Muslim Minister Threatens BBC for Mohammed Documentary
The Muslim community is unhappy with the BBC after the corporation announced it will air a three-part documentary series about the life of the prophet Muhammad later this month.
Mohammad Hosseini, Iranian Minister of Cultural and Islamic Guidance, has threatened to take action against the BBC if the series is aired. Although Hosseini has yet to watch the previews aired by the network this week, he referred to the corporation as an enemy attempting to ruin the sanctity of Muslim beliefs.
“The BBC’s decision to make a documentary on the life of Prophet Muhammad seems dubious and if our suspicions are proved to be correct, we will certainly take serious action,” Hosseini said to the Fars news agency in Iran.
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The documentary will be broadcast right before the Muslim month of Ramadan in August. Images of the Muslim prophet will not be shown in the film, in an attempt to avoid offense of the Muslim practice that avoids any visual depiction of Muhammad.
In the documentary, journalist Rageh Omaar will literally follow in Muhammad’s footsteps, journeying to his place of birth and Mecca.
The documentary will also bring up concerns about modern Islam and its interaction with the rest of the world, along with its views about money, charity, war and women.
Omaar, a Muslim Middle Eastern correspondent for Al Jazeera English, has said he believes the program is important to show.
“The details of Muhammad’s life really are little known,” Omaar said. “I am extremely pleased to be presenting this exciting and groundbreaking series.”
