Why should art be balanced on the basis it may offend some people? I don't remember seeing a little disclaimer at the end of 'The Crying Game' reminding us not all Irish people are in the IRA.

I don't care if it offends or not, I care about the fact that there is a significant number of people who will see a programme about muslim terroists in Britain and react against the Muslim community. Nothing about offending folk, if you are offended don't watch it is my view, but there has to be a duty to not provoke issues, or does there?

I guess there is no right or wrong answer to it - I agree that in a land of free speech a direcotr/writer should be able to present whatever view he/she wishes and to hell with the consequences.

I also agree however that people with the power to push a story into the 'mainstream' has to be aware (and possibly accountable for) of potential reprecussions in society.

Its tough to know whats right!

I don't care if it offends people either. Personally, without having seen it it's difficult to comment but I can't see this having anything like the sort of impact on people's views as the sort of s**** that regularly comes out of The Sun and The Daily Nazi and to a lesser extent papers like The Daily Express about Muslims, immigration etc. If people see a drama about a Muslim and allow that to taint their views of the whole community then they're a f***ing moron anyway who was probably prejudiced to start with. Should we start censoring things with these people in mind? I sincerely hope we don't.
Again, I need to see it to comment fully.

[Parky]

I'm with Alex.

Big issues need controversy and forthright presentation and raucous debate. Art and the moving image must never bow to the pandering needs of councils or whatever...Whoever they represent.

[RodrigoPalacio]

Lets all move to Muslimland and tell them how to live.

[alex]

Or move to Spain, not learn the language and write regular irony-free letters to the Mail complaining about immigration destroying the UK.

[johnnypd]

I thought the purpose of it was to show how two family members chose different paths: one joined MI5 and the other became a terrorist. Surely that is showing both sides, isn't it?

showing two extreme minorities i'd say, and ignoring the vast majority of normal folk who do neither. then again it is tv so naturally veers towards the sensational, no one wants to sit around watching people make cups of tea, bombs are more fun in that respect.

[Li3nZ]

Or move to Spain, not learn the language and write regular irony-free letters to the Mail complaining about immigration destroying the UK.

Yes, exactly the same situation! 

[alex]

Or move to Spain, not learn the language and write regular irony-free letters to the Mail complaining about immigration destroying the UK.

Yes, exactly the same situation! 

The same situation as what?

[Haz]

It may well show a more 'humane' side to Muslim sensibility but i doubt it.  Fundamentalist Muslims, the type that encourage the grunts to blow themselves up, are not altogether with the programme when it comes to female suicide martyrs anyway. It might be expedient but it leaves an uneasy feeling amongst them, knowing how Islam views women in Paradise.

As Ive said before; If they are offended - they can stay offended. Free speech, art and expression, in a democratic country, is non negotiable.

Do these people imagine that we consider every Muslim a potential bomber?  Or could it be that they would seek to make a nice noise about all this whilst deflecting sowing the seeds of Shariah Law enforcement that would suit them down to the ground?

[GM]

Islamophobia is a big problem, but the real question is this: why did we let it become such a big problem in the first place?

[NE5]

Islamophobia is a big problem, but the real question is this: why did we let it become such a big problem in the first place?

the same reason we are allowing it to get bigger ?

[GM]

Islamophobia is a big problem, but the real question is this: why did we let it become such a big problem in the first place?

the same reason we are allowing it to get bigger ?

I should imagine so. Depends whether we've got the same reason in mind?

[NE5]

Islamophobia is a big problem, but the real question is this: why did we let it become such a big problem in the first place?

the same reason we are allowing it to get bigger ?

I should imagine so. Depends whether we've got the same reason in mind?

Back in the 1980's, my man worked at Northumberland Street baths. One afternoon a week was set aside for muslim girls to go swimming. My response was that it was wrong that I was barred from going swimming in a public swimming baths. She said that it was not right to say such things. She admits now that I was right, and we should not have allowed such things to happen.

Small example maybe, but I'm sure you get my drift.

[GM]

Islamophobia is a big problem, but the real question is this: why did we let it become such a big problem in the first place?

the same reason we are allowing it to get bigger ?

I should imagine so. Depends whether we've got the same reason in mind?

Back in the 1980's, my man worked at Northumberland Street baths. One afternoon a week was set aside for muslim girls to go swimming. My response was that it was wrong that I was barred from going swimming in a public swimming baths. She said that it was not right to say such things. She admits now that I was right, and we should not have allowed such things to happen.

Small example maybe, but I'm sure you get my drift.

I do indeed get your drift. blueyes.gif

[Li3nZ]

Or move to Spain, not learn the language and write regular irony-free letters to the Mail complaining about immigration destroying the UK.

Yes, exactly the same situation! 

The same situation as what?

Folk who have left for warmer climates in their later years of life to relax and enjoy reitrement with plenty of money in their pocket do not try to impose their own religious and political views on society do they, let's be honest...

[indi]

Or move to Spain, not learn the language and write regular irony-free letters to the Mail complaining about immigration destroying the UK.

Yes, exactly the same situation! 

The same situation as what?

Folk who have left for warmer climates in their later years of life to relax and enjoy reitrement with plenty of money in their pocket do not try to impose their own religious and political views on society do they, let's be honest...

Yeah.

[Keefaz]

Islamophobia is a big problem, but the real question is this: why did we let it become such a big problem in the first place?

the same reason we are allowing it to get bigger ?

I should imagine so. Depends whether we've got the same reason in mind?

Back in the 1980's, my man worked at Northumberland Street baths. One afternoon a week was set aside for muslim girls to go swimming. My response was that it was wrong that I was barred from going swimming in a public swimming baths. She said that it was not right to say such things. She admits now that I was right, and we should not have allowed such things to happen.

Small example maybe, but I'm sure you get my drift.

I don't really see a problem with your example, tbh. They set time aside for women, old people, pregnant women, people with babies, etc. etc.