Fireman Sam first appeared as Sam Tân on S4C in 1987, and later that year on BBC1.
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For some obscure reason, the children’s show Fireman Sam featured one of its main characters treading on the Quran, embroiling Channel 5 in an unlikely Islamophobia row which a spokesperson dismissed as an “unfortunate incident”.
They have since removed it from their their online streaming service.
“It has been brought to our attention that in an episode of Fireman Sam, an image of the Qu’ran is briefly depicted”. The production company says the page was meant to show illegible text.
In the episode, which aired in the United Kingdom on June 28, the cartoon characters are pictured trampling on a stack of papers as they attempt to tidy up the police station.
It is thought that the page contains verses 13 to 26 of chapter 67 of the Koran – dealing with issues including the punishments given to non-believers under the religion.
The words on the page in question are hard to make out but according to Miqdaad Versi, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslin Council of Britain, it contains verses 13 to 26 of chapter 67 of the Koran – dealing with issues including the punishments handed out to non-believers under Islam.
Fireman Sam airs on TVNZ.
‘Again, we apologise unreservedly to our viewers’.
A group called Documenting Oppression Against Muslims (DOAM) tweeted: “Shocking – #Islamophobia in children’s programme #FiremanSam”. They’ve clearly thought about putting a page of the Quran in, why though? However, the BBC told the publication they were “more than happy” to forward the complaints to Channel 5’s owner Viacom and HIT Entertainment.
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“We sincerely apologise for any distress or offense it may have caused”, the statement added.
