David Cracknell
We've made some changes
to The Sunday Times
A POLITICAL row is threatening to break out over a Channel 4 drama depicting a young Muslim driven to become Britain’s first female suicide bomber.
The two-part film, Britz, to be shown on Wednesday and Thursday, tries to explain what could lead a second-generation Muslim to turn against the country of her birth.
Britz has been made by Peter Kosminsky, the director of the 2002 political drama The Project. It suggests that Britain’s foreign policy and draconian antiterror laws, particularly control orders which keep some suspects in effect under house arrest, have alienated Muslims.
The film has already irritated some ministers and moderate Muslims. Khurshid Ahmed, chairman of the British Muslim Forum, said: “A film which attempts to glamorise or rationalise the actions of suicide bombers has no place on our screens. Channel 4 should be working with us to defeat terrorism and extremism, not sowing hate and division in our communities and reinforcing negative stereotypes.
A government source said: “Having seen extracts from the film and heard Mr Kosminsky’s comments, we can understand the British Muslim Forum’s concerns. Given Channel 4’s remit as a public service broadcaster, they should listen to the views of moderate Muslims who reject violence and extremism, and they should air those views alongside this film.” Channel 4 described Britz “balanced” and “sensitive”.
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I created a petetion on the egov site..
if its approved sign it if you think channel4 should be prosecuted under the glorification of terrorism act.
keSZ, Swindon, Wilts
The film does raise very real issues, the draconian legislations, DNA being kept The government are OUT OF CONTROL. Soon we will have to carry ID cards.
WE ARE SLEEP WALKING INTO DOCILE DYSTOPIA.
EGG HEAD, wales,
"It suggests that Britainâs foreign policy and draconian antiterror laws.... have alienated Muslims."
Don't kid yourself, it's not only Muslims.
sam_m, london,
Channel 4's filled with these crap terrorist dramas. After 8pm there's a good chance there will be some hour long drama or documentary about something relating to terrorism. I'm getting bored of them.
Kurt Munro, Edinburgh,
A person who chooses to become a suicide bomber or go into war is not part of any religion. A suicide bomber who calls themself a Islamist/Muslim is a huge disgrace amongst Islam.
Annoyed Muslim, London, England
This is trickier than it seems. If the film argues that British foreign policy etc. are the dominant motives inspiring young Musilms to commit acts of terrorism, it is wrong. A much wider reading of radical Islamic literature shows that the real motivation is more traditionalst in nature and linked to views of Islam and non-Islam and the need to bring the latter into the former. However, some bombers, like Shezad Tanweer, have used the 'foreign policy' argument, so it does need to be shown. I'm not sure that artistic integrity demands the presentation of the moderate Muslim position. If it can be shown while remaining honest to the objectives of the film, then it should be done. What I would really object to would be a portrayal of Islamic terrorism which tried to justify it (by reference to foreign policy etc.). That is unacceptable.
Dr. Denis MacEoin, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
I saw Peter Kosminsky interview about this film and quickly formed the view that he was little more than an apologist for this barbaric behavior by a handful of misguided Islamic fools.
To suggest as Peter Kosminsky does that this sort of extremist ideology was a result of British foreign policy and draconian security laws simple denies the fact that these extremists were flourshing and spreading their propaganda long before the present policy existed and therefore render this programme nothing more than fiction drama.
Channel 4 is sailing very close to the wind and it's executives seem unable to make simple disions as to what should or should not appear on our screens and have once again made a big mistake.
The question is this, is channel 4 fit to hold a licence as a broadcaster?
I would suggest they are not!
D Case, Newquay,
Good luck with that guys and gals! You folks really need to start paying better attention to how this whole thing works with these animals. Stop appeasing and toughen up Brits!
Rick Ronca, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
the fact remains it is foreign policy, illegal wars and the injustice particularly with regard to palestinians .
it is about the abuse and support we give to despotic regimes that oppress the ordinary muslim.
all that i read above is the sheer hypocrisy and self denial of the evidence and truth of the moment.
to believe that 9/11 happened because of an ideology and not because of western , in particular american intervention in saudi arabia , palestine and the rest of the middle east is sheer ignorance and dare i say the power of the media in telling half truths.
wendy mann, glasgow,
I applaud Channel 4 for making such a program, if it helps us to understand why people go off the rails in that ghastly manner. We cannot respect something until we understand it and we cannot understand it until we look at all the elements, no matter how unsavoury. Otherwise, we will always have only our perceptions to go on, just as how the fanatics are using only their perception of life and reality to kill innocent people to justify that warped perception.
It takes courage to go against the grain to find the truth. I would rather wait to see Peter's film than to assume anything about it, and if we all learn at least one thing we didn't know before, it would have been worth it.
Elaine Sihera, Maidenhead, United Kingdom
I think that there are many indigenous non Muslims who have a greater excuse to lash back at society. The unemployed, the disabled, the people who draw the short straw on the post code lottery for life saving medical treatment to name but a few. The people who choose to end their lives among other people are some of the most selfish and sadistic people imaginable.
IceDragonBritannia, Llandudno, Wales