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Christian groups accuse BBC drama of inciting anti-Christian bias
Last updated at 12:52pm on 01.11.06
Actor Rupert Penry Jones: The BBC series Spooks featuring the actor has been accused of inciting anti-Christian hatred
The BBC are facing accusations of anti-Christian bias after a BBC drama portrayed evangelical extremists murdering Muslims.
One Christian group said the corporation had a "sinister" and "malicious" agenda against their faith, while another claimed the BBC1 Spooks programme could be an "incitement to hatred" against them.
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The row comes in the wake of recent revelations that senior BBC executives had admitted that the corporation was guilty of bias against Christianity at a special "impartiality" summit.
Christians were outraged by the episode of the drama, which showed a group of evangelical terrorists who carry out a number of attacks on the Muslim community and attempt to spark a religious war in the UK.
The programme also depicted a rogue Bishop, who was also a government advisor, organising the assassination of a radical Islamic preacher.
Christian Voice National Director Stephen Green said: "This could even be incitement to hatred against Christians. It is completely ludicrous and brings the BBC into more disrepute."
"Most people watching it will just spot another bit of BBC bias and inaccuracy - nevertheless it shows a worrying mind-set in the people that are producing the programme to even think that there are Christians contemplating violence against any Muslims whatsoever - it is just not what we do."
Religious group Evangelical Alliance has also hit out at the BBC accusing them of trying to smear evangelical Christians as being likely to commit acts of terrorism.
It's head of public affairs Don Horrocks said: "This is yet another outrageous example of the BBC's anti-Christian bias. "This beggars belief. I do think that there is a sinister and malicious agenda at work here and that they are trying to plant the seed of the idea through fiction that evangelical Christians are just as likely to carry out terrorism as some members of the Islamic faith."
He said the programme showed the BBC's "politically correct mindset" and said that in the corporation's eyes Evangelical Christianity was "beyond the pale".
"They would never dream of depicting groups such as homosexuals in the same way", he added.
The BBC received 16 complaints about the programme's portrayal of Christianity and media regulator Ofcom got a further two complaints about the issue.
The programme aired on Monday night at 9pm.
In the programme the Christian terrorist group was seen carrying out a hand-grenade attack on Muslims and planing to blow up a Mosque in Manchester.
It featured a video broadcast by the fictional group saying: "Britain is a nation under Christ - we will no longer tolerate the Muslims in our ranks - this is a declaration of war against Islam."
The programme showed the group as a "network of devoted killers prepared die for their cause" and its leader was depicted as a man who had wanted to train for the priesthood. In the programme he was seen saying he was doing "God's will" and that he was going to restore "God's Kingdom".
The controversial programme follows on from the row about the BBC's attitude towards Christianity. At the recent impartiality summit BBC bosses admitted that they would happily broadcast the image of a bible being thrown away - but would not do the same for the Koran.
Early last year BBC chiefs received 55,000 complaints before it broadcast hit West End show Jerry Springer - The Opera and a further 8,000 after it was broadcast. Christian's accused the BBC of broadcasting "blasphemy" at the time.
A spokeswoman for the show said: "Spooks is an award-winning drama series which is based entirely on fiction and we are confident our viewers understand that episodes do not portray real events.
"Throughout the show's five series we have featured a wide variety fictional terror threats which are all derived from our script-writers' imaginations." The BBC also recently came under fire after it was revealed that bosses at the corporation had agonised over whether to let news-reader Fiona Bruce carry on wearing a necklace with a cross on it while presenting the news.
They wondered whether the symbol might cause offence to viewers by suggesting a religious affiliation on the part of the presenter, who also fronts Crimewatch.
A BBC spokesperson said: "Claims that the BBC has an anti-Christian bias are totally untrue. The BBC broadcasts a wide-range of programming that reflects the diversity of life in Britain.
"This includes religious-based programmes, and many that celebrate Christianity such as 'Songs of Praise', 'Choral Evensong' and 'The Convent'."
Reader views (7)
At least Spooks is being even handed. They had a go at the Israelli Mossad organisation the week before!
- Graham, Reading, England
Spooks, obviously aimed at adolescent viewers, where the central characters seem barely out of short trousers or napkins, is a `work' of fanciful fiction.
Don't these serial complainers understand that?
- Ted, Shetland
Whilst the IRA were obviously willing to commit acts of violence in the name of their religion, The Church of England is more likely to adopt veils and burkhas itself before raising its hand in a act of violence. The limits of it's radicalism would just about be holding a tombola without a license.
- Squiz, Islington
Absolutely crazy. Is there anything you can do anymore without offending someone?
As a man I think this episode was showing sex-bias with all the terrorists as men. I feel offended, my human rights have probably been violated somewhere along the line, I will probably suffer from post traumatic stress so I will have to sue someone.
- Ian, London
I wonder if any Israelis have complained about the portrayal of a Mossad hit squad for the second week running carrying out clandestine missions in the UK?
- Andy, Northampton
Glad to see these groups have missed the point of this episode!
The whole point was to prove it is an individual not a religion that is a terrorist and it can as easily be a Christian, Jew, Sikh or Hindu as a Muslim.
- Stuart, Dunstable, UK
This is another example of religious groups taking instant offence for no good reason. This was fiction, and obviously so. This excellent series has covered terror threats from many types of groups. Why, because of one episode, are the BBC being accused of being anti-Christian?
Religious people have to learn to be more mature and accept criticism and fictional portrayals of some of their members for what they are.
- Peter, Collier's Wood, London
