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BBC drops fictional terror attack to avoid offending Muslims
Last updated at 10:37am on 20.08.07The BBC has dropped plans to show a fictional terror attack in an episode of Casualty to avoid offending Muslims.
The first show of the hospital drama's new series was to have featured a storyline about an explosion caused by Islamic extremists.
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The stars of Casualty won't be dealing with an explosion caused by Islamic extremists in case it offends Muslims
Now the bomb will be set off by animal rights campaigners instead.
A BBC spokesman said: "With any storyline there are lots of ideas that get put forward but don't make the series."
Reader views (10)
This series just went from my "must watch" list to my "don't bother" list.
- Geoffrey Warren, London, 21/08/2007 13:04
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Terry Roll, that's a good point but it's very unfortunate we are at this stage in the society in which the community relations are not as nice as before, especially the attitude towards Muslims, so this could have just increased the friction.
I think more should be done to increase dialogue between the communities, I've even seen the Muslims more willing than some of the so-called educated thinkers, who just sit back and give their profesional advice on BBC and CNN.
Just to give an example. How many of us have actually asked the Muslim women why she covers or why they dresses in certain way, or even found out about their beliefs?
- X, London, 21/08/2007 12:59
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Spineless liberals.
- Anthony Gibney, Dorset, 20/08/2007 16:41
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This proves that terrorism works. The BBC is terrified of Muslims.
- John, Davenport, 20/08/2007 12:49
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I don't understand this, if the BMC have defined terrorist actions as non Islamic then who exactly is it offending? Surely the actual action of terrorism automatically makes it non-Islamic if even it is alleged to being carried out in the name of Islam?
- Terry Roll, London, 20/08/2007 12:33
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Was the BBC so careful during the years of IRA bombings? This is a worrying and dangerous decision- it is a fact that currently the threat faced in this country from terrorists happens to be from ISLAMIC terrorists - that is not stereotyping anymore than saying that 20 years ago the terrorist threat came from Irish terrorists!
- Wendy, London, 20/08/2007 12:19
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Why is it perceived that Muslims will be offended? It is a fact that there are Muslim terrorists - so a storyline featuring them is just a storyline in a TV show.
- Mm, London, 20/08/2007 12:17
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It's F-i-c-t-i-o-n, a genre that allows writers to express thoughts, ideas and opinions, a cornerstone of a free society. I am sure that if a story involving coalition troops abusing absuing Iraqi prosoners was submitted it would be trailed for weeks beforehand and be the 'one to watch'.
- Paul, London, 20/08/2007 11:53
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This is very offensive to animal rights campaigners - we are not all terrorists!
- Jane, London, 20/08/2007 11:19
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Welcome to a country called Islam - coming in the next 25 years!
- Pat, Sussex, 20/08/2007 11:07
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