09/06/2003

Mosque vandalism condemned by religious leaders

Religious leaders have laid the blame for an attack by vandals who daubed offensive graffiti on a mosque at the door of a controversial BBC Drama.

An attack by vandals who sprayed the words “kill the suicide bombers” on the white outside wall of Central Birmingham Mosque in Belgrave Road, are thought to have been prompted by the plotline of an episode of ‘Spooks’ in which suicide bombers had been recruited from among a fictional Moslem community in Birmingham.

However, the Chairman of the Mosque accused the BBC of mixing fact with fiction and said that they were responsible for prompting the attack on the building.

Dr Mohammed Nassim accused the BBC of creating “hatred” in the minds of many who were already suspicious of the Moslem faith. He was adamant that there was no evidence that any mosque in Britain had been connected with any suicide bombing and said that he did not understand why the BBC ran these storylines.

He called on the BBC to exercise restraint as the public service broadcaster had a responsibility towards communities especially when negative views were being expressed.

The BBC said that the programme would not be withdrawn as legal and policy guidelines had been rigorously adhered to and that the attack was in no way related to the transmission of ‘Spooks’.

The programme, which has already been transmitted on the BBC’s digital channel BBC THREE, is to be aired this evening on BBC One.

(SP)

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