Disrespectful or are some just being paranoid?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....nsulting-Muslims.html

[emmie]

at least Father Ted was funny, and quite honestly i wondered who complained, Muslims or those who do it on their behalf?

[Kerosene]

Perhaps some people need to get a sense of humour. I watched it and any "Muslim" type jokes were actually delivered by the Muslims in the show.

'Father Ted' lampooned the Catholic church and I'm old enough to remember 'All Gas and Gaiters' which did a similar job on the Church of England. Neither caused uproar, so why should this sitcome be any different?

Life's too short.

[emmie]

perhaps those who complained were not of the faith.

[sp1814]

This is nothing compared to the complaints the BBC received BEFORE it broadcast 'Jerry Springer - The Musical'.

Muslims don't have a monopoly on outrage, but at least the complaints here were made after the show was actually seen.

And let's not forget the fury of Christians directed to the Monty Python team on the release of 'The Life Of Brian'...which wasn't even about Jesus!

[mike11111]

"'The Life Of Brian'...which wasn't even about Jesus!"

Precisely, he was just a very naughty boy!"

[237SJ]

Paranoid. Why can`t Muslims send themselves up in the name of comedy. Jewish people do, Indians do, Pakistanis do - ever seen East is East?

[FredPuli43]

Quite, sp. I defend my right to be outraged at all programmes and shows which I have never seen. It saves so much time . You have to be quick to be first to get your outraged comments to the press you know, or some other blighter will get their complaint in print first and you'll never get your name in at all.

[sp1814]

237SJ

Isn't this what this thread is about? 'Citizen Khan' is exactly what you describe - a comedy written and starring Muslims taking the rise out of themselves.some have complained (I believe the figure of 200 has been mentioned) out of an audience of 3.6 million.

[naomi24]

I didn't see it - but my general opinion where 'offence' is concerned is that practically anyone can claim to be 'offended' by something, political correctness is a blight on society - and people need to get over themselves.

[hc4361]

There was a jib or two against the English as well.

I think I'm the only one that found it funny

[birdie1971]

I thought it was like an Asian version of My Family (Kris Marshall was even in it!). From what I have read, the majority of complaints have been about two specific aspects of the show. First, the complainers claim that the show reinforced racial / religious stereotypes and second, that it depicted a disrespectful 'reading' of the Koran by the heavily made-up teenage daughter.

The second complaint isn't worth commenting on because it's quite simply nonsense. The first complaint is probably true in that it depicts a stereotypical Asian muslim family but surely that's the point of the show isn't it? All sit-com characters are basically exaggerated stereotypes of one form or another. From Del Boy to Rigsby and Desmond to Ted Crilly, they all fall in to this category.

As far as I'm concerned it wasn't offensive in any way and it would appear that Yousuf Bhailok who was the former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, agrees - “It is good to change the stereotyped image of Muslims always being serious and shouting that has appeared so often in the media.”. Unfortunately there will always be people who are perpetually offended unless their culture or faith is being anything other than praised from the roof-tops. Shame.

It's a pity that more of the complaints weren't about the lack of humour in the show. Unlike the new show on Channel 4 called 'Bad Sugar' – now that's comedy!

http://www.telegraph....Channel-4-review.html

[birdie1971]

↑ To whom are you directing that remark?

[andy-hughes]

I would never subscribe to the concept that a commedy which may offend a cultural minority is not offesnive - or at least less offensive, simply on the basis that it is written by a member of said minority. That argument simply does not hold water now any more than it did when people thought it was OK for black comedians on 'the Comedians' to make racist jokes simply beacause they were black.

The programme was simply not funny - its stereotypes had nothing of the light touch of Father Ted or The Kumars, it was sledge-hammer humour for the hard of thinking and I am betting it will not get another series.

Although having said that - how long did Last Of The Summer Wine stagger on for, so what do I know!!!!!