Channel 4 to broadcast ‘adhan’ in UK

The British Å“Channel 4” TVâ„¢s decision to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer every morning during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan has been branded as a publicity stunt.

Channel 4 sparked a debate following the announcement that it will be as part of a test of the religious event, which the Muslim World celebrates by fasting for a month.

Channel 4â„¢s head of factual programming, Ralph Lee said he expected the channel to receive criticism for broadcasting the traditional call to prayer, known as the adhan starting next week, because it had previously been nearly invisible on mainstream TV.

However, he said: Å“Nearly five percent of the country will actively engage in Ramadan this month. Can we say the same of other national events that have received blanket coverage on television, such as the Queenâ„¢s coronation anniversary?”

The channel will broadcast the call to prayer at sunrise and on the internet, according to a report published by the British media.

The move was described as Å“a brilliant idea” by Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, assistant general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).

Å“It recognises that Islam and Muslims are very much part and parcel of modern-day Britain,” he said.

But Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said he wondered if it was Å“another of Channel 4â„¢s publicity-seeking stunts”.

Å“Given that the BBC devotes hundreds of hours a year to Christianity, with two or three church services every day on its radio stations, and hardly any mention of minority religions, a few minutes devoted to Islam doesnâ„¢t seem unreasonable.

Å“At the same time, we should also acknowledge that only five percent of the population is Muslim, so it really needs to be kept in proportion”, he added.

Among those backing the move was Kate Gilson, an accountant and Labour member, who wrote on Twitter: Å“Channel 4 to broadcast Muslim call to prayer EVERY morn of Ramadan to challenge Islam = extremism view. Brilliant!”

MOL/HE