Kuddus says British Watchdog regulatory group was right to reprimand Islamic fringe channels

Feb. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Gay Muslim advocate Omar Kuddus' statement:

With news that the UK Regulatory watchdog OFCOM has found that  fringe Muslim television channels in the UK broke the broadcasting code by allowing the extreme opinions to be aired and reprimanded for allowing extremists to say their views unchallenged, the homophobia that still exists in Islam by fundamental extremist has been exposed.

As a Muslim LGBT rights advocate, in my view the Islamic channels has no true representation of Islam or its tolerance for homosexuality as per the Quran.

Right to condemn:

Ofcom is right and appropriate in condemning the station that has broken the broadcasting code and hate laws of the land by allowing the extreme opinions to be aired unchallenged.

As most Islamic channels they tend to broadcast a Sharia and orthodox view that has no true representation of Islam or its tolerance for homosexuality as per the Quran.

The views are unfounded and go against the principals of Islam and can not be condoned my any true Muslim.

As I have expressed on numerous occasions Islam is a personal religion between the individual irrespective of their sexuality and Allah. It is a set of guidelines open to interpretation and I believe homosexuality is not haram (forbidden). Allah, who created all mankind, is not cruel and would not create a group that was condemned from birth.

Our religion is about peace and love, it is their duty not to persecute, not to judge. Have they forgotten that?

I do not believe being homosexual is sinful, because Islam is an interpretation of what we as Muslims need to make of our lives (http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/anti-gay-%E2%80%98musl...).

I sincerely hope that Ofcom issue them with large fines and the financial penalties make these fringe Islamic broadcaster think before the spread their venomous hatred towards homosexuals and if they are found to repeat and disregard the law them and take them off the air, permanently.

GSN http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/muslim-channel-punished-saying-%E2%80%98gays-should-be-tortured%E2%80%99120213

reported that “In one case, a female presenter said homosexuals should be beaten and tortured for the ‘evil, shameful act’.

The Radio Asian Fever host, named ‘Sister Ruby Ramadan’ said: ‘Torture them; punish them; beat them and give them mental torture.’

Radio Asian Fever, based in Leeds, England, was fined £4000 ($6300, €4600) for allowing it to air.

Another broadcast by Noor TV was criticised by Ofcom for ‘serious breaches’, and highlighted how inflammatory talk can incite violence.

The show said: ‘There is absolutely no doubt about it that the punishment for the person who shows disrespect for the Prophet is death. No one disagrees about this.’

While the channels have small audiences compared with the mainstream, Ofcom said it does not matter when it comes to the breaching of broadcasting guidelines.

‘The majority of Islamic channels comply with our rules,’ an Ofcom spokesman said.

‘However, where we identify issues through our monitoring or complaints we investigate fully and take firm enforcement action.’

Speaking to GSN, a British Muslims for Secular Democracy spokesman said they gave their ‘unequivocal support’ to Ofcom’s investigation.

They said: ‘While freedom of speech is an important right in a democratic society, action must be taken against those who incite violence or hatred against any other group.

‘As broadcasters whose opinions are conveyed to Muslims across the world, these people are in a powerful position.

‘Therefore, they must bear total responsibility for every single word that leaves their lips (or their keyboards).’

On the 11th February Pink news reported this story

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/02/11/uk-muslim-tv-stations-criticised-by-ofcom-for-airing-homophobic-hate-speech/

 Inaccurately and since has published the following statement:

“A previous version of this story was incorrect. The Islam Channel should not have been linked to the issue of homophobic hate speech in this article, and the Islam Channel would like to point out that none of its presenters have ever aired offensive views about gay people.
PinkNews.co.uk sincerely apologies for any offence caused.”